The Contagion of Tyranny

I recently shared my thoughts on the Cult of Trump, which I warned was a religious affinity that has the potential to end poorly for freedom-loving folk (the same people who, ironically enough, put him into office). Though I stopped short of predicting that Trump will become a tyrant, I reminded the reader that many of the tyrants of our modern era began their regimes as savior types--revolutionaries who promised to restore and repair a broken land. Now I'd like to take a look at the psychological issues that underlie that phenomenon.

We live in an age where much of the world views freedom as an inalienable right. Freedom of religion, speech, and self-expression are championed as untouchable, even if those freedoms are poorly defined and the assurance of those freedoms for some restricts the freedoms of others. We're not as free as we think we are, but we certainly believe in the ideal. We have this notion that freedom has triumphed over tyranny and that this transition is irreversible. History, however, would seem to contradict this notion.

Troublesome times often breed chaos among a populace. War, financial hardship, and cultural discord threaten the stability of any democratic people. The strong tendency is for the people to turn to a strong voice who can restore order, regardless of the cost. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and so tyranny results. History demonstrates the near-inevitability of this downward spiral. This is a well-documented concept, but I have lately wondered if there is anything to be done about it. What if mankind, resistant to responsibility, will ultimately gravitate towards tyranny? What if stability ultimately requires a strong leader to unite the people? America is known as the melting pot of nations. What if freedom in that sort of culture is not a viable option? What historical option do we have of freedom being maintained over the course of several centuries, particularly in a culture as ethnically, religiously, and politically diverse as ours the United States? A study of history affords us little hope in this department.

Here's the really awful question: what if Donald Trump is the only answer to the unrest of our nation? What if his polarizing personality is the only way to bring people together? What if he makes an unprecedented grab for power, defacing the foundations of America, while simultaneously creating a strange sense of order in our chaotic land? What if our hatred for a tyrant is what must unite us?Trump is, of course, just a figurehead in this hypothesis. He symbolizes greed and the thirst for power. He epitomizes the ideals of the tyrants throughout human history. What if we as a race must spend the rest of our history vacillating between tyranny and anarchy?

Further, what role will technology have in the political development of our world? Understanding history is important for predicting the future, but even history cannot show us what will happen in a world with things like universal surveillance and widespread internet accessibility. Will this lead to greater accountability or stricter control?

Let me be clear that I am not advocating tyranny. In fact, I sincerely hope I'm wrong. I hope I'm just being a cynical pessimist and that mankind finds a way to perpetuate liberty. I won't be holding my breath though. I have little faith in mankind. Mankind is by nature greedy, selfish, lazy, and lawless, and that combination does not bode well for maintaining freedom. Leaders usually end up reflecting and taking advantage of the character flaws of the populace. True, lasting freedom will not be possible until we are self-governed, but even that is no guarantee. Power hungry tyrants are usually waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on any opportunity to enslave.

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