(05-06-2024, 12:24 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: This could technically apply to almost every "group" of people out there... But I understand you are currently attempting to make it a MAGA/Trump/Religion thing only
I don't think Pally's list could apply to almost every, or even many, groups out there,
if we are talking about political organizations/administrations in liberal democracies.
Most such groups tolerate and even encourage questions. They don't believe their leader is
right at all times, or that criticism of the leader makes one an enemy, or that vindictive,
public humiliation/abuse of underlings is cool. There are lines of decency leaders cannot
cross and remain leaders.
I.e., there is a difference between authoritarian and democratic politics, even at the interpersonal level.
Comparing how presidents select, interact with, and dismiss advisors and staff tells us a lot about
where they are on the scale of authoritarianism, from "none" to "a lot." And if we are talking about political
groups, I would add "misogyny" to the list of danger signs.
The list is heuristic, not to make it a MAGA/Trump thing "only," but to explore whether there is a descriptive fit all,
or even enough to differentiate Trump's campaign, policies, administration and staff politics from Biden's or Obama's.
That could go forward in two ways--first to discuss/agree whether the list really does describe cultish behavior which
could be recognized in political organizations.
And getting past that with some agreement, then deciding ff there is a fit or not by considering examples.
E.g., Can we tell to what degree these leaders do or do not encourage advisors to question or speak truth to power?
Has either Biden or Trump humiliated staff in public or fired them in humiliating ways? Is there evidence that
followers place inordinate trust in their party leader and will tolerate him crossing lines of public decency
that they would not tolerate in others? Does either leader express toleration or even admiration of authoritarian
politics?
If we get a lot of "yes" answers to such questions, which means followers tolerate or even embrace their leader's behavior,
then it is difficult to dismiss the cult analogy outright.