Conservative here, why does someone think we hate cities and industrialization? I thought the stereotype was that conservatives were all for oil drilling and urbanization and destroying the environment. Or is this like a redneck thing? Also, to that specific anon, interpreting Cain as a hero is even worse than interpreting Kylo Ren as one, please try to have a little religious sensitivity.

I’ve been thinking a little about that, and I think the confusion is due to the double-dealing inherent in fascist rhetoric. On the one hand fascism decries the degeneracy of modern society, invoking a return to simpler times. On the other fascism uses modern institutions to the fullest for repressive ends. So it’s not the whole of modernity that fascists oppose, but rather the modern values of pluralism, egalitarianism, and human rights. The aim of fascism is to use modern means for pre-modern ends, and that’s how I think fascist rhetoric plays both to cities and rural populations.

Heck, I don’t even think fascism is a purely right-wing/conservative phenomenon, because it can peel away support from the left by being economically leftist at least for favored groups. But that’s another subject altogether.

Also I’m guessing you’re going to HATE my planned meta about Kylo Ren being a Christian hero in the worst sense. The way Kylostans talk about him smacks of the prodigal son and cheap grace, so I can see his appeal to a culturally Christian audience. The reception of him appeals to the Western Christian id, the worst instincts of a dominant group to paper over atrocities with “forgiveness” for the sake of a false peace.