This ability of elites to rationalize is key to understanding how the system works in an organic way to keep oppression in place. The same rationalization takes place in sectors oppressed by elites when their anger is directed away from the actual source of their oppression.
This is from the conclusion to the book Matt Lyons and I wrote, Right-Wing Populism in America:
"But most people in right-wing populist movements don't get up in the morning and say to themselves, 'I'm going to victimize some oppressed groups today to get more power and privilege.' What they are more likely to say is, 'I want to get my fair share.' They embrace narratives that portray themselves as victims and that depict the people they target as either more powerful than they are, being given an unfair advantage, or being immoral. This was true in 1676, when Nathaniel Bacon declared that a corrupt governor was unfairly favoring Indians against English settlers. And it was equally true in the 1990s, when right-wing populists demanded an end to 'racial discrimination against white people' and 'no special rights for homosexuals.' Such claims are a form of scapegoating in defense of social inequality."
Another technique relied on is conspiracism, since this directs attention away from a class, race, gender analysis of institutionalized oppression.
Chip Berlet Senior Analyst Political Research Associates http://www.publiceye.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cian [mailto:cian_oconnor at yahoo.co.uk]
> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 3:58 PM
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] Fisk avoiding facts? really?
>
>
> Joseph: We'd moved on from conspiracy whackos, please try to keep up.
>
> Carrol,
>
> I agree to some extent, but I think you (and Chomsky) both
> underestimate the degree to which people in elites can
> convince themselves they're doing the right thing - and I
> think they really believe that for the most part (and even
> when they realise they're doing the wrong thing, they justify
> it as the lesser evil, difficulties of leadership, etc). I
> think its very difficult for most humans to do evil
> consciously - rather they have to construct justifications
> for what they do. Be it neoclassical economic arguments for
> selfishness, or the justifications for what we did in Iraq
> during the 90s. Arguably a major job of the court philosopher
> is to provide comforting lies to enable the Clintons of the
> world to sleep easy.
> <<SNIP>>