The Weapons of Authoritarians: Ableism a Tool of Control and Oppression
In this post we will continue exploring a tool authoritarians use. We will explore how ableism serves as a tool of control in authoritarian regimes. Thus we will help you the reader understand its impact on discrimination and oppression.
First a definition of Ableism
Ableism targets disabled individuals for exclusion and devaluation while establishing productivity and conformity standards that discipline all bodies into serving capitalist or dictatorship production regardless of individual needs or capacities.
How to Combat Ableism in Society
A bit of history, Germany in the 1930-1940’s, sent disabled people to the concentration camps as genetic defectives. Don’t think America was free from this. The Eugenics movement in America was supported by the courts in the 1920-1930’s. This was part of misunderstanding Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution. A journal in England called Biomentrica, supported this for awhile. They later changed and became a statistical research journal.
In the 1930’s, polio treatments worked to help those disabled by the disease. President Franklin Roosevelt was a leader in this movement. Warm Springs in the state of Georgia was the center of this movement. Georgia Tech in Atlanta designed better equipment to help the disabled and Polio victims.
However, Authoritarian Leaders follow a extreme Capitalist Model
The support for disabled individuals was slow in coming. In the past, many work places lacked disabled friendly designs. You can bet they don’t want to create inclusive spaces for all bodies. As an example, Von Shitnpantz told the Generals after a disabled vet sang at one of his meetings, He did not want see him again. President John F. Kennedy was disabled by back injuries in WW2. He worked to expand the help for veterans disabled afterwards.
Capitalist Leaders do not like taking care of disabled individuals as workers. It costs them money to modify their workplace and buildings to be disabled friendly.
Therefore authoritarian leaders and capitalist dislike disabled citizens. They want good workers that do not require structural changes. So they can earn more money.
Combating Disabled Discrimination
A healthy society takes care of those who are disabled. However, disability discrimination, occurs as a Tool of Control and Oppression of the population by the authoritarian leaders. In the United States we are seeing funds cut for these programs.
Immigration Restrictions and Disability Discrimination
In the late 19th century, many scientists, who were concerned about the population leaning too far away from the favored “Anglo-Saxon superiority” due to a rise in immigration from southern Europe, partnered with other interest groups to implement immigration laws that could be justified on the basis of genetics. Thus we see race and country of origin follow this weapons of authoritarians also.
Summary
The Psycho Evaluation Krewe does not have a good summary for this weapon. It requires empathy which dark Triad leaders do not have. So the citizens of a country need to understand and take this as a cause to make positive changes and take care of those who are disabled. This is a sign of a great movement forward for a better future.