# Lyndon LaRouche? Scientology? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 20, 2006, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307 "2006-02-20T10:20:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caius\_Preposterus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47c2d/32.png) [@Caius\_Preposterus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caius_Preposterus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/1 "2006-02-20T10:20:44Z")
Ok, I’m putting this here because it’s about politics and religion. A little background: I went on a blind date this weekend. I’m a guy. My date’s a guy. In the middle of the date, he gets a call on his cell phone. He picks up, says something about being really busy and hangs up. Then we had the following conversation: The Date: These people won’t leave me alone. Me: Who was it? The Date: Oh, I donated money to this PAC. And now they won’t stop calling me. Me: What PAC did you donate to? The Date: LaRouche… something? Me: Lyndon LaRouche? The Date: Yeah, I think that’s it. Me: Why would you donate to a Lyndon LaRouche PAC? The Date: Well, I read some of his stuff and I agreed with it. Me: You think the Queen of England and the Pope are engaged in a conspiracy to undermine the US government by smugggling drugs into the country? The Date: Well, I didn’t get that far in the reading. Ok, needless to say, this date didn’t go well. But after I got home, I started thinking. Where exactly did I get this idea that LaRouche had a conspiracy about the Queen of England and the Pope? Does this have any basis in reality? Secondly, something about the my date’s vibe made me think he was a scientologist (I live in Los Angeles, so I’ve had quite a few dealings with them). Is there any connection between Scientology and LaRouche? Or am I making this up? And is LaRouche really a crackpot? Or is he some victim of a grand conspiracy? Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/2 "2006-02-20T13:37:39Z")
Yeah, LaRouche thinks the English Royal Family, Henry Kissinger, and the Bush family are all in cahoots to control the American and worldwide drug trade. He does like the Pope, as far as I know, and I don’t think he has any ties to Scientology. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/3 "2006-02-20T14:48:41Z")
I first became aware of the LaRouchies in the early '80s when I was an undergrad at Georgetown University and found some of their pamphlets lying around. They were calling for a space-based missile-defense system (a couple of years before Reagan announced his SDI plan). But what struck me was the rhetoric about the abominable evil of Aristotle, Khomeini and Kissinger as against the goodness and wisdom of Plato, Beethoven and LaRouche. LL started as a leftist radical in the '60s (he published at least one book under the pen-name “Lyn Marcus,” from Lenin and Marx). In the early '70s he founded something called the U.S. Labor Party (now defunct). But somehow, his world-view suffered a sea-change into something rich and strange. He developed a Manichean, good-vs.-evil theory of history. On the good side: Plato, Hamilton, urbanism, industrialism, technology, “humanists,” “golden souls,” Schiller, Beethoven. On the evil side: Aristotle, Jefferson, aristocracy, agrarianism, Bertrand Russell and other “British philosophers,” the British royal family (which runs the drug trade), that “British-backed Austrian hippie” Adolf Hitler, that “pot-puffing fop” William Buckley, Henry Kissinger, Israel. Some critics assert that when LaRouche says “British” he really means “Jewish”. See _Lyndon LaRouche and the New American Fascism_ by Dennis King (Bantam Dell, 1989). Which would make him a kind of neo-Nazi, perhaps. But the Nazis always associated the Germans with goodness and agrarianism and the Jews with evil and urbanism; if LaRouche is a Nazi, he has completely inverted the Nazi value-system. But what has always perplexed me about the LaRouche movement is that it is a movement – not just one crank turning out incomprehensible books, but a dedicated cult of followers, with what appear to be some very well-financed publications. I’ve always wondered where they get their money. You can read LaRouche’s whole history here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon\_Larouche](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Larouche) See these old threads – they cover LaRouche pretty thoroughly: > **[Lyndon Larouche-Who and what is he?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279630)** > > I’d put this in General Question but I figure that this will turn into a debate soon enough. I go to a university, and thus, am exposed on a regular basis to Mr. Larouches followers. They seemed nice enough and described him as a “New Deal”... > **[What's the connection between Lyndon LaRouche and the Pythagorean Theorem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=276478)** > > Two days ago I encountered a group of LaRouche activists demonstrating on my college’s campus. Among other posters, they had one of a drawing of a triangle with the theorem stated under it, with the caption “Can you explain this?” Wondering what the... > **[What's the deal with LaRouche?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268703)** > > “Oh my God, Lyndon LaRouche was right!” -Homer Simpson, upon seeing Clinton and Dole naked in tubes inside a flying saucer, '96 Treehouse of Horror I’ve encountered people handing out his pamphlets at my college and occasionally in other places.... Regarding a Scientology connection – I don’t think so. Scientology is a cult, LaRouche’s political followers are a cult, but beyond that there is absolutely no common ground in their thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/4 "2006-02-20T19:08:03Z")
I dabbled with LaRouche’s people in the early nineties and while some of their technological goals were interesting, I backed off quickly when I found out their views on censorship (they seemed pretty much in favour). Their conspiracy beliefs regarding the invasion of Panama (i.e. it was done to bring it back under U.S. control after Noriega starting getting uppity and Hong Kong was going to eventually return to Chinese control, putting a potential crimp in international drug money movement). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/5 "2006-02-20T19:11:32Z")
BTW, if you’ve ever seen people at airports passing out literature in favor of more nuclear power plants, they were probably LaRouchies. They have what amounts to a religious faith in the power of technology to solve all problems. I guess you could call them anti-Greens. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/6 "2006-02-20T22:57:52Z")
In 1986, LaRouche-backed candidates won the Illinois Democratice primary race for Lt. Governor and Secretary of State. [http://www.prin.edu/users/els/departments/poli\_sci/state/state/larouche.htm](http://www.prin.edu/users/els/departments/poli_sci/state/state/larouche.htm) > [@](#): > > Janice Hart and Mark Fairchild won on the platform articulated in their cult’s New Solidarity newspaper: eliminate Gramm-Rudman, fund Star Wars, test everyone for AIDS (and quarantine victims), and form a “Nuremberg Tribunal” to investigate drug dealing by Zionists and journalists, represented by Henry Kissinger and Katherine Graham, whom the LaRouchies want to hang for treason. Although Hart and Fairchild articulated their sick program to anyone who would listen, most of those who voted for them had no idea what they stood for. This caused the Democrats no end of grief. While the party couldn’t exactly tell the voters to vote for the Republican candidates, they did everythng else possible to distance themselves from Hart and Fairchild. Of course, Illinois Republicans repaid the favor in 2004 when they wound up with Alan Keyes to run against Barak Obama. [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/467qtjpl.asp](http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/467qtjpl.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/7 "2006-02-21T00:15:33Z")
Am I crazy, or did the LaRouches want to build a giant land bridge over all the US, from the east to west coast? I came across some dedicated young followers during my stint in the Kerry campaign. They were idealistic… but something was just not quite right with them. They didn’t get the campaign idea of 50%+1: they thought it was an overall goal rather than a universe/resources equation. Such people are immensely frustrating. Like the timecube guy, you gradually get the feeling that whatever you are saying to them just isn’t really being heard, that they are off in another world somewhere. I came across some more of them during the Kaine campaign in Virginia. Again, they were sort of on the fringes, claiming to be Democrats, but not really getting involved and mostly just interested in their own strange ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/8 "2006-02-21T02:02:43Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Am I crazy, or did the LaRouches want to build a giant land bridge over all the US, from the east to west coast? I only remember their (not unreasonable) notion for high-speed rail links in the densely populated northeast. I guess I didn’t hang around long enough to be made privy to their giant land bridge plan. ---
**Author:** ![spool\_of\_thread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@spool\_of\_thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spool_of_thread)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/9 "2006-02-21T02:31:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I guess you could call them anti-Greens. That would make them Reds. I guess you could say they’re woo woo’s. Didn’t 2 of their people get elected locally somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Caius\_Preposterus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47c2d/32.png) [@Caius\_Preposterus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caius_Preposterus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/10 "2006-02-21T02:33:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Regarding a Scientology connection – I don’t think so. Scientology is a cult, LaRouche’s political followers are a cult, but beyond that there is absolutely no common ground in their thinking. Then I guess I must have been getting a “culty” vibe rather than a scientology vibe. The whole date seemed weird to me. Maybe I was being recruited. Thanks for the responses. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/11 "2006-02-21T02:58:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > See these old threads – they cover LaRouche pretty thoroughly: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279630](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279630) > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=276478](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=276478) > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268703](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268703) And this one: > **[Lyndon LaRouche is not insane](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=202786)** > > . . . apparently. Since my earliest awareness of him, starting in the early eighties, I’ve always thought of Lyndon LaRouche as a shining example–if not THE shining example–of the fring wacko. (Didn’t he advocate building camps on the moon to... ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/12 "2006-02-22T20:25:01Z")
In your heart, you know he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/13 "2006-02-22T23:25:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In your heart, you know he’s right. Actually, the Democrats’ comeback seems appropriate: “In your guts, you know he’s nuts.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/14 "2006-02-23T14:00:26Z")
Here’s [a fun collection](http://www.publiceye.org/larouche/nclc4.html) of LaRouche quotes, which should quickly eliminate any doubt as to whether he’s an Agent of Influence of the Raving Loon Conspiracy. I especially like the part about the Beatles being agents of British Psychological Warfare. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/15 "2006-02-23T14:15:53Z")
Didn’t laRouche do a few years in Federal prison 9for credit card fraud)? I know he (and his gants) are barred from doing business in massachusetts-due to several cases of cc fraud. Anyway, LaRouch is sort of a garden variety whacko-his ravings about the international-jewish-drug cartel make for amusing reading. He also seems to think that Bernhard Riemann was the best mathematician of all time. My question; how do such crackpots recruit so many followers? to me, laRouche’s people were sort of brain-dead zombies, wiulling to stand on street coreners and take endless abuse-who puts up with this? ---
**Author:** ![Cynical\_Optimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Cynical\_Optimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cynical_Optimist)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/16 "2006-02-23T15:33:19Z")
> [@Caius Preposterus](#): > > I went on a blind date this weekend. I’m a guy. My date’s a guy. > [@Caius Preposterus](#): > > something about the my date’s vibe made me think he was a scientologist (I live in Los Angeles, so I’ve had quite a few dealings with them). Not likely. Homosexuality is a no-no in the Happy Fun Cult (big time second dynamic violation). Cruise and/or Travolta (if you believe the rumors) might be acceptable due to their PR value but your average clam isn’t going to flaunt an alternative lifestyle for long. As far as I know there’s no formal connection between LaRouche and ElRon, although both are snake-oil salesmen the same can be said for thousands of others throughout history. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/17 "2006-02-23T18:50:11Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Didn’t laRouche do a few years in Federal prison 9for credit card fraud)? Yes, 1988-1994. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon\_Larouche#Criminal\_conviction\_and\_imprisonment\_.281988.E2.80.931994.29](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Larouche#Criminal_conviction_and_imprisonment_.281988.E2.80.931994.29) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/18 "2006-02-23T18:53:04Z")
> [@Cynical Optimist](#): > > As far as I know there’s no formal connection between LaRouche and ElRon, although both are snake-oil salesmen the same can be said for thousands of others throughout history. My guess: Both actually belong(ed) to the far more dangerous subset who actually believe in their own snake oil. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307/19 "2006-02-23T20:52:40Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Am I crazy, or did the LaRouches want to build a giant land bridge over all the US, from the east to west coast? Wouldn’t that be what we call the “Interstate Highway System”?