Strange how paranoia can hook up with reality now and then. –Philip K. Dick
Good morning Gentle Reader. As I noted in my last paragraph in PART II: ‘…it does not matter the country… For example…
Actually, two brief examples. Thus far, paranoia as a style in politics has two great national examples: Fascism in Germany (think: frustrated Nationalism) and Stalin’s purge trials, which occurred within the boundaries of the law. Both continue to be the symbols of paranoia in politics.
Thus, far, in the United States this style continues to be the style of a minority; although with the advent of technology and the expansion of social media the ‘voices’ of the minority are blasting us off of our comfort zones like never before.
My intention is to invite you to consider the reality of the style that is ever present today and to illustrate its frequent historical recurrence in the United States. To begin with, I am going to provide four examples. I will begin with an example from the middle of the 20th Century and end up with one from the late 18th Century.
I will use quotations as these are, it seems to me, most revealing. They are taken from intervals of half a century, and provide us with the keynote of the style of thought. I will offer us two examples this morning and continue with the other two next time. The paranoia style that has flowered during the 21st Century in our Nation is easily discovered by a committed searcher-seeker.
June 1, 1951. Here is Senator Joe McCarthy revealing to us his paranoia as a style (or was he also truly paranoid). The following comes from the Congressional Record: ‘How can we account for our present situation unless we believe that men high in this government are concerting to deliver us to disaster? This must be the product of a great conspiracy, a conspiracy on a scale so immense as to dwarf any previous such venture in the history of man. A conspiracy of infamy so black that, when it is finally exposed, its principals shall be forever deserving of the maledictions of all honest men. . . What can be made of this unbroken series of decisions and acts contributing to the strategy of defeat? They cannot be attributed to incompetence. . . The laws of probability would dictate that part of the decisions would serve this country’s interests.’
McCarthy was never able to present ‘facts’ to us or ‘evidence’ that this ‘deep state’ existed. He simply fed the flames of fear, suspicion, rage/anger and hate. Sound Familiar?
The Populist Party, 1895. The leaders of this party signed a manifesto; here is an excerpt: ‘As early as 1865-1866 a conspiracy was entered into between the gold gamblers of Europe and America. . . For nearly thirty years these conspirators have kept the people quarreling over less important matters, while they have pursued with unrelenting zeal their one central purpose. . . Every device of treachery, every resource of statecraft, and every artifice known to the secret cabals of the international gold ring are being made use of to deal a blow to the prosperity of the people and the financial and commercial independence of the country.’
This is another example of the fear of the ‘deep state’ that has been revived these past few years. There were never any facts uncovered that supported the paranoia of the Populist Leaders. But as we know, it is important to never let facts side-track a good story or belief. The ‘fear of the deep state’ is another recurring theme of those who embrace paranoia as a style. Sound Familiar?
From a Texas newspaper, 1855. [To be continued…]
This is a do it yourself test for paranoia: you know you’ve got it when you can’t think of anything that’s your fault. –Robert M. Hutchins
Searcher-Seeker 