Look, I said that I can travel to China without getting arrested. That is a fact. I can’t say the same about the USA. If they knew I was coming to the states they would also know what I’ve posted and liked with 90% certainty, and believe me, they don’t want someone who’s been this deep into “anti-capitalism” as me entering the country. The United States government has more than enough reasons to go full stick instead of carrot when we consider its failing economy and the rebirth of social movements.
I know what I can expect in China, I know that they won’t arrest someone because they once posted a picture of a yellow umbrella or liked a John Oliver video. That is too much of a hassle and China is currently liberalising, just like Kuwait and Qatar. Plans about opening the great firewall up have been floated again and again, and authorities are seriously considering doing that.
Plus you’re are completely, and I hope I don’t sound too much like a stereotypical ML – which I am not despite being on lemmy.ml – ignoring the CIA and DHS. Two, as it were, secret federal agencies with powers that go well beyond what the FBI or ATF can do. These have existed for decades. States simply have secret polices.
I didn’t say anything about the authoritarian personality and I don’t really care that some people have figured out something they view as being integral to comprehending society. Honestly, I find life under the systems people like Fromm consider least authoritarian, think Sweden in the 70s, to still be be very brutal towards the masses.
But you know what, I believe your conclusion is also party correct. People with an “authoritarian” streak can be used to guard a worker’s movement.