Axulus
Veteran Member
Destorying a democracy and inserting authoritarian power can not be done overnight. A sufficient portion of the population needs to be fooled to allow it to happen.
So, what is the playbook to make that happen?
First, you need to convince the population that democratic liberalism has led to the destruction the country, and therefore we need a new system or a new leader that will do something radically different. However, this is not easy to do with facts.
So how to do this without the facts on your side? Spread lies. But lies are not easily believed in a free and open society where the marketplace of ideas can often reveal the truth.
So how to overcome this inconvenient problem? Convince the population that those with knowledge and the facts in society are actually all biased, corrupt and liars themselves. They are the beneficiaries of the liberal democratic order and just trying whatever they need to do to maintain their own power.
Demonize universities, public schools, the media, corporations, experts, fact checkers, Hollywood. Claim anyone that calls out your lies is biased and a shill. Point out a few instances where they showed bias or were wrong. Because if they were wrong one time and biased, they are just as wrong and biased with everything they say and do.
This comes directly from the playbook of the New Apastolic Reformation. A Chriatian Nationalist movement that is the fastest growing segment of Christianity today. In it, they describe taking over the seven mountains of society: education, media, business, family, religion, entertainment, and government. The current power is in the hands of those who come from and support liberal democracy, and therefore they must be attacked and deligitimized one by one.
The end goal is to convince a sufficient portion of the population that all facts spread by those they have demonized are suspect and part of a plot to entrench the establishment's power, which at its core obtains its legitimacy from the liberal democratic system.
The right has laid the groundwork for this for decades. Fox News, talk radio, youtube personalities spread this narrative constantly. And also the populist left buys into it and spreads it as well with phrases like "corporate media".
Now the groundwork has been successfully laid out for a charismatic authoritarian to capitalize on this. Why is a charismatic leader needed for this? Because to get the strong, blind loyalty needed to overturn the system and for the population to accept total control in the hands of one or a small group of people, you to you need to start a cult of personality.
This is where a figure like Trump steps in. Dr. Steve Hassan has described the cult of Trump in his book and lays out the techniques cult leaders employ to obtain followers with blind loyalty.
First, establish your street cred that you are not part of "the establishment". Say gross, racist, sexist and incendiary things. Constantly insult others. The establishment is too politically correct, so by breaking the conventions of polite, decent society, you convince people you are not a member of the corrupt elite.
It is why whenever Trump does something outrageous, he gains more credibility, not less, because it reaffirms he is not a member of the establishment.
Next, create lies about the left (who are all socialists and communists) and immigrants are destroying the country. Dial up the fear factor to 11. This is an emotional control technique to make people too afraid to question the leader. Also, control their information with thought stopping techniques for anything that disagrees with the leader's position. "Liberal bias", "elites", "Trump Derangement Syndrome", "Corporate media". Spread lies and conspiracies at all opportunities if it fits the political narrative of the leader.
And when democracy does not get you the outcome you need to get or maintain power, claim that the voting system was all rigged and a big fraud. Erode any semblance of trust remaining in the democratic process, and the population will not trust democracy.
And why would any group need to do this to get power? Because they could never get power legitimately in a liberal democracy. Groups like Christian Nationalists (who are huge Trump supporters and have openly discussed many of the techniques I describe, and who have stated that democracy is anti-biblical and whose goal is to get rid of it), white nationalists (Trump frequently pals around with them, like Laura Loomer), among others. The only way they gain real power is by eroding or eliminating democracy. And they are damn close to winning.
There is only one major political party that stands for liberal democracy in this upcoming election. The only sane vote is for Kamala Harris if you at all claim to care about democracy.
But even if she wins, the problems will not go away. Another Trump like figure is always lurking around the corner.
So, what is the playbook to make that happen?
First, you need to convince the population that democratic liberalism has led to the destruction the country, and therefore we need a new system or a new leader that will do something radically different. However, this is not easy to do with facts.
So how to do this without the facts on your side? Spread lies. But lies are not easily believed in a free and open society where the marketplace of ideas can often reveal the truth.
So how to overcome this inconvenient problem? Convince the population that those with knowledge and the facts in society are actually all biased, corrupt and liars themselves. They are the beneficiaries of the liberal democratic order and just trying whatever they need to do to maintain their own power.
Demonize universities, public schools, the media, corporations, experts, fact checkers, Hollywood. Claim anyone that calls out your lies is biased and a shill. Point out a few instances where they showed bias or were wrong. Because if they were wrong one time and biased, they are just as wrong and biased with everything they say and do.
This comes directly from the playbook of the New Apastolic Reformation. A Chriatian Nationalist movement that is the fastest growing segment of Christianity today. In it, they describe taking over the seven mountains of society: education, media, business, family, religion, entertainment, and government. The current power is in the hands of those who come from and support liberal democracy, and therefore they must be attacked and deligitimized one by one.
The end goal is to convince a sufficient portion of the population that all facts spread by those they have demonized are suspect and part of a plot to entrench the establishment's power, which at its core obtains its legitimacy from the liberal democratic system.
The right has laid the groundwork for this for decades. Fox News, talk radio, youtube personalities spread this narrative constantly. And also the populist left buys into it and spreads it as well with phrases like "corporate media".
Now the groundwork has been successfully laid out for a charismatic authoritarian to capitalize on this. Why is a charismatic leader needed for this? Because to get the strong, blind loyalty needed to overturn the system and for the population to accept total control in the hands of one or a small group of people, you to you need to start a cult of personality.
This is where a figure like Trump steps in. Dr. Steve Hassan has described the cult of Trump in his book and lays out the techniques cult leaders employ to obtain followers with blind loyalty.
First, establish your street cred that you are not part of "the establishment". Say gross, racist, sexist and incendiary things. Constantly insult others. The establishment is too politically correct, so by breaking the conventions of polite, decent society, you convince people you are not a member of the corrupt elite.
It is why whenever Trump does something outrageous, he gains more credibility, not less, because it reaffirms he is not a member of the establishment.
Next, create lies about the left (who are all socialists and communists) and immigrants are destroying the country. Dial up the fear factor to 11. This is an emotional control technique to make people too afraid to question the leader. Also, control their information with thought stopping techniques for anything that disagrees with the leader's position. "Liberal bias", "elites", "Trump Derangement Syndrome", "Corporate media". Spread lies and conspiracies at all opportunities if it fits the political narrative of the leader.
And when democracy does not get you the outcome you need to get or maintain power, claim that the voting system was all rigged and a big fraud. Erode any semblance of trust remaining in the democratic process, and the population will not trust democracy.
And why would any group need to do this to get power? Because they could never get power legitimately in a liberal democracy. Groups like Christian Nationalists (who are huge Trump supporters and have openly discussed many of the techniques I describe, and who have stated that democracy is anti-biblical and whose goal is to get rid of it), white nationalists (Trump frequently pals around with them, like Laura Loomer), among others. The only way they gain real power is by eroding or eliminating democracy. And they are damn close to winning.
There is only one major political party that stands for liberal democracy in this upcoming election. The only sane vote is for Kamala Harris if you at all claim to care about democracy.
But even if she wins, the problems will not go away. Another Trump like figure is always lurking around the corner.
Last edited: