We Fight Off the Authoritarians Trying to Step on Us - Countering Their 5 Classic Strategies That Threaten Our “Larger Selves”
The American experiment has worked for 250 years, but it is now in danger of being destroyed from within – and in the short term.
There are currently powerful forces advocating a retreat from the big tough issues we face and, at the same time, attacking and undermining our democratic values, processes and institutions. And those forces are relying on the ability to make Americans feel small and weak and unable to care for themselves – giving up and becoming “subjects.”
This is a naked powerplay that has been seen before around the world by authoritarian forces on both the left and the right. The American experiment in democracy is vulnerable to this classic playbook of authoritarian despots.
We must understand and counter the playbook of authoritarian leaders and movements and act from our larger selves to take it on directly. For Example:
#1 Authoritarians reinforce our smaller selves, our fears and insecurities
Authoritarian figures and movements undermine true American Greatness by directing people to identify with and act from their “smaller selves” – their fears, anxieties, lack of influence, lack of confidence (“lack” being the common defining term). They prey on people when they feel small and weak – reinforcing the belief that they cannot manage their lives effectively.
- We can choose to act from our larger selves and model American Greatness to take on the big tough issues we face – as citizens, not subjects – courage, commitment, perseverance, resilience, togetherness and solidarity.
#2 Authoritarians split us
Authoritarian figures and movements split people and pit them against one another to disempower everyone. They portray themselves as strong and caretakers of the weak and they focus attention on “others” who they portray as stealing from their subjects – and they promise (falsely) that will get back what has been “stolen.”
The splitting hides the fundamental belief in the principle that some people are more equal/valuable/worthy than others and should rule – obviously in direct opposition to the founding values of America.
- We can choose to act to acknowledge our differences and transcend them to meet the challenges we face – together. We can find ways to connect with and understand the “others” to find the common ground on which we can stand and to appreciate what they might bring to the challenges we face.
#3 Authoritarians position us as “victims” and themselves as “saviors”
Authoritarian figures and movements rely on the fact that it is easy for people to “give up” on democracy and the challenges of being citizens – and become dependent upon and identify with the authoritarian figures.
They portray themselves as saviors who will rescue the “victims.” The “victims” then become dependent subjects, not independent citizens. They become actual victims or sheep, and the “saviors” simply enrich themselves.
- We can act to highlight and model our history of perseverance and “no quit” in the face of daunting challenges – along with our history of progress. We can challenge any sense of “victimhood” and focus on acting as citizens with influence vs being impotent subjects that need authoritarian saviors.
#4 Authoritarians undermine any “common truth” to take away the fundamental common ground on which we can stand and judge reality.
They deny the truth, they substitute “truths”, they destroy those who tell the truth (free and balanced media) and they sim[ply lie relentlessly. A lack of common truth steals the power and certainty that citizens need to act with confidence and turns people into subjects that will swallow anything.
- We can act to support a free press and protect the media that demonstrates the responsibility and discipline to identify and present a balanced truth. The responsible media is easy to identify as is the media that has a specific agenda or media that preys on people’s fears and “smallness.” We can support them financially, politically, and by championing them.
#5 Authoritarians play “bait and switch” – and people fall for it – over and over
They play people for suckers. They promise to “save” people when in reality their goal is to “disempower and control” people. That has been the obvious pattern over centuries, yet people still fall for it. When people feel small, they want someone to take care of them. Understandable, but a trap. Always.
- We can act by standing up for ourselves and calling them out on their attempts to treat us as “suckers.” We can literally contrast the empty promises with their behaviors that demonstrates their belief that they are better than we are and that they can manipulate us into becoming “subjects.”
Authoritarians treat us like frogs in the boiling water. These authoritarian strategies rarely play out quickly. They usually increase over time at a relatively slow pace and people don’t recognize the impact until it’s too late. It’s like the old story about the frog boiling to death in boiling water. If the water heats up slowly the frog doesn’t notice and try to escape until it’s too late.
However, we can act while the water is warming up, recognizing what’s going on and saying ”no.” We can acknowledge that the authoritarian playbook is in play and act to stop it.