This is what happens when you minimize importance of far right ideology in storming of Capitol. Articles suggests financial trouble caused extremism rather than vice versa. #ShortThread https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/10/capitol-insurrectionists-jenna-ryan-financial-problems/?tid=ss_tw

1. Particularly within the US, opposition to (federal) taxes is KEY part of the broader right-wing, from "small state conservatives" to radical right groups like militias and sovereign citizens.

2. In fact, opposition to the IRS, including demands to abolish the IRS", have become mainstreamed within Republican Party for over decade -- it's no longer just Ron Paul and his "libertarian" fringe.

3. These anti-IRS/anti-tax sentiments were radicalized during Tea Party movement. The slogan "tax is theft" was visible at many TP rallies.

4. Hence, it is highly likely that many of these people with "financial trouble" had chosen to not pay (all) taxes, for (pseudo-)ideological reasons rather than because of financial trouble.

5. Similarly, the choice to ignore federal laws, and be upset about being beholden to the same laws as everyone else, is perfect example of (white) privilege.

6. Obviously, white privilege is central to white supremacy which is central to far right ideologies in the US.

7. At best, this shows "relative deprivation" (feeling poor), not "absolute deprivation" (being objectively poor).

TBC, social science research has shown for decades that relative deprivation determines political behavior much more than absolute deprivation.

8. Still, it is yet another example of how uncritical mainstream (liberal) media cover the far right. It is obsessed with the "economic anxiety" frame, despite decades of research showing overwhelmingly that socio-cultural issues are much more important.

9. It is also a cause and consequence of the endless downplaying of far-right ideology in the behavior of far-rightists.

It wasn't "an insurrection" or "domestic violent extremism", it was FAR RIGHT insurrection and "domestic violent FAR RIGHT extremism"

10. Hopefully, more social scientists will start to study FAR RIGHT POLITICS, rather than "the far right" or "populism", and read up on decades of research in Europe and US, including that of Seymour Martin Lipset (1955, 1960, etc). #TheEnd