BANKSY
The Politics of Inversion
by Kingfisher Friday, Dec 9 2005, 1:45pm
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
A fundamental feature of extremist regimes is the absolute requirement for an adversary. If a real or perceived enemy loses its opponent status then a bogeyman (under the bed) mentality is cultivated until the negative effects of that strategy (fear, loathing etc.) can be successfully superimposed onto a suitable ‘candidate’. The ‘successful’ candidate would then immediately attract the fear, loathing and violence of the extremist society (or group) in question.
History records numerous instances of the popular imagination held captive by fabrications, exaggerations and fantasies of impending doom or threat. The means by which ruling elites are able to adjust the level of mass hysteria is by controlling or manipulating the supply of information. There is nothing new in this strategy or its guaranteed results – a tried, tested and proven formula.
Today we pride ourselves on our modernity and scoff at those who remain victims of ignorance, yet we are easily duped and display no more or less ability to discern myth from reality than the Bushmen of the Kalahari or any other social group. The population of the most technologically advanced nation in the world was recently duped into embarking on an illegal pre-emptive war. This action opposed all the essential principles upon which that nation was created (and numerous international laws and conventions). Nevertheless, the extremist Bush regime succeeded in deceiving the local population into engaging in an illegal war – which today has approximately one hundred thousand civilian casualties to its ‘credit’.
The Fact that the war was/is an illegal adventure consigns all those responsible to criminal status and in the very near future, to the dock at the International Criminal Court. The principal architects, Perle, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld are fully cognisant of their scapegoat status as they watch the gentiles in the administration running for cover.
The neo-cons have no illusions as to their fate after they increased the level of play (in the national arena) by deploying a no-holds-barred, smear and dirty tricks campaign against former Democrat President Bill Clinton. A clear announcement to the neo-cons would be, the cells await you, and good riddance! Pursuing those complicit in the illegal activities of the Bush regime would effectively deliver a deathblow to the administration and relegate it to the political obscurity it has earned.
A brief analysis of an ultra-right methodology may help prevent recurrences of corrupt conservative government.
It was an American who said, in so many words, “if you are going to tell a lie, don’t waste your time with a little lie, tell the biggest most outrageous lie you can think of.” This American political strategy has evolved into the politics of inversion, that is, defy logic to the extent that rationality is lost and assail an existing structural coherence until the effects produce a loosening of the social ‘reality’. Persistent application of this political strategy results in a population whose sense of values has been confused/subverted, notwithstanding the effects are not immediately accessible to everyday consciousness.
A few classic examples of the politics of inversion follow:
If you would murder cry victim.
If you would oppress cry liberator.
If you would plunder cry saviour.
If you would enslave cry freedom.
And on it goes. It should now be a simple matter to identify those nefarious elites that would deceive their respective populations; simply compare their actions with their words! However, if you would eradicate the disease that has taken hold on government, surrender the criminal liars to the courts and never allow yourself to tolerate a lie from an elected representative again.
Invert the inverter! The notion that we should accept lies, deceit and the evasion of responsibility from our leaders is absurd. The moment the public becomes aware of an inappropriate action or a political deception by any government representative, the guilty party should be brought before the courts. It would also be advisable to proportionally increase the penalty on those who have a greater responsibility to the community. In this way we would ensure a very high standard for our leaders.
Another intriguing example of ultra-right tactics is the subversion of traditional values. The Bush, Blair and Howard governments [coalition of the willing] have attacked the democratic freedoms enjoyed by their own respective societies. This action would usually be reserved for enemies of the people, however, the inversion that is conservative politics substitutes the roles of enemy and protector. The population no longer understands the real issues and becomes thoroughly confused and distracted. The result of the protector behaving as enemy in order to protect from (a now fabricated) ‘enemy’ allows a far greater degree of manipulation and control.
An example of an assault on public freedoms is the recent introduction of new sedition laws by the Howard government of Australia. These laws have re-classified some artists, writers, cartoonists and journalists (without any change in their social behaviour) from normal citizens to potential criminals or enemies of the State (sedition!) This act constitutes the most subversive act directed against Australian culture and values to date. It is clear that the laws were not designed for an outside threat. The transparent attempt to silence the voices of protest and dissent and implement totalitarian methods in Australian culture will meet with resistance and opposition until traditional cultural values are restored. Furthermore, in the interests of justice, the people of Australia would surrender Howard and other members of his government to the ICC for their crimes against humanity (Iraq and other regions in the Pacific).
Ultra-right government and its methods of political inversion/subversion of our democratic rights and freedoms clearly define and identify it as the enemy. Any government that seeks to oppress its people is clearly an enemy of the people. Any assault on the hard-won freedoms enjoyed by the people must be resisted until the assault fails. Those responsible for implementing restrictive totalitarian measures on the population must be surrendered to the courts, as it is obvious they are not in the service of the people. I will conclude with a quote from the introduction to a previous article, which becomes more relevant each day that passes under the respective governments of Bush, Blair and Howard:
“Are we fools that we cannot see that America has become everything it once despised? Is the Bill of Rights merely a fanciful document to be disregarded whenever it suits. Have the words freedom, liberty, equality been reduced in meaning to the level of advertising slogans, or worse, utilised as a veil to cloak despotism, conquest and exploitation? Are we so stupid that we believe the absurd proposition that we must surrender our liberties in order to safeguard our liberties?
The American Revolution like all revolutions is constant process, a process of maintaining that which has been gained and ensuring that hard won liberties are not forfeited. If integrity is lost, then everyone dies for nothing. If we are not constantly vigilant then the result is as we witness the world today, a contraction into slavery.”
http://cleaves.zapto.org/clv/newswire.php?story_id=63
It is imperative for future generations that we eliminate the scourge that is extremist ideology. The enemy must be eradicated; the enemy is within – the enemy is the State!
We are One
[Editorial note:]
John Howard is a disgrace to the Australian character and an insult to every man and woman who has ever served this nation. We would strongly advise that he migrate to the nation he represents, the USA!
