We Fight Off the Authoritarians Trying to Step on Our Throats
“We Counter the Authoritarian Playbook”
Part One The Call to Action
To protect the American experiment in democracy we must act from a sense that we can make a difference. Even if we don’t know exactly how or what difference we can make when we start – we just need to step up and start. We can stand upon and model the foundation blocks of American Greatness that we have inherited in order to draw upon our best – and we can find new “bests” in the process.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
We Act Now - We do Not Wait
The American experiment in democracy is threatened – now. The big tough intimidating issues we face in our world require action – now. That means we need to act now. We can start small and increase our activity as we “learn the way” and get more comfortable acting. We can start even though we feel anxious and not ready and we can build our confidence and capability as we go. But, we need to act now.
We are Either “in the Game” or “Out of the Game”
Failing to act now is simply a way of passively supporting the authoritarians who want to rule us as subjects. We either step up, or we get stepped on. There is no middle ground. We can be active or passive subjects. But we can only be active citizens.
“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful.”
As “Citizens” We Act from our “Larger Selves”
At this point in time we are challenged to be confident responsible “citizens” that act to make a difference – not weak insecure “subjects” that retreat into dependence.
Even if We Feel Small, We Must “Play Large”
Being citizens vs. subjects requires acting from our larger selves because of the scope and scale of the challenges we face. Our larger selves come from a base of courage, commitment, responsibility, perseverance, and resilience – developed over a lifetime. Those qualities are there to a surprising degree if we call for them.
"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."
We Act Now - Building on Our Strengths
One of the most important factors in getting to sustained effective action is feeling competent to act. And we are competent to act. We have developed surprising strengths over the course of our lifetimes, and we can use those strength – now – and develop new strengths as we go.
We have a great deal to learn, but it’s also true that we bring a lot of strengths to the game – strengths that we have developed over time in our personal and professional lives. The best way to develop the new strengths required is to build on our current strengths – while we take action.
Some of that strength building needs to be done to prepare for effective action, but most of it needs to happen while we are acting – while we are “in the game.” A major trap that we must avoid is getting stuck on the sidelines preparing to act. We have significant strengths. We can begin and “learn the way” as we go.
Part Two Acting to Counter the Authoritarian Playbook
To protect the American experiment in democracy we must act from a sense that we can make a difference. Even if we don’t know exactly how or what difference we can make when we start – we just need to step up and start. We can stand upon and model the foundation blocks of American Greatness that we have inherited in order to draw upon our best – and we can find new “bests” in the process.
“I realize that the authoritarian playbook is in operation now and I commit to confronting and countering it. I refuse to feel small and weak and needing to have an authoritarian figure take care of me. I refuse to fall prey to the empty promises and will act with intent and perseverance – now.”
The American experiment has worked for 250 years, but it is now in danger of being destroyed from within – and in the short term. We are called to draw upon and model American Greatness to counter the authoritarian forces that pose this threat – as well as improve our democratic processes and institutions so that they can better meet the needs of all Americans.
We Don’t Let Them Prey on Our Fears and Doubts
The powerful authoritarian forces that prey on our fears and doubts are currently driving a retreat from the big tough issues we face and, at the same time, attacking and undermining our democratic values, processes and institutions. They are trying to lure us into being dependent subjects vs. citizens.
We Don’t Let Them Diminish Us and Make Us Feel Small and Weak
These authoritarian forces are relying on their ability to make Americans feel small, weak, threatened, and unable to care for themselves – being diminished, giving up, and becoming “subjects.” They do not want us acting from our “larger selves” as citizens. They want us acting from our weak “smaller selves” as subjects.
This is a Naked Powerplay to Destroy Our Democracy and Make Us Cower and Bow Down as “Subjects”
This powerplay has been seen before around the world by authoritarian forces on both the left and the right. The American experiment in democracy is surprisingly vulnerable to this classic playbook of authoritarian despots – and it is powerfully in play now. There is nothing subtle about it. It has been thrown right in our face.These authoritarian forces are relying on their ability to make Americans feel small, weak, threatened, and unable to care for themselves – being diminished, giving up, and becoming “subjects.” They do not want us acting from our “larger selves” as citizens. They want us acting from our weak “smaller selves” as subjects.
“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.”
We Can Counter the Ten Strategies in the Authoritarian Playbook
One way to counter the Authoritarian Playbook is to look directly at the ten strategies that are core to undermining America as well as some of the actions we can take to counter each authoritarian strategy.
The first two strategies in the authoritarian playbook are designed to lure us away from our larger selves by diminishing us and playing on our fears and anxieties. The next eight strategies target our democratic processes and institutions – the foundation at the heart of a healthy democracy.
These authoritarian strategies are all in play all of the time. Taken together they can destroy a democracy, but they can be countered and that is our fundamental challenge – acting from our larger selves to be courageous citizens vs. diminished cowardly subjects.
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are not.”
Authoritarian Strategy #1
Authoritarians reinforce our smaller selves, our fears and insecurities, our “victimhood” – and they split us
Authoritarian figures and movements undermine true American Greatness and our democracy by splitting people and directing them to identify with and act from their “smaller selves” – their fears, anxieties, lack of influence, lack of confidence. They create or exaggerate threats, scapegoat minorities or marginalized groups, and promise order and security in exchange for freedom. They prey on people when they feel small and weak – reinforcing the belief that they cannot manage their lives effectively and “need to be taken care of” by the authoritarians.
We Counter This Strategy
- 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.
- We can focus on the strength of our two foundation blocks – our extraordinary founding and our 250-year trajectory of perseverance
- We can directly counter polarization, anxiety, fear, the demonization of “others”
Authoritarian Strategy #2
Authoritarians position us as weak “victims” and themselves as “saviors”
They see people as subjects and position themselves as the natural rulers, diminishing people to drain their power, dramatically overstating or simply fabricating their own capabilities, and labeling anyone resisting as traitors, enemies, or evil and unworthy.
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 Counter This Strategy
- 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..
- We can call out what the authoritarian is doing and the need for a “savior”
- We can directly challenge their diminishing of people and reinforce the capability and power that people have
- We can simply challenge the self-aggrandizement and “puffery” of the authoritarian
- We can challenge the silencing of dissent and legitimize the role of dissent as well as holding leaders accountable
Authoritarian Strategy #3
Authoritarians undermine truth and independent media to paralyze dissent and accountability and split people
They spread misinformation and lies in order to confuse and freeze people, control the narrative, attack journalists, and establish state control over the media. This is compounded by foreign disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks on American organizations.
We Counter This Strategy
- We can support independent responsible media financially and politically
- We can educate ourselves
- We can challenge the misinformation and lies with “the truth”
Authoritarian Strategy #4
Authoritarians destroy or co-opt democratic institutions and processes
They weaken checks and balances allowing executive overreach, undermine and gridlock legislatures and the courts, neutralize watchdog institutions, gerrymander election districts, suppress the vote, undermine the legitimacy of elections, sabotage the election processes, etc.
“The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.”
We Counter This Strategy
- We can counter voter suppression in its many forms
- We can actively protest attacks on democratic institutions and processes
- We can participate in the political processes locally and nationally
Authoritarian Strategy #5
Authoritarians crush or co-opt opposition
They outlaw or suppress opposition parties and groups, use rewards and threats to neutralize or recruit key individuals, businesses, and organizations, and co-opt legal institutions and processes to cripple or destroy opposition.
We Counter This Strategy
- We can join and support threatened groups and organizations or organizations taking this issue on
- We can call out what is being done and peacefully protest to prevent it from being done unopposed or in the shadows
Authoritarian Strategy #6
Authoritarians control economic access and patronage
They punish or subsidize companies or industries to reward loyalty, creating dependence of people through access to jobs, capital, and opportunities – and they use corruption as a way to control and reward “insiders.”
“Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist.”
We Counter This Strategy
- We can counter voter suppression in its many forms
- We can actively protest attacks on democratic institutions and processes
- We can participate in the political processes locally and nationally
Authoritarian Strategy #7
Authoritarians normalize violence and co-opt the police and the military
They use the police and military to intimidate or suppress opposing voices, establish “secret police” systems of surveillance to monitor and control citizens, and normalize violence to keep people from speaking or acting.
We Counter This Strategy
- We can call it out and peacefully protest
- We can support the individuals, groups, and organizations that confront it
Authoritarian Strategy #8
Authoritarians undermine civil liberties to control “subjects”
They limit freedom of speech and assembly, suppress the vote, limit religious freedom, censure the media, and criminalize dissent.
We Counter This Strategy
- We can call it out and peacefully protest
- We can support the individuals, groups, and organizations that confront it
Authoritarian Strategy #9
Authoritarians play “bait and switch”
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, and they get played as suckers. Understandable, but a trap. Always.
We Counter This Strategy
- 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 demonstrate their belief that they are better than we are and that they can manipulate us into becoming “subjects.”
- We can identify the vulnerabilities they are exploiting and connect with others to deal with those vulnerabilities – taking responsibility for ourselves and acting from our “larger selves.”
Authoritarian Strategy #10
Authoritarians treat us like the 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. Or they put so many strategies in play at the same time that people are paralyzed. 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.
We Counter This Strategy
- We can act now – 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.
Note on the Actions.
There are some common citizen actions that apply to many of the authoritarian strategies, like peaceful protest, calling out the authoritarian actions, and supporting the leaders and organizations who are fighting the authoritarian actions. Then there are some actions that are more specific to a particular authoritarian strategy.
Some actions will be individual, some in groups, and some through organizations. Many will seem new or “not like me” and require leaving one’s comfort zone and “finding the way.”
- We Act Now – We do Not Wait – We are Either “in the Game” or “Out of the Game”
- As “Citizens” We Act from our “Larger Selves” – Even if We Feel Small, We Must “Play Large”
- We Build on Our Strengths – and We Build New Strength as We Go
- We Don’t Let Them Prey on Our Fears and Doubts – We Don’t Let Them Diminish Us and Make Us Feel Small and Weak
This is a naked powerplay to destroy our democracy and
make us cower and bow down as “subjects”
The challenge is to not be intimidated by how many possible actions there are and choose which to take – now.
