You’ve probably noticed the pattern. Across the world, especially in the U.S., vicious ‘control freaks’ have seized power and are spiraling out of control. They are positively giddy at the prospect of gaining total control over our societies — and then ruling over us dumb, passive peons with an iron hand.
Who are these uber-manipulative ‘control freaks’? They thrive mainly in the realms of politics and religion, and their distinguishing characteristic is that they want to impose their beliefs and ‘morality’ on the rest of us. As in… everyone.
These deluded, fanatical people are the ‘true believers’ of the world. They are also antisocial power addicts. Not content with (supposedly) possessing strong moral and spiritual beliefs and principles, they also want and ‘need’ to dominate and conquer/convert everyone else. Scarily, such power-hungry ‘true believers’ have always been among the world’s most dangerous human beings.
What’s happening in today’s world is no different. Throughout history, the pattern is exactly the same.
What IS ‘control,’ anyway?
Ah, yes: control. Or, is it the illusion of control? We all desire a sense of control over our lives, and often dread loss of control or being controlled. There are only a few people — very few — who are incredibly fortunate or just plain lucky. These ‘fortunate ones’ actually DO seem to control all the varied aspects of their personal, social, and economic lives.
But for most of us — the vast majority — full control is just a willow-the-wisp, a persistent longing, a dream: an unfulfilled, foolish fantasy. We pursue it, long for it, and even demand it (or try to)… often to no avail.
However, there are some human beings — the ‘true believers’ — who insist on exerting massive control over their fellow humans and their societies. They are obsessive ‘control freaks’ for whom the concept ‘Live and Let Live’ is totally anathema. And since this human group is ascendant now and is pushing hard for total control, it’s high time that we actively defend ourselves and our societies.
We can start by understanding what we’re up against.
A useful way to look at sociopolitical ‘control’
First, we can all probably admit that not all control is bad. In fact, our daily lives revolve around many different forms of social and political control. Even our notions of time, schedules, and routines are vital forms of control (though we tend to overdo it greatly).
Control, or the desire for some control, is not in itself a bad or destructive thing. But it often goes haywire inside us and transforms into a compulsive, burning need to ‘control’ everything and everyone around us. This ugly inner process eventually produces frenzied ‘control freaks.’
But not all desires for control are created equal. Not all are equally good or bad. Some are more beneficial and far more tolerable than others. My criterion for what makes ‘control’ beneficial or mainly harmful is simple: Is the desired ‘control’ going to increase human openness, inclusiveness, and social cooperation, or does it allow one group to coerce compliance and to bully and dominate others?
However, this criterion is not simple to utilize in practice — since almost every social, religious, or political group thinks it’s ‘the best’ and wants its ideas to prevail. But clearly, utilizing my criterion, some are better and healthier than others. Some forms of ‘control’ seek to improve and empower people’s lives and want this for everyone… while others seek ‘in-group’ domination and power over others. Some forms of ‘control’ are expansive and inclusive… while others aren’t.
To me, this crucial distinction can help us sort the wheat from the chaff. It can guide us through the confusing maze of control issues and help us deal with rampant ‘control freaks’ more effectively.
The false right-wing spin on ‘libtard political correctness’
What, exactly, am I talking about? Here are some examples.
Over the past several decades, it’s become gospel truth in right-wing politics that the ‘damn libtards’ and progressives are trying to force unwanted, even ‘socialist’ beliefs and behaviors on gullible Americans. Rightwing media, Trump, and MAGA constantly push the notion that Democrats and liberals are trapped in wrong-headed ‘political correctness’ and are trying to remake America in their own (socialist) image.
But wait! Not so fast. Sure, there have been some progressive excesses — like overemphasis on ‘correct pronouns’ for people and too much ‘identity politics.’ In general, though, what liberals and progressives have been pushing for is the realization of the long-term stated goals of the United States of America. They have been pushing for real freedom, equality, and equal opportunity for ALL — as in, “with liberty and justice for all.”
So, we have to ask: is this dastardly ‘liberal agenda’ really subversive or ‘anti-American’? Is it truly trying to control and manipulate people and forcibly undo America?
No, I’d have to say the exact opposite is true. Most of the ‘liberal agenda’ supports and strengthens the bedrock notions and ideals upon which the U.S. was founded. These include such ideas as equality, inclusion, and equal opportunity, which are ‘All-American’ ideals we supposedly aim to uphold. This means that the rightwing agenda and ongoing ‘spin’ here (about DEI, for instance) is based on deliberate misrepresentations and lies.
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The real agenda of right-wing ‘control freaks’
So, what is going on here? What IS the real right-wing agenda? Especially since the rise of Trump and MAGA, it’s been increasingly and frighteningly apparent that these folks are master manipulators (along with Fox ‘News’) and are promoting a very dark, anti-democratic ‘game plan.’ These folks are devious ‘control freaks’ who wish to dominate and take over the U.S.
In reality — the actual, real world we all inhabit — liberals and Democrats are not the main instigators of harmful ‘political correctness.’ That dubious honor belongs to so-called ‘conservatives’ and right-wing media. Witness: anything that Trump or Fox ‘News’ asserts as true is taken as gospel truth, and questioning any of it is seen as total, unforgivable heresy. This is the distorted, delusional realm of ‘true believers,’ as noted, and NO deviation or questioning is permitted.
For these folks, it’s a ‘fact’ that the 2020 election was fraudulent and was ‘stolen’ by the Democrats (despite numerous recounts and court rulings). It’s a ‘fact’ that the violent Jan. 6 insurrection was a ‘peaceful protest’ or even a ‘love fest’ — as Trump once described it. It’s a ‘fact’ that climate change is just a Democrat-led hoax. It’s a ‘fact’ that green energy projects and renewable energy sources are a vile ‘liberal scam.’
It’s even a ‘fact’ that Trump’s many indictments and criminal convictions were all sleazy, hateful ‘libtard’ attempts to impugn and destroy America’s savior, Donald Trump. And these same people loudly proclaim that they support law and order. Wow. Is that awful smell the stench of total hypocrisy?
The only problem — and it’s a doozy — is that none of these beliefs is true or accurate. Not one! Such beliefs merely serve the seditious right-wing agenda, which fully intends to overthrow our current multicultural democracy and replace it with a White Christian dictatorship or theocracy. And since Trump 2.0 began in January, we’ve seen this seditious, devious agenda rapidly enacted on many fronts.
Today, the true avatars of dogmatic, dangerous ‘political correctness’ are the far-right folks who push their White supremacist ‘Christian’ agenda. They will tolerate NO deviation from their rigid, racist, hate-filled beliefs, and will brook NO opposition. Witness the many ways deep red states like Texas and Florida are clamping down on left-wing ideas and freedom of speech, women’s rights and autonomy, and voting rights for BIPOC folks.
The far-right takeover of American politics has created a vast, intensifying surge of anti-democratic laws disguised as ‘protecting election integrity’ or ‘protecting American workers’ or ‘protecting life and the unborn.’ It’s clear now that these fanatical ‘control freaks’ will stop at nothing. What almost all of these new laws are really doing is stripping away people’s rights and freedom — sometimes almost imperceptibly, one ‘small’ repressive change at a time — and paving the way for our complete subjugation under an ugly, autocratic Christian tyranny.
Taking back our nation
What should be our main takeaway from all this politicized madness? I’d say we Americans need to get back to basics and deeply understand exactly what these right-wing ‘control freaks’ are really doing — and UNdoing. We need to fully ‘grok’ their intent, which is to undermine and do away with ALL the principles and laws that helped define ‘the land of the free.’
They want full, unlimited freedom for themselves, of course — for White Christian males — but they are just fine with stripping away rights and freedom from everyone else. Even further, they strongly want to strip away all these things from Blacks, Hispanics, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ folks, and even women in general!
These rightwing seditionists are deeply racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and anti-democratic. They truly are vicious ‘control freaks’ who want and intend to subjugate the vast majority of Americans.
That’s exactly why I titled this essay “The ‘Control Freaks’ are Out of Control — and Must be Stopped.” Right now, the damn racist, misogynist ‘control freaks’ have not only seized control, but they are rapidly cementing their control and augmenting their power. They are forging ahead with their vile schemes to take over and subjugate America — and are thus utterly ruthless, seditious, and untrustworthy.
These devious ‘control freaks’ are now out of control, and have no intention of ever backing down or compromising on their horrid, racist ‘ideals.’ Since their plans are both immoral and seditious, ‘we the people’ will soon have to rise up and somehow stop them.
These rabid ‘control freaks’ and ‘true believers’ can’t or won’t control themselves and their worst racist, violent, and tyrannical impulses. Therefore, they need to be controlled. If we want to maintain any semblance of a sane society and workable democracy, these despicable — and they are despicable — ‘control freaks’ must be stopped.
End note: In a very curious and shocking coincidence, right after I published this essay, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. Since I just wrote that “these despicable ‘control freaks’ must be stopped,” I want to make it clear that ‘stopping’ these folks should not involve or condone murder. Murderous actions will only lead to intense crackdowns and even worse violence. The only chance we have to successfully reclaim our society lies in sustained mass resistance all across the country — protests, sit-ins, general strikes, etc. on a vast scale. Killing people like Charlie Kirk won’t accomplish anything worthwhile, in the end.
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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