Our New-Age Saboteurs

The American Thinker ^ | 3/29/11 | John Pachette

[Lakeshark]

I humbly suggest the following neologism: Progluddite (pronounced like troglodyte). Definition: a misinformed, misguided political ideologue who believes that technological regression will force humanity to build a New Age Utopia.

On its face, the word Progluddite seems nonsensical. It is an oxymoronic pairing of Progressive (one who is interested in new ideas) and Luddite (one who rejects new technology). However, the word is merely a reflection of the self-contradictory nature of progressive notions.

[Lakeshark]

The Luddites are a perfect role model for the new greens. "Progressives" are everything but progressive........

[Ozone34]

Just another way to immanentize the eschaton.

[maica]

A quote that I actually found in a New York Times Magazine article:

“One cannot both be a progressive and be opposed to pension reform.” (The article was about public pension funds and their lack of money.)

We can amend that sentiment: “One cannot both be a progressive and be opposed to progress.”

[SES1066]

Just another way to immanentize the eschaton.

This statement is grounds for a "mouth-soap encounter"!

[SES1066]

I fear that I am seduced by your "Progluddite", it is a perfect syllogism for those thugs rampaging in London this past weekend. I wonder if the term "hooded progluddite" would be an oxymoron?

As an unfortunately all too loquacious and present exemplar of the species, I give you my new tagline ...

[RoadTest]

“Just another way to immanentize the eschaton.

This statement is grounds for a “mouth-soap encounter”!”

Yes! Would you please eschew obfuscation after this?

[IronJack]

I like the Progluddite term, although you could also just call them Post-Modernists, anarchists,or New Worlders. They’re all cut from the same bolt of cloth.

[Lakeshark]

I’ve been comparing them to the Luddites for a long time now. It’s a perfect comparison, unfortunately the greens are so illiterate, they won’t even look up what a Luddite stood for.

[Ozone34]

“Just another way to immanentize the eschaton.

This statement is grounds for a “mouth-soap encounter”!” Yes! Would you please eschew obfuscation after this?

I was making a reference to Eric Voegelin's thesis that in the absence of a transcendent moral order, civilizations default to gnosticism, i.e. man's attempt to single-handedly impose a perfect order on society, i.e. bring heaven on earth, or make immanent the end days or eschaton (eg. Marxism, communism, naziism, fascism, progressivism, etc.) When I was in HS in the late '60's, National Review sold some entertaining buttons and bumperstickers featuring "Don't Let them Immanentize the Eschaton" and "Eat Grapes", among others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanentize_the_eschaton

[Disambiguator]

I like the Progluddite term, although you could also just call them Post-Modernists, anarchists,or New Worlders. They’re all cut from the same bolt of cloth.

Or, to paraphrase a well-known passage, "a pile of dog crap, by any other name, would smell just as bad."

[ThePatriotsFlag]

It seems other terms “name” them (and I already have a handy name for most of them) ... but this term “defines” them. Now how am I going to get that on my next T-Shirt ... hmmm.