Plato (L), Vance (R), though both right-wingers (Sources: public domain (L), US Congress (R))
The ideology that we now call “right wing” has been around for many centuries. What “right wing” means is the idea and desire that power be concentrated into a particular segment of society. Those who believe in this ideology of power concentration see achieving it as a moral good and even a moral demand.
Enter JD Vance, freshman senator and recently appointed MAGA spokesperson, who fervently believes in the ideology of power concentration. He believes, as MAGA and their funders do, that America needs an overhaul of political power structures that reasserts traditional concentrations of power — only that return to past divisions of power will make America great again.
A Prejudice as Old as Plato
Plato (427–347 BCE) in his book Republic outlined his vision of the ideal society. A just and well-ordered society, Plato insisted, had to have power concentrated in a select few — the “guardians” — who would be of superior intellect and ability and would make all decisions for the society. Because they were superior people, the guardians would understand what was necessary for the good of society and make the correct decisions for society. Plato was particularly focused on the need for the guardians to dictate to people what roles they should fulfill in society to maintain a well-ordered society. Plato believed that to be healthy, a society needs a strict power structure in which the guardians’ plans for society rules over all other interests.
Plato understood that for it to survive, a concentration of power in a select few requires the obedience of everyone else. Compliance with the dictates of the leaders is essential to maintain this right-wing form of law and order. Everyone needs to do what they are told. Dissent must be discouraged — in particular, individuals thinking for themselves must be discouraged.
To encourage people buy into the guardians’ plans for society, Plato called for the guardians to use, when needed, a “noble lie.” Plato certainly honored honesty as a virtue, but he honored as a higher virtue the need to maintain the power structure that enforced law and order. Thus, it would be at times a moral imperative to persuade the people of the importance of accepting the dictates of the guardians and accepting their role in the power structure.
A lie can be noble and worthy if it is used for a good reason, Plato said. Maintaining support for the proper order and arrangement of society’s key elements is the noblest of reasons, Plato believed, because that proper order is the only way to achieve justice. Thus, creating stories to convince people to support the plans and actions of the guardians, the rulers, is a moral good.
Enter JD Vance, who in a recent interview with Dana Bash on the CNN television network defended his false stories about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Vance insisted that some of the vile, racist stories he tells are true, but when his lies were challenged by Bash, he responded by unwittingly channeling Plato and the noble lie.
If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.
A noble lie — worthy if used for the good reason of persuading people to support the plans of those who wish to be the guardians of America. In particular, Vance is defending the tactic of creating stories to persuade people to support the Project 2025 plan to engage in mass deportations of immigrants. Trump and Vance frequently mention their desire for mass deportations to maintain what they see as proper order, and Vance was freely admitting he is creating stories to convince people to support their plans. Those who believe in this ideology of power concentration see achieving it as a moral good and even a moral demand that outweighs other virtues such as honesty.
Plato would approve, as would many others fond of concentrated power that disregard individual people and their rights.
It’s Not about Law and Order
I need to add this rebuttal of a false notion. Right-wingers are fond of talking in support of the concepts of law and order. The impression they try to cultivate is that they are against illegality. On the subject of immigration, they try to cultivate the idea that their complaint is with illegal immigrants.
The reality is that the anti-immigrant rhetoric from Trump, Vance, and other right-wingers is not about illegality. Vance admitted as much in this statement to Bash. “I’m not mad at Haitian migrants for wanting to have a better life. We’re angry at Kamala Harris for letting this happen.”
The right wing doesn’t want immigrants, especially immigrants who aren’t white. This has been the right-wing plan in American all along, and anti-immigrant “noble lies” have been a right-wing tactic for many years. Again, there’s nothing new in the tactics of right wingers Trump and Vance.
Additional Reading
Left Wing, Right Wing, People, and Power
The Core Dynamics of Political Action
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