Politics, lies, and coercion

Yet another form of political realism.

Religion and morality, both of which are manipulative and coercive fabrics of lies, are rooted in the fundamental realities of politics, the will to and exercise of power.

There are no gods, there is no natural law, there are no natural rights, and both religion and morality are carefully cultivated delusions functioning as frameworks of coercion.

It is not merely that religious and moral convictions purport to justify coercion, it is that they purport that there is - yes, and is required - such a thing as justification with respect not only to coercion but any other object of practical concern.

They are enablers of coercion, means for and aids in the exercise of power.

They are hence intrinsically political, and the liberal idea of a politics entirely independent of both and yet not a naked contest for domination through force is just another hypocrisy, delusion, or fraud of the soi-disant “reality based” and “enlightened.”

Difference of opinion brings with it disputes about opinions, in turn leading to the deployment of religious or moral “justifications” for coercion of opinion, demands for such coercion, and actual use of it to suppress condemned opinions that themselves condemn or license something.

And there is really no intrinsic difference between culture wars, purely secular political disagreements concerning rights and justice, and other disputes about right and wrong.

Legislative bodies are mischaracterized when described as deliberative bodies.

They are arenas.