In fact, I think all of this screaming about "Political…
““In fact, I think all of this screaming about "Political Correctness" that we hear these days in the elite culture is basically just a tantrum over the fact that it has been impossible to crush all of the dissidence and the activism and the concern that's developed in the general population in the last thirty years. I mean, it's not that some of these "P.C." things they point out aren't true-yeah, sure, some of them are true. But the real problem is that the huge right-wing effort to retake control of the ideological system didn't work―and since their mentality is basically totalitarian, any break in their control is considered a huge tragedy: 98 percent control isn't enough, you have to have 100 percent control; these are totalitarian strains. But they couldn't get it, especially among the general population. They have not been able to beat back all of the gains of the popular movements since the 1960s, which simply led to a lot of concern about sexism, and racism, and environmental issues, respect for other cultures, and all this other bad stuff. And it's led to real hysteria among elites, so you get this whole P.C. comedy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The backlash against political correctness reflects elite anxiety over losing total ideological control, revealing tensions between authority and popular dissent.
In simple terms: Elite fear of losing control fuels criticism of PC.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power dynamics behind cultural debates.
Themes
power
political correctness
elite anxiety
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- social media debates
- policy discussions
- activist movements
Key Concepts
sociology
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power influence cultural norms?
- What role does dissent play in democracy?
A Different Perspective
Not all criticism of PC is elite-driven; genuine concerns exist.