Here is a link to the article: How to Build an Autocracy
The author is David Frum, "a senior editor at The Atlantic. In 2001–02, he was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush."
The article starts by painting a picture of the possible state of the USA in 2021, just 4 years away. It's not exaggerated. That's what is alarming about the article.
A few paragraphs from the article, paragraphs which are not fiction, but happening now around the world:
"...What has happened in Hungary since 2010 offers an example—and a blueprint for would-be strongmen. Hungary is a member state of the European Union and a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights. It has elections and uncensored internet. Yet Hungary is ceasing to be a free country.
The transition has been nonviolent, often not even very dramatic. Opponents of the regime are not murdered or imprisoned, although many are harassed with building inspections and tax audits. If they work for the government, or for a company susceptible to government pressure, they risk their jobs by speaking out. Nonetheless, they are free to emigrate anytime they like. Those with money can even take it with them. Day in and day out, the regime works more through inducements than through intimidation. The courts are packed, and forgiving of the regime’s allies. Friends of the government win state contracts at high prices and borrow on easy terms from the central bank. Those on the inside grow rich by favoritism; those on the outside suffer from the general deterioration of the economy. As one shrewd observer told me on a recent visit, 'The benefit of controlling a modern state is less the power to persecute the innocent, more the power to protect the guilty.'..."
"...Outside the Islamic world, the 21st century is not an era of ideology. The grand utopian visions of the 19th century have passed out of fashion. The nightmare totalitarian projects of the 20th have been overthrown or have disintegrated, leaving behind only outdated remnants: North Korea, Cuba. What is spreading today is repressive kleptocracy, led by rulers motivated by greed rather than by the deranged idealism of Hitler or Stalin or Mao. Such rulers rely less on terror and more on rule-twisting, the manipulation of information, and the co-optation of elites..."
The transition has been nonviolent, often not even very dramatic. Opponents of the regime are not murdered or imprisoned, although many are harassed with building inspections and tax audits. If they work for the government, or for a company susceptible to government pressure, they risk their jobs by speaking out. Nonetheless, they are free to emigrate anytime they like. Those with money can even take it with them. Day in and day out, the regime works more through inducements than through intimidation. The courts are packed, and forgiving of the regime’s allies. Friends of the government win state contracts at high prices and borrow on easy terms from the central bank. Those on the inside grow rich by favoritism; those on the outside suffer from the general deterioration of the economy. As one shrewd observer told me on a recent visit, 'The benefit of controlling a modern state is less the power to persecute the innocent, more the power to protect the guilty.'..."
"...Outside the Islamic world, the 21st century is not an era of ideology. The grand utopian visions of the 19th century have passed out of fashion. The nightmare totalitarian projects of the 20th have been overthrown or have disintegrated, leaving behind only outdated remnants: North Korea, Cuba. What is spreading today is repressive kleptocracy, led by rulers motivated by greed rather than by the deranged idealism of Hitler or Stalin or Mao. Such rulers rely less on terror and more on rule-twisting, the manipulation of information, and the co-optation of elites..."
~*~
Throughout 2016, as my fatigue and cognitive ability allowed, I read articles and opinions from different sides of the political spectrum, from far left to middle to far right. Trump's extreme narcissism was blatant and concerned me.
But it was an article I read in The New Yorker that struck home on a personal level: Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All. As I was reading the article the first time, it was like reading about my harmful experience and relationship with John Knapp, my previous mental health therapist whose license was revoked in 2014. Then when I got to the end of the article and read Trump's final words to Schwartz, my mouth dropped open in an "OMG" moment -- "...[Trump] said, 'Have a nice life.' Trump hung up." "Have a nice life" were Knapp's exact last words to me in a 2010 email. Knapp also used those same words with others when his mask cracked publicly online in 2011. I'm no Tony Schwartz and Knapp is no Donald Trump, but Trump's manipulative tactics are the same and oh so recognizable.
Still, I thought, Carol, you might be projecting. So, keep calm.
I watched debates between Trump and Clinton, noticing Trump's body language and facial expressions, his disregard for social norms, his outright blatant lies with his pretense of honesty and feigned cause for the working citizen. I continued to read from various opinions and articles. It seemed to me that this was all a game to Trump -- another game to win. And unfortunately, he won.
~*~
A coupleish weeks ago I logged into Twitter and read Trump had directed the National Park System to delete some Tweets (that were factually correct) about Trump's 2017 inaugural crowd size. The Tweets were fresh; it had just happened. The deletion directive alarmed me. Information control. That's what cults do. I waited and read a bit more to see what had played out. Okay. Maybe those Tweets were inappropriate. If I worked for a company and tweeted something like that making the boss look bad, of course the company would want it deleted. I pondered a bit, But this isn't a company. And what was Tweeted isn't false.
Within a day or so, I read that certain information regarding climate change was being deleted from the White House web site. I read up on that and learned each Administration changes the website, archiving the previous Administration's pages. But, these are climate facts. Should they just delete that? Shouldn't they leave that information and then present their own information later alongside that information? It didn't sit well with me.
When I logged into Twitter last Wednesday night after my perfect day at Grayson Highlands, I saw the alternate Twitter account for the National Park System. A perfect ending to a perfect day. Since then, more alternate accounts have been started. Go guys and gals!
Information control and access is a huge red flag.
Last weekend when I read Trump's statement which he made as the protests in response to people with legal papers being detained were live at airports and the confusion and chaos of it all, my jaw dropped yet again. Trump said, “It’s working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over, it’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very strict ban, and we’re going to have extreme vetting, which we should have had in this country for many years.” I shouted at the walls,"This guy is fucking nuts!" It was obvious his Executive Order was not "working out nicely;" airports were in mass confusion.
Then there was Stephen Bannon's appointment to the National Security Council and the decision for the NSC Director and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to opt out of the meetings where their attendance is deemed unnecessary. (Who makes that decision? Trump and Bannon?) I've listened to interviews of and read articles regarding people who have previously served in those behind-door meetings across various administrations. From what I've read and heard, never in the history of the USA, has a political adviser been allowed on the NSC -- and especially someone like Bannon.
Then, among other things, there are Trump's Wall Street billionaire cabinet picks and his refusal to publish his tax returns and the continual attempted reversals on environmental regulations and his rude treatment and words toward some of our allies and toward the free press. Trump's beyond-the-pail list continues.
I'm in favor of trimming government overreach where it needs trimming but not in the manner that Trump is going about it. I'm also in favor of regulations to keep capitalist greed in check. Trump is extending his own type of overreach. People matter, damn it. Our protected public lands matter. Clean water, clean air -- they matter. Foreign relationships matter. Access to information matters. Diplomacy and decency matter. Words from the leader of a world super-power matter.
Chaos, confusion, shock factor -- all manipulative control tactics.
The whole scenario and trajectory is alarming. In my recent letters to my senators, I asked them to please slow down this train.
~*~
These storms of Trump-chaos and his self-centered, extreme narcissism (among other characteristics and patterns) are reminiscent of The Way and of my personal harmful experience with my former mental health therapist, John Knapp. With The Way and with Knapp the bold lies and twisted truths were mind-boggling beyond belief, stated with absolute confidence and a pretense of honesty.
But this isn't The Way. This isn't my personal harmful experience with an unstable mental health therapist. This is our country. At times I just scream inside for people to WAKE THE FUCK UP to see what is happening. This is not normal!
As noted above, I am well aware that my internal responses to Trump's election are influenced by my personal experiences. I have wondered if my internal responses are overreactions. I no longer think they are.
I have a good friend who voted for Trump mainly because of their disdain for Hillary. As I've shared some of my concerns, the response has been along the lines of, "We'll see. There are checks and balances in the government. It will all be okay."
I think it will only end up okay if we can curb and redirect the disastrous trajectory of Trump's train.
I am deeply concerned at what is happening in our country. We've seen more moderate Republicans who were once critical of Trump, be pulled into his maelstrom of lunacy, dismissing or rationalizing Trump's outrageous actions, words, and lies and endeavoring to downplay his behavior. I had thought maybe those representatives would be a sane voice to help curb Trump's maniacal tendencies.
This does not mean that I think past politicians in our country have not been corrupt or greedy or liars. I think the problems (in context of our country) go back to the founding of this country which, in my opinion, was based more on greed than on freedom. In the past month, one of the things I've reread to help me understand what is going on now is Chapter 5: A Kind of Revolution from the book A People's History of the United States. Some of the parallels to what is happening now are almost uncanny. (Link to a pdf: A People's History of The United States.) Chapter 5 shares some of history, motivations, influences, and tactics behind the American Revolutionary War and the Founding of the United States -- documented history that was left out or only mentioned in the US History classes that I attended during my schooling years.
I've never been very politically active, other than casting my vote. Beginning in December, 2016, as much as I'm able, I started calling and writing government officials. And I've taken up more conscious wishing, praying, hoping for our country's strength and peace to any vital forces that might exist and have the power to influence.
~*~
2 comments:
Thanks for the link to David Frum's article. I read it. The whole thing! I always listen when he speaks possibly due to his Canadian heritage.
TNIC (The Narcissist in Charge) reminds me of former Narcissist's in Charge in my life's experience. All of whom were liars but there was no way ever to penetrate their lies. The lies were not lies to them. They were truth.
I am reminded of the analogy of a frog in water, in a pan, on the stove, with the heat turned on. By the time the frog realizes it is cooked it's too late. That's my sense regarding TNIC. His follower's, the one's who love him, trust him and see him as their saviour are the frogs in the water. By the time the follower's realize he's not their saviour, it will be too late.
You're welcome!
Yes. I'm thinking this article (at this point in time) is good for folks who are more moderate and voted for TNIC because they wanted to keep Hillary out. I voted for Hillary to keep tRump out, so I get where they are coming from. But...tRump is reckless beyond the norm.
TNIC actions are not surprising. But his being allowed to put Bannon on the NSC, the manner in which he is carrying out his EOs, the once-more-moderate Repubs being drawn into his whirlwind and dismissing/rationalizing his blatant lies and self-aggrandizing, and the list goes on...it's alarming. I recall when in The Way how I rationalized our leaders' actions and decisions, choosing to believe them, thinking they had our best interests at heart. But they were lying and playing cover-up...and I didn't allow myself to see it. I see the same thing here with tRump. But this isn't some podunk "ministry" in small-town Ohio.
I signed into my blog this morning to add a little to this blog piece. Rereading it yesterday, I thought, "Hmm...sounds like an emotional rant. lol I guess I should add a couple specifics regarding my reasons for being alarmed. And pick out one significant-to-me paragraph from the article." Not that anyone much reads my blog. lol But I do want to add a couple snippets, for me. :)
Hope your are able to enjoy the ocean and more sunsets/rises. <3
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