Overlooked Factor Contributing to 94 Million Historic Deaths
We do it every day. It can make our lives wonderful. If we are careless, it makes others’ lives a living hell.
Causes of the rise of the Third Reich are often contributed to poor economic planning by its predecessor, the Weimar Republic. It is true central planning policies in Germany from 1919 to 1933 stand as a warning showing why printing copious amounts of money, creating expensive government programs, and regulating trade doesn’t work. However, there is a terribly overlooked aspect of society that heavily contributes to the rise of brutal, tyrannical governments. It is far more powerful than money. It even sanctions every dictator’s authority. We do it every day. It can make our lives wonderful. If we are careless, it makes others’ lives a living hell.
I’m talking about your mind.
Murder by Numbers
Communism has proven to be the deadliest form of government time and again. It is estimated more than 94 million individuals have perished due to communism. Chairman Mao contributed heavily to this statistic with his Great Leap Forward plan in China.
Adolf Hitler, who practiced his own diabolical version of socialist economic policies coupled with fascist government philosophy, killed over 11 million people during his reign.
The Holodomor, Stalin’s planned government takeover of agriculture which starved Ukraine and ridded Russia of the last of the Kulaks (middle class farmers and entrepreneurs), killed upwards of 10 million.
While these statistics show governments are serial killers, committing mass murder throughout history carte blanche, it is important to ask:
Who gave them permission?
We see pictures of crowds at Hitler’s speeches offering signs of praise. Denmark aided the Nazis for several different diplomatic reasons during World War II. Revolutions have been fought over ousting despotic ruling families only to usher in communism in its place.
Why do so many empower dictatorial leaders? How can countless individuals in society turn a blind eye to famine, death, and destruction at the hands of authoritarian war criminals?
A debased currency, hyperinflation, and societal division are a few effects of collectivist governments of all kinds.
But what is the cause of their being in power in the first place?
It’s not sexy. And it is something not lectured in schools because the art and science of Logic is seldom taught anymore.
The reason our history books are filled with tyrants, and the reason they are alive and well today is because people keep electing them. And they keep sanctioning their constricting tactics by doing nothing as they seize more and more power incrementally.
They have resigned their thinking, their mind, over to the masses, to TVs, to pop culture, to whatever is en vogue at the moment.
There are over 300 logical fallacies, and they are committing perhaps the worst one of all; one that effects every other individual via ballot or bullet when one commits it:
The Appeal to Authority Logical Fallacy
Logical Fallacies
Logical Fallacies are just a portion of its over-arching topic of Logic. Logic is the study of reasoning. At its core, it seeks truth. The system of logic is used to deduce what is true from what is false.
Logic goes hand-in-hand with language. Because of this, principles of logic can be found within the many ways we communicate every day. Logic is bound to our legal system. Aspiring lawyers learn how to argue based on principles of logic.
Originally founded by Greek philosopher Aristotle, Logic shaped western philosophy which in turn shaped western society.
What happens when reason is abandoned?
What happens when the principles of logic are seldom taught?
We can no longer communicate properly because language has been muddied. Our legal system doesn’t uphold objective law. Irrational thinking paves the way for tyrants who take charge, and their first order of business is getting rid of the few who still choose to reason.
The Ad Hominem logical fallacy is a common occurrence across social media. Instead of rationally debating a topic, users hurl insults at each other.
The Strawman logical fallacy is another popular one on social media. Individuals like myself who are advocates of self-governance are often presented with outlandish hypotheticals we are expected to disprove repeatedly even though the burden of proof resides with those who support a system run on force and coercion since its inception.
These fallacies are tactics used to divert, distract, and dupe.
The Appeal to Authority logical fallacy is deadly.
How many times have we heard the phrase ‘that’s just the way it is’ in regards to an asinine government policy or egregious wrongdoing by a state official to a citizen?
How many times have we witnessed people suddenly become the State’s most enthusiastic supporter at the mention of self-governing philosophies such as Voluntaryism or Anarcho-capitalism?
Kneejerk reactions like colloquialisms or fear-based rationalizations are examples of the Appeal to Authority fallacy at work.
Every aspect of modern society is built around the Appeal to Authority logical fallacy, and this is by design.
Like a vampire consumes blood from unsuspecting victims in order to stay alive, the State consumes minds in order to stay in power.
They force you into submission with every tax, tariff, regulation, and fine for trivial things, and even for exercising your supposed constitutional rights.
They foster confusion by implementing programs in government-run schools that teach kids reality is subjective, and so is language. These days, everything is subjective.
Individuals have been so engrained with this fallacy they have an internal panic attack at the thought of living absent of the State. The very abuser they’ve been subjected to is now their savior. This is an example of Stockholm Syndrome.
After clamoring on about how awful government is, when critics of the government are presented with a philosophy built on voluntary interactions and private exchange absent of State intervention they suddenly change. ‘But who will build the roads?!’ is often the first question I’m asked. Though I’ll save the long answer of that for another article, Anarchy and the Law, edited by economist Ed Stringham can answer this question and many more.
In today’s climate, we are told over and over again to trust the science or follow the science. The operative words used in these phrases are red flags.
Logic asks you to question, not trust. Reason asks you to lead yourself, not follow others.
And no legitimate science has an aversion to being questioned.
If it does, it’s not science, it’s politics.
I came across a clear-cut example of the Appeal to Authority fallacy the other day when reading the news. When asked about her frustration towards protesters of vaccine mandates, ABC 6 News Outlet quoted a patient originally from Qatar who said:
"We have to respect the health experts and listen to them.”
If this isn’t State-sponsored jargon I don’t know what is.
Force is at the forefront of this statement, declaring we have to do something, which renders an act immoral. Only voluntary acts are moral.
This individual makes it clear she has not only given her thinking over to ‘health experts,’ she also expects everyone else to do the same.
To someone who is unaware of the Appeal to Authority logical fallacy, this statement might not seem like the loaded gun it truly is.
It is fine if one decides to give their free will, mind, and autonomy over to a group of unidentified health experts, that is the choice of the individual. But to then demand others do the same is wrong. Let me be clear, an ultimatum is not a choice. Demanding an action based on the inevitability of consequences via force and coercion due to someone’s inaction is tyranny. And the actions of a tyrant are sanctioned by the personal philosophies of citizens. No tyrant comes to power without the permission of groups of individuals who think they know what’s best for others. And they’ll carry out their thoughts by the hands of authority.
Before writing off injustice as the status quo or jumping on the bandwagon to keep the peace and get back to ‘normal,’ two other logical fallacies, ask yourself if you are falling prey to the Appeal to Authority logical fallacy. Ask it often. This fallacy is engrained in our society everywhere. In a world run on State-sponsored rhetoric and mysticism, only the implementation of logic can preserve what few sparks of freedom we have left.
History shows us, thinking rationally for oneself is literally a matter of life or death.
Thank you for reading! In a world where reality has been canceled, I like to fight the insanity with my pen, guitar, and wits. Freedom Journal, like all my other creative endeavors, is run solely on voluntary contributions. If you’d like to donate, visit one of my handy dandy virtual tip jars below. Thank you in advance!
PayPal:
*Donate with your Paypal balance or a Credit Card
paypal.me/rebeccadaymusic