If you’re following along in The Authoritarian Playbook, you can check off some of the boxes. As the Post-Dispatch editorialized in its March 7 edition, Trump’s unfounded and unprecedented claim that President Obama had his residence wiretapped is aimed at undermining democratic institutions.
The same day, Rep. Steve King of Iowa called for a “purge” of the White House. In a Tweet he called for Trump to “purge Leftists from executive branch before disloyal, illegal & treasonist acts sink us.” In an interview with the New York Times, King said, ““We are talking about the emergence of a deep state led by Barack Obama, and that is something that we should prevent, The person who understands this best is Steve Bannon, and I would think that he’s advocating to make some moves to fix it.” Rep. Steve King calls for a purge: Visit link here.
Undermine democratic institutions? Check.
Purge government of undesirables? Check.
If you’re just catching up here are the items already checked off:
Create a Leader Myth. The solution to all problems depends upon one man of mythic dimensions.
Create Enemies of the State. Muslims, immigrants, hispanics, African-Americans, the press.
Delegitimize the Judiciary. Judges are fools and traitors, disconnected from the People and unwilling to enact The Leader’s vision.
Delegitimize and Undermine the Legislature. Legislators are unable or unwilling to act on The Leader’s vision. Legislators are fools or traitors.
Engage in Eternal War. A war against a stateless entity such as ISIS or terrorism more broadly can never be won because there is no measure by which it is won and no state to accept defeat. The Leader determines the enemy to be fought according to political advantage rather than national interest or a national threat. Eternal War is furthered by conspiracy theories.
Undermine the Press and Offer an Alternative. Destroy sources of information in conflict with The Leader. The press lies and presents “false facts” and “fake news.” Media and information sources approved by The Leader are the only sources of facts, news, and truth.
Opposition is Treason. Expressions of opposition undermine the Eternal War and are defeatist and treasonous.
Create a Political and Corporate Alliance.
Demean Academics, Science, and Intellectualism. The educated are an elite opposed to The Leader and the will of the People. Science and academics are not to be trusted unless they emanate from The Leader.
Implement Widespread Surveillance of the Population. Encourage surveillance and informing on others. Set the population against each other so that they cannot focus on The Leader or the Ruling Party. Suppress dissent ruthlessly and arbitrarily.
Establish A Dominant Military. Use military power to imposed The Leader’s will on other nations and to acquire territory and resources. (See also, Eternal War.)
Yet to come:
Destroy Labor Unions. (Partially complete.)
Establish Political Control of the Military. Purge military professionals and military that support democratic institutions. Replace with a military that gives total allegiance to The Leader and the Rulling Party.
Establish a Single Political Party. (In process.)
Dispense With Democratic Elections. Limit the right to vote to supporters of The Leader. (In process.)
Recruit Paramilitary Forces as Enforcers Spreading Fear and Terror. Armed and trained Right-
Wing Militias. (Partially complete.)
Establish Arbitrary Arrest, Confinement and Punishment. (In process.)
Impose a Managed, Corporatist Economy. (Partially complete.)
Establish a “Pure” Nation. Purge undesirable racial, ethnic, and religious groups from society. Create a “pure” mono-dimensional state in the image of The Leader.
Provide Benefits to Favored, “Pure” Citizens.
Control Education. Use educational institutions to cement Party propaganda as Truth.
Submitted by Mike Pfeifer, WCD Member