Paul Johnson unpacks the concept of addictive ideologies and the role they play in regards to the ongoing divisions in American society.

He points out the addictive ideologies, of the far right and radical left, and the commonalities with all 21st century genocides – from Germany and China to Rwanda and Yugoslavia. And how the U.S. and other Western democracies can avoid similar catastrophes.

• Paul unpacks the question, “What is evil? Is evil an external force or is it actually something that’s inside of each one of us?”
• The list of genocides that took place in the 21st century – from Nazi Germany to China and Cambodia, all the way to Rwanda, and Yugoslavia – is long and has plenty of similarities.
• According to Paul and Dr. Emily Bashah’s research work and analysis, all genocides are tied to an ideology and to tribalism.
• The ideologies that end up becoming violent all start with the idea of an oppressor vs. an oppressed.
• Paul explains how violent ideologies begin with a loss of self-esteem and the loss of something either economical or social.
• Paul illustrates the addictive qualities of ideology, as well as what happens neurologically during an argument and one’s desire to be right.
• There are common traits shared by the far right and the radical left – Paul touches upon them.
• Paul goes over key terms such as tribalism, moral relativism, cognitive dissonance, and amygdala hijacking, and their role in the context of addictive ideologies.
• Paul touches upon the current state of the American political system and shares potential reform ideas.
• The foundations of the American government empowered the individual over itself. Those nations who recognize the individual as the priority though civil rights, equal rights, human rights, property rights and free markets are all more prosperous than their authoritarian counterparts, says Paul.
• Paul shares his prediction of what’s going to happen in the U.S. in the next few years and why understanding our own accountability is key.

 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

optamerican.com

Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson

The Optimistic American on YouTube - @optamerican

Become a premium supporter of the show: OptAmerican.com/premium

SaveDemocracyAZ.com

Dr. Emily Bashah

Pol Pot 

Josip Tito

Proud Boys

Oath Keepers

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haith

American Psycho

Gallup.com

Thomas Jefferson

Martin Luther

Paul Kennedy

The Gulag Archipelago: An Experiment in Literary Investigation by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Ann Coulter

Bill Maher

Viktor Frankl

Martin Luther King Jr.