What can you do?
We know there’s a tyrant among us because they are easy to identify.
A tyrant is almost always a male narcissist. Their actions give them away. They attack all experts, especially professors, scientists, and doctors. By destroying all credibility of everyone else, no one is to be believed except the tyrant himself. A tyrant plays on the deep-seated fears and hatreds that people have and builds up a base of support by telling them that he understands. He sympathizes with them. He convinces them that action is justified to alleviate their problem. He convinces them that he, alone, is the only one who knows what to do and can do it. He identifies a scapegoat that he blames for the suffering that his followers are feeling. He vilifies the media, especially the press. He gradually takes over all information channels.
To a tyrant, the ends justify the means. There is no limit to the depth of intimation that opponents will suffer. The old rules no longer apply and are ignored or changed. Violence, if needed to silence opposition and change the old order, is acceptable. If they need it to stay in power, their final ace card is to start a war.
Does all this sound familiar? Does the name Trump come to mind? It should. Trump has followed the playbook of a tyrant to the letter. He has convinced a huge portion of the public that science is to be ignored regarding climate change and the importance of vaccinations for COVID-19 (despite being vaccinated himself). He has used immigrants as scapegoats, and describes them as outsiders who will destroy our American way of life. He denigrates the press and has his followers getting all information from selected sources that basically cater to him. He has created a cult of personality that amounts to the brainwashing of his hardcore supporters.
There is no rational thought within a cult. Lying has become so acceptable and the truth has become such a variable that his avid followers believe he is the only one they can trust. He has taken over the Republic Party by applying tremendous pressure and intimidation on those within the party who would oppose him. In the insurrection of the capitol on Jan. 6, we saw that violence was not just a threat. With very few exceptions all Republican opposition has now been silenced. Trump has attacked the validity of our recent election and has taken direct opposition to countless judges when they have affirmed its legitimacy. Through new voting restrictions, the Republican Party, Trump’s Republican Party, is passing restrictive laws in Republicanheld states that are designed to ensure future Republican domination.
What is really scary is that a current highly respected general, General Milley, has recently said that Trump, near the end of his term, was flirting with an attack on Iran which would have started a war.
Trump is following the playbook that has been used quite successively by a great number of tyrants in recent history. Our democracy is in great jeopardy. An insidious enemy from within is far more dangerous than a foreign attack.
If you are scared, you have good reason to be because Trump may once again be the Republican presidential candidate! What can you do? Make sure you vote and help elect Democrats in the next election!
— Tom Ovens/Vallejo