This seems like overthinking the problem. Useful idiots are simply idiots who are just smart enough to mindlessly parrot what they're told often enough, hence useful.
Okay, perhaps that's oversimplifying the problem. Useful idiots reach positions of prominence in society because they make usefully disposable mouthpieces for those who are actually running things. The really useful ones are physically attractive and capable of repeating what they're told with some semblance of conviction and intellectual weight (and dang if I didn't almost say "gravitas" there). They are rarely bitter or frustrated, they believe they live charmed lives which they deserve because of their innate superiority, when really they are just kept figureheads of rather unpleasant masters who will eliminate them horribly once their usefulness is at an end. The don't take any pleasure in being against the establishment, they would be horrified to find themselves on the 'wrong side', meaning the side that doesn't have an absolute assurance of total victory in the end.
They would be quite useful to the cause of freedom if they weren't such idiots as to have picked the wrong side just because it is better at telling them flattering lies. Of course, the less useful idiots who follow their lead have little in the way of redeeming characteristics, but to describe them as 'useful' idiots is a bit inapt.
The coward first hates, but then looks up to the bully, wants to be more like him, and eventually adopts his persona. Note the Progressives' generations-long fascination with, and admiration of, gangsters for example. It's quite common, and I submit to you that every one of us has fallen to that system at one time or another, usually as kids. -- Lyle
2 comments:
This seems like overthinking the problem. Useful idiots are simply idiots who are just smart enough to mindlessly parrot what they're told often enough, hence useful.
Okay, perhaps that's oversimplifying the problem. Useful idiots reach positions of prominence in society because they make usefully disposable mouthpieces for those who are actually running things. The really useful ones are physically attractive and capable of repeating what they're told with some semblance of conviction and intellectual weight (and dang if I didn't almost say "gravitas" there). They are rarely bitter or frustrated, they believe they live charmed lives which they deserve because of their innate superiority, when really they are just kept figureheads of rather unpleasant masters who will eliminate them horribly once their usefulness is at an end. The don't take any pleasure in being against the establishment, they would be horrified to find themselves on the 'wrong side', meaning the side that doesn't have an absolute assurance of total victory in the end.
They would be quite useful to the cause of freedom if they weren't such idiots as to have picked the wrong side just because it is better at telling them flattering lies. Of course, the less useful idiots who follow their lead have little in the way of redeeming characteristics, but to describe them as 'useful' idiots is a bit inapt.
The coward first hates, but then looks up to the bully, wants to be more like him, and eventually adopts his persona. Note the Progressives' generations-long fascination with, and admiration of, gangsters for example. It's quite common, and I submit to you that every one of us has fallen to that system at one time or another, usually as kids. -- Lyle
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