"A society where the citizen only works to keep the state system running, a society where solidarity between doctor and patient is forbidden but solidarity with the state is compulsory" this, this is the aspect of the process which is so hard for us to notice.
Excellent article Mattias! Btw, I still find it very much shocking that Frank VDB is even allowed to hold a government post considering how he actually was found guilty of destroying legal tender - to cover up for the criminal activities of his political party, the "socialists"!!
Preach, Mattias, preach it preach it preach it... I get on my soapbox more often these days because I feel each of us has the responsibility to do so. The best advice given in your last book (besides having a good network of family/friends/neighbors around you - something that was already the case for me, thankfully, even before the covid debacle) was to KEEP SPEAKING OUT IN A RATIONAL AND CALM WAY. What else can we do, really?
Instead of working on creating robust health in nature and citizens so that we can work long and grow old in a healthy and happy way, they keep punishing us for their own mismanagements.
Belgium and the Netherlands don't exist anymore; their politicians are already transhuman in their biologics and are already remotely controlled.
Money has been printed by politicians and bankers. So, if you want money you have live by their rules. Otherwise you get only bread crumbs fallen off their tables.
One solution is to have homestead that supports you(r family) and live quite happily. Then hard work is always worth it.
Mattias Desmet, you highlight an important societal issue here: people are breaking down—mentally and physically—not because they “don’t want to work,” but because the system itself is making them ill. That’s a hard point to refute. But I do wonder whether you really need a theory of totalitarianism to explain this.
The core of what you're saying—control, bureaucracy, meaningless work, loss of solidarity—has already been thoroughly and insightfully analyzed by your former colleague in the department, Paul Verhaeghe, in his work on the neoliberal meritocracy. So there’s nothing new under the sun here—more a case of old wine in new bottles. Verhaeghe showed how a society entirely driven by measurability, performance, and economic output leads to a loss of identity, burnout, alienation, and ultimately even a kind of moral numbness. And he did so without needing to invoke totalitarianism.
Your reference to totalitarianism seems more like a rhetorical device than a necessary theoretical addition. It contributes little to the substance of the analysis, while also dragging in so much historical and ideological baggage that it clouds rather than clarifies the discussion. The power structures that crush people today don’t need a Führer—a spreadsheet full of KPIs is more than enough.
In short: your message about a sick system is powerful and justified. But you don’t need “totalitarianism” to make that point. Verhaeghe’s analysis already goes further than you might think—and without drifting into loaded concepts that distract more than they illuminate.
That said, it’s encouraging to see you finally taking the economic dimension into account. Back in late 2022, I already pointed out that your book seemed to have completely overlooked the role of economic structures. ("Laat het neo-liberalistische samenspel van malfide beleidsmakers en bazen de wereldorde bepalen en daarbij de wetenschappen gebruiken, dan krijg je een soort van totalitarisme. Daar dienen we waakzaam voor te zijn. En dat doen we vooral door niet op de foute ‘slechterik’ te schieten, wel op de juiste: de neo-liberale kapitalistische ideologie en z’n slippendragers."
I think the train of thought he is continuing is directly in line with the progression of The Psychology of Totalitarianism, which ends with excellent advice about how to move forward... and he is doing exactly that. There are plenty of sources out there if you'd like to immerse yourself into the intricacies of totalitarianism. He's said his bit about it plainly and clearly in numerous forums, cited sources and made his case. If you need to ruminate, by all means, go for it, there's plenty of material out there...
Oh, ffs. Immediately regret engaging with you. You seem incredibly defensive and eager to label others derogatorily. No, I'm not engaged in a "personality cult", I just happen to enjoy his take on a number of subjects. If you can't hang with a "be good to people while speaking forthrightly" kind of scenario in your own life, at least don't take it out on those who can
Phew. You are a doozy. And no, I'm not miffed. Nor did I take any sort of superiority stance. Perhaps this is a projection of your own. I'm almost 60 years old and the concept of totalitarianism is not new to me, either. I have very low neuroticism, however, and tend not to ruminate. Have a joyful day ☀️
Our author says we have to make a correct diagnosis to determine which people need to be supported by society.
I am an employer with 5000 people/ employees here in Toronto . When did we conflate private organizations with general social good? This “whole of society” approach is bizarre, it is counter-indicated for the health of a commercial organization.
Give them a wide birth and time to overcome their problems and then if they can’t get it together fire them and get somebody new.
Here is my point. I would say in Toronto to have a decent life you have to earn $100,000: you’re not getting rich, but you can float your boat. About 30% of people in Toronto are in the game with a boat and 70% are swimming and close to drowning.
With late stage capitalism, we have created an economic environment and a culture where it is widely “understood” that you cannot earn enough money to live. People are competing like hell. A large organization is a lattice work of interconnected responsibilities and overlapping tasks. People see when their colleagues are failing. They see a lagging performer and covet their job: money. Coddling losers is unfair to the winners. Every successful company knows this.
My thinking (based on my experience) is simple enough. Our clients are some of the richest, most powerful corporations in the world and our competition is equally fierce. It’s very difficult to thrive and survive. You can’t drag along deadwood. Sorry you’re having trouble. Best wishes in your future. The 70% swimmers deserve their chance. I say treat others as you would wish to be treated, this the height of compassion and it is a terrible thing to block a person from progress to accommodate someone who can’t make it. Think how upset you would be. This is what meritocracy looks like.
"That a ‘socialist’ minister, without any form of self-criticism or reflection, threatens to take people’s benefits away – we must speak out against this."
Careful, Mattias. This kind of public discourse will get you arrested in the UK. And Germany, for that matter. Better to keep your nose to the grindstone and keep pedaling. Achtung!
Beautifully articulated
"A society where the citizen only works to keep the state system running, a society where solidarity between doctor and patient is forbidden but solidarity with the state is compulsory" this, this is the aspect of the process which is so hard for us to notice.
I love your work.
Seek not health advice from doctors, who know nothing of health. In fact they’re mystified by the body’s healing abilities.
You’re so right about finding work that inspires. However we need to also teach that any real work (not the admin kind) has a value of its own.
The Christ is The Tao.
It’s from the jabs. Blood is clotted and sick. People are genuinely exhausted. They are dying.
Spell it out the way we need to hear it.
Vriendelijk Dank Mattias
Truth be heard
Excellent article Mattias! Btw, I still find it very much shocking that Frank VDB is even allowed to hold a government post considering how he actually was found guilty of destroying legal tender - to cover up for the criminal activities of his political party, the "socialists"!!
Preach, Mattias, preach it preach it preach it... I get on my soapbox more often these days because I feel each of us has the responsibility to do so. The best advice given in your last book (besides having a good network of family/friends/neighbors around you - something that was already the case for me, thankfully, even before the covid debacle) was to KEEP SPEAKING OUT IN A RATIONAL AND CALM WAY. What else can we do, really?
And as a I recall Mattias saying it only takes a small percent of people to continue to resist tyranny to make a huge difference.
hallelujah
Instead of working on creating robust health in nature and citizens so that we can work long and grow old in a healthy and happy way, they keep punishing us for their own mismanagements.
Belgium and the Netherlands don't exist anymore; their politicians are already transhuman in their biologics and are already remotely controlled.
Money has been printed by politicians and bankers. So, if you want money you have live by their rules. Otherwise you get only bread crumbs fallen off their tables.
One solution is to have homestead that supports you(r family) and live quite happily. Then hard work is always worth it.
Mattias Desmet, you highlight an important societal issue here: people are breaking down—mentally and physically—not because they “don’t want to work,” but because the system itself is making them ill. That’s a hard point to refute. But I do wonder whether you really need a theory of totalitarianism to explain this.
The core of what you're saying—control, bureaucracy, meaningless work, loss of solidarity—has already been thoroughly and insightfully analyzed by your former colleague in the department, Paul Verhaeghe, in his work on the neoliberal meritocracy. So there’s nothing new under the sun here—more a case of old wine in new bottles. Verhaeghe showed how a society entirely driven by measurability, performance, and economic output leads to a loss of identity, burnout, alienation, and ultimately even a kind of moral numbness. And he did so without needing to invoke totalitarianism.
Your reference to totalitarianism seems more like a rhetorical device than a necessary theoretical addition. It contributes little to the substance of the analysis, while also dragging in so much historical and ideological baggage that it clouds rather than clarifies the discussion. The power structures that crush people today don’t need a Führer—a spreadsheet full of KPIs is more than enough.
In short: your message about a sick system is powerful and justified. But you don’t need “totalitarianism” to make that point. Verhaeghe’s analysis already goes further than you might think—and without drifting into loaded concepts that distract more than they illuminate.
That said, it’s encouraging to see you finally taking the economic dimension into account. Back in late 2022, I already pointed out that your book seemed to have completely overlooked the role of economic structures. ("Laat het neo-liberalistische samenspel van malfide beleidsmakers en bazen de wereldorde bepalen en daarbij de wetenschappen gebruiken, dan krijg je een soort van totalitarisme. Daar dienen we waakzaam voor te zijn. En dat doen we vooral door niet op de foute ‘slechterik’ te schieten, wel op de juiste: de neo-liberale kapitalistische ideologie en z’n slippendragers."
https://woutermareels.substack.com/p/13-beschouwingen-bij-de-psychologie#:~:text=Laat%20het%20neo,en%20z%E2%80%99n%20slippendragers.)
I think the train of thought he is continuing is directly in line with the progression of The Psychology of Totalitarianism, which ends with excellent advice about how to move forward... and he is doing exactly that. There are plenty of sources out there if you'd like to immerse yourself into the intricacies of totalitarianism. He's said his bit about it plainly and clearly in numerous forums, cited sources and made his case. If you need to ruminate, by all means, go for it, there's plenty of material out there...
I do find myself curious about Andrew Lobaczewski on Political Ponerology, and will check it out
I never once claimed to have more knowledge of anything - I believe you are the one making the assumptions.
Oh, ffs. Immediately regret engaging with you. You seem incredibly defensive and eager to label others derogatorily. No, I'm not engaged in a "personality cult", I just happen to enjoy his take on a number of subjects. If you can't hang with a "be good to people while speaking forthrightly" kind of scenario in your own life, at least don't take it out on those who can
Phew. You are a doozy. And no, I'm not miffed. Nor did I take any sort of superiority stance. Perhaps this is a projection of your own. I'm almost 60 years old and the concept of totalitarianism is not new to me, either. I have very low neuroticism, however, and tend not to ruminate. Have a joyful day ☀️
Our author says we have to make a correct diagnosis to determine which people need to be supported by society.
I am an employer with 5000 people/ employees here in Toronto . When did we conflate private organizations with general social good? This “whole of society” approach is bizarre, it is counter-indicated for the health of a commercial organization.
Give them a wide birth and time to overcome their problems and then if they can’t get it together fire them and get somebody new.
Here is my point. I would say in Toronto to have a decent life you have to earn $100,000: you’re not getting rich, but you can float your boat. About 30% of people in Toronto are in the game with a boat and 70% are swimming and close to drowning.
With late stage capitalism, we have created an economic environment and a culture where it is widely “understood” that you cannot earn enough money to live. People are competing like hell. A large organization is a lattice work of interconnected responsibilities and overlapping tasks. People see when their colleagues are failing. They see a lagging performer and covet their job: money. Coddling losers is unfair to the winners. Every successful company knows this.
My thinking (based on my experience) is simple enough. Our clients are some of the richest, most powerful corporations in the world and our competition is equally fierce. It’s very difficult to thrive and survive. You can’t drag along deadwood. Sorry you’re having trouble. Best wishes in your future. The 70% swimmers deserve their chance. I say treat others as you would wish to be treated, this the height of compassion and it is a terrible thing to block a person from progress to accommodate someone who can’t make it. Think how upset you would be. This is what meritocracy looks like.
lol: all in the family, we are a corrupt country
The Trudeaus.
I hope you’re God has a hell and I hope Pierre is their now and will be joined by his effeminate son Justin.
"That a ‘socialist’ minister, without any form of self-criticism or reflection, threatens to take people’s benefits away – we must speak out against this."
Careful, Mattias. This kind of public discourse will get you arrested in the UK. And Germany, for that matter. Better to keep your nose to the grindstone and keep pedaling. Achtung!
No, we should ALL speak out! If we do it, ALL do it, every one of us, things change.
100% agreed 👊
😄
Hoogmoed is hun halssieraad
en bedekt geweld hen als een mantel,hun ogen puilen uit van het vet,
van eigenwaan zwelt hun hart.
En dreigen vanaf hun hoge zetels.
Hun ogen puilen uit van het vet.