Thanks for providing this analysis. I think there is a steadily increasing incidence of psychopathy in the U.S. military that is beginning to pose an existential threat. This gives me a lot to consider regarding the dynamics of the situation. I wrote an article earlier this year mentioning this issue with my less robust understanding of the nuances of the subject. https://grantesmith.substack.com/p/lying-to-ourselves?s=w I know it's a big ask, but I would love your feedback.
No worries, I know it's a big ask, so I really appreciate it! I got your book and I'm looking forward to reading it. I think it will contribute a lot to my ability to articulate the dynamics I'm seeing. Thanks!
I love the idea of a Misesian critique from within the military. Though I do try to avoid utopian or idealist theorizing -- which is how I perceive Hoppe's description of marketified defense (and indeed ancap in general). Which is not to say defense couldn't be based on market forces, just that that too will create its own perverse incentives and unintended consequences. Though, admittedly, often changing the prevailing perverse incentives and unintended consequences is itself an improvement -- for at least a while.
Your approach to the broader question of the role of psychopathy within the military bureaucracy sounds right to me, though I'm in no position to provide a more informed assessment than it sounds like you can. I'm inclined to believe there is a logic of collapse to such systems. That isn't to say the collapse cannot be forestalled for a long time, with a sufficient number of successive course corrections -- hence my comment above about the benefits of simply changing the types of perverse incentives and unintended consequences. But each course correction is difficult and fraught with its own unseen dangers. Plus, MIchels' iron law of oligarchy will ever push an organization in the direction of being ripe for pathocratic capture.
I hadn't heard of Michel's iron law, but I have this idea that emergent leadership and lines of authority is preferable to those enforced with coercion. I might also be guilty of being an idealist, but I try to simultaneously recognize that my preferences are based on my subjective values. Thanks for the feedback!
>Among the missions of this Substack is a modest contribution to the preservation of the normie world: humanity’s last candle against the danger of a shrieking darkness.
There is a paradox here: a normie would not understand what the hell you are talking about. The moment one really groks it he stops being a normie.
Besides, we are dealing with forces that are far greater than any individual (and certainly an individual that does not belong to the elite) would be able to influence. If the "normie" world survives for any significant period of time (and as a pater familias I pray and hope for it) it would be due to some confluence of powerful events that are also beyond the influence of any non-elite individual.
Absolutely agree. That opening post was an attempt to get a handle on the terrain, for me. In subsequent posts I've repeatedly emphasized the necessity of -- what I call the populist insurgency, the motivated part of -- the normies receiving leadership either from the bourgeoisie or, more likely, an alienated, surplus faction of the managerial class. And that has to take place through a methodology which doesn't leave the movement susceptible to pathocratic capture. All complicated, but if you were worried I was succumbing to an idealist notion of the people's transcendence, or some such fairy tale, no need to worry about that. I think throughout the majority of the posts I'm pretty clear that I don't subscribe to any notion like that.
I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Minor technical comment: the links don't seem to work properly. Clicking reference links (1-17) don't send to the actual reference (same tab or new tab). Tested on Brave and Firefox.
Yes, technical genius that I am, it took me a few posts to actually figure out how the footnotes worked on substack. I do need to go through those posts and fix that. Thanks for reminding me.
That seems like the normal course of things with a state-based ruing class, but I guess specific individuals do have to take the initiative to ensure that the strategy is implemented.
Thanks for providing this analysis. I think there is a steadily increasing incidence of psychopathy in the U.S. military that is beginning to pose an existential threat. This gives me a lot to consider regarding the dynamics of the situation. I wrote an article earlier this year mentioning this issue with my less robust understanding of the nuances of the subject. https://grantesmith.substack.com/p/lying-to-ourselves?s=w I know it's a big ask, but I would love your feedback.
It's been a week now. Sorry, but wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten about this. I will read it and get back to you.
No worries, I know it's a big ask, so I really appreciate it! I got your book and I'm looking forward to reading it. I think it will contribute a lot to my ability to articulate the dynamics I'm seeing. Thanks!
I love the idea of a Misesian critique from within the military. Though I do try to avoid utopian or idealist theorizing -- which is how I perceive Hoppe's description of marketified defense (and indeed ancap in general). Which is not to say defense couldn't be based on market forces, just that that too will create its own perverse incentives and unintended consequences. Though, admittedly, often changing the prevailing perverse incentives and unintended consequences is itself an improvement -- for at least a while.
Your approach to the broader question of the role of psychopathy within the military bureaucracy sounds right to me, though I'm in no position to provide a more informed assessment than it sounds like you can. I'm inclined to believe there is a logic of collapse to such systems. That isn't to say the collapse cannot be forestalled for a long time, with a sufficient number of successive course corrections -- hence my comment above about the benefits of simply changing the types of perverse incentives and unintended consequences. But each course correction is difficult and fraught with its own unseen dangers. Plus, MIchels' iron law of oligarchy will ever push an organization in the direction of being ripe for pathocratic capture.
Thanks for the thought provoking read.
I hadn't heard of Michel's iron law, but I have this idea that emergent leadership and lines of authority is preferable to those enforced with coercion. I might also be guilty of being an idealist, but I try to simultaneously recognize that my preferences are based on my subjective values. Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks for this critical work!
>Among the missions of this Substack is a modest contribution to the preservation of the normie world: humanity’s last candle against the danger of a shrieking darkness.
There is a paradox here: a normie would not understand what the hell you are talking about. The moment one really groks it he stops being a normie.
Besides, we are dealing with forces that are far greater than any individual (and certainly an individual that does not belong to the elite) would be able to influence. If the "normie" world survives for any significant period of time (and as a pater familias I pray and hope for it) it would be due to some confluence of powerful events that are also beyond the influence of any non-elite individual.
Absolutely agree. That opening post was an attempt to get a handle on the terrain, for me. In subsequent posts I've repeatedly emphasized the necessity of -- what I call the populist insurgency, the motivated part of -- the normies receiving leadership either from the bourgeoisie or, more likely, an alienated, surplus faction of the managerial class. And that has to take place through a methodology which doesn't leave the movement susceptible to pathocratic capture. All complicated, but if you were worried I was succumbing to an idealist notion of the people's transcendence, or some such fairy tale, no need to worry about that. I think throughout the majority of the posts I'm pretty clear that I don't subscribe to any notion like that.
I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Excellent article! Clearly written. Praying I find ways to share this series to receptive minds.
Typo?
the groundwork for future expansion of pathocracy largely depends upon incurring such pervasive social chaos.
the groundwork for future expansion of pathocracy largely depends upon increasing such pervasive social chaos.
Minor technical comment: the links don't seem to work properly. Clicking reference links (1-17) don't send to the actual reference (same tab or new tab). Tested on Brave and Firefox.
Yes, technical genius that I am, it took me a few posts to actually figure out how the footnotes worked on substack. I do need to go through those posts and fix that. Thanks for reminding me.
That seems like the normal course of things with a state-based ruing class, but I guess specific individuals do have to take the initiative to ensure that the strategy is implemented.