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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 14m

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

*** elections would need to be either cancelled or rigged.

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

@gemmaclark.bsky.social
@lotternine.bsky.social
@bellacaledonia.bsky.social
@gerryhassan.bsky.social
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social
@heckle.scot

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Do you understand the game they are playing? They want to start a debate framing that we can't be proud of our country anymore because it offends immigrants & Muslims. But there's a counter argument- what if the flag welcomes them?

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Be clear, this is about making the Scottish flag their flag so that anytime it is seen, it is seen as support for the far-right and white nationalism. We have two options 1.) give it up without a fight so it becomes their flag or 2.) fight for it.

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

My opinion on why the far-right use flags is they want to tell the average person that this isn't about money or hotels it's about the right to be a patriot - something the immigrants are "taking from us".

@neilmackay.bsky.social
@gemmaclark.bsky.social
@anticapitalistmusings.com

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Do you understand the game they are playing? They want to start a debate framing that we can't be proud of our country anymore because it offends immigrants & Muslims. But there's a counter argument- what if the flag welcomes them?

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Btw I'm not saying that the situation is good. I'm saying that they are fighting an authoritarian culture war via Christian nationalism/ traditionalism. They haven't suspended democracy yet, giving them a political victory. In short, it will get a lot worse than this.

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

All the things happening in the USA right now under Trump are far-right, but fascism isn't the only type of far-right politics. As I've said, you're in touching distance, but elections won't need to be either cancelled or rigged & that's not happening yet.

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Do you understand the game they are playing? They want to start a debate framing that we can't be proud of our country anymore because it offends immigrants & Muslims. But there's a counter argument- what if the flag welcomes them?

1

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1h

Not sure why you think that the no true Scotsman fallacy is relevant. Can you expand on your point?

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 2h

If liberalism as a philosophy is the enemy, that means free speech is the enemy, fair and free elections are the enemy, secularism is the enemy, and individuality is the enemy. So, all the rights the left has are removed. (Possibly, with the help of some "liberals" who don't support liberalism)

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 2h

They don't need to. Only the leaders decision matters. They'd be arrested for betrayal if they criticised him.

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 2h

I explain what I mean. In full fascism you can't vote him out. All trade unions are controlled by the state and any openly left-wing people are blacklisted from working.

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

People in the southern US states believe slavery is wrong, but they still wave the confederate flag to honour their ancestors who died for it.

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

@calltoactivism.bsky.social

👇

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

Cognitive dissonance in political attitudes matters when communicating with the public. You can criticise foreign policy but not the soldiers who took part in that foreign policy. Iraq war, Vietnam both unpopular in USA but troops who served still widely respected, draft dodgers criticised. 👇👇

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

Two posts on cognitive dissonance and public communication for leftists. 👇

@anticapitalistmusings.com
@gemmaclark.bsky.social
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social
@neilmackay.bsky.social
@gerryhassan.bsky.social

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

Cognitive dissonance in political attitudes matters when communicating with the public. You can criticise foreign policy but not the soldiers who took part in that foreign policy. Iraq war, Vietnam both unpopular in USA but troops who served still widely respected, draft dodgers criticised. 👇👇

1

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

This attitude is not exclusively American. It exists around the world. One example of this is the Germans will tell you they hate Hitler and the nazis but many of them still have photos of their grandfather serving in WW2 in his uniform and proudly still have his medals.

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 8h

Cognitive dissonance in political attitudes matters when communicating with the public. You can criticise foreign policy but not the soldiers who took part in that foreign policy. Iraq war, Vietnam both unpopular in USA but troops who served still widely respected, draft dodgers criticised. 👇👇

1

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 9h

Traditionalism is when different social conservatives put religious differences aside to permanently defeat their cultural enemies. Fascism is the permanent political defeat of them.

Worth looking into Opus Dei as well as the protestant right.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/arti...

Kevin Roberts, architect of Project 2025, has close ties to radical Catholic group Opus Dei

Heritage Foundation leader has long received spiritual guidance from group and his policy goals align with its teachings

www.theguardian.com

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 9h

As a European, not yet but you are within touching distance. The far-right has different methods, fascism is just one. You're in the authoritarian traditionalist phase. It's fascism when you can't vote them out.

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 10h

@mmasnick.bsky.social 👇

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 22h

The big club. The US was an oligarchy before MAGA.

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 22h

This goes way back before MAGA. Don't forget corporate democrats & corporate republicans are the people who allowed poverty in the USA to get to 1920 levels of inequality.

Occupy wall street happened under Obama for a reason.

youtu.be/cKUaqFzZLxU?...

George Carlin - The big club

YouTube video by Gábor Hényel

youtu.be

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Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1d

@systemnotbroken.bsky.social
@anticapitalistmusings.com
@gemmaclark.bsky.social
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social
@neilmackay.bsky.social
@lotternine.bsky.social

👇

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1d

Daryl Davis shows us so much about neuroplasticity with his approach. He manages to befriend a KKK leader & eventually convince him to leave the Klan. Doesn't happen immediately. Takes time & effort but shows the power of respectful conversation with an enemy.

youtu.be/ORp3q1Oaezw?...

Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies. | Daryl Davis | TEDxNaperville

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

youtu.be

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1d

Daryl Davis shows us so much about neuroplasticity with his approach. He manages to befriend a KKK leader & eventually convince him to leave the Klan. Doesn't happen immediately. Takes time & effort but shows the power of respectful conversation with an enemy.

youtu.be/ORp3q1Oaezw?...

Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies. | Daryl Davis | TEDxNaperville

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

youtu.be

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1d

My thoughts on Bernie Sanders speech in Chicago. 👇

@anticapitalistmusings.com
@neilmackay.bsky.social
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social
@gemmaclark.bsky.social

Michael McKay @87mck.bsky.social · 1d

One big takeaway from the Bernie Sanders rally was he looked moderate. He said fighting the richest wasn't radical. Healthcare & unions wasn't radical. These were just sensible ideas that the man on the street agrees with.

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