I’d wish to have faith in something if it were within my capability; however, can anyone have faith in something they don’t believe in?
As a nation, we are divided and conflicted about every decision. Your voting decision may be straightforward if you believe the country is on the right path. However, what should you do if you think the Nation needs changes and don’t like any of the options? In that case, I recommend reviewing the history of past leadership choices and considering the leadership style of the candidates you will be voting into power.
It’s up to you, the voter, to determine who our leader will be. However, Joseph Stalin once remarked that what truly matters is who counts the votes. In the 2016 and 2020 elections, the losing parties claimed they were cheated. Can we trust our current election system?
I was talking with someone convinced that the other Party was corrupt and always cheated during voting while his own Party was blameless. I posed a hypothetical question: “What if you knew both parties were cheating, but one cheated better, which allowed their candidate to win? Would you still have faith in the political system?” He paused to think it over and then replied earnestly, “As long as my candidate won.”
As a nation, our words do not match our actions. We claim faith in our political system while doing everything we can to circumvent it. Laws have become meaningless. If lawmakers do not follow the law, there is no law. The law has become like a spider’s web: it lets the big flies pass through while trapping the small ones.
Shortly afterward, I spoke with someone who said, "John, I'm conflicted about how I should vote this fall. I know you're an avid reader and understand history; how will you vote?" I gave her an unsatisfying but accurate response: "Voting is personal; only you can decide how to vote." I knew that giving her a definitive answer would reinforce her beliefs or provoke an adverse reaction. Either way, it wouldn't help her resolve her internal conflict.
From a historical perspective, two constructs emerge in this election cycle: the Cult of Statism (CoS) and the Cult of Personality (CoP). The Cult of Statism focuses on the Party as a whole rather than a single person, including the President. In contrast, the Cult of Personality centers on one leader, the President, and their ability to lead the Nation, with the Party being secondary.
Cult of Statism (CoS) Characteristics:
Party Control: The Party controls the Party Leader.
State-Party Unity: The Political Party and the State are considered one.
State Sovereignty: Members believe in the sovereignty of the State.
Rectification Belief: They believe in rectification, which aims to improve the Nation by correcting historical mistakes and setting things right (justice).
Party Discipline: Unity arises from Party discipline. Members must adhere to the decisions of the historically oppressed and the rectification movement. Proper discipline means following orders and submitting to Party control.
State Control Over Liberty: The principle of concentrating extensive economic, political, and related controls in the State, often at the expense of individual liberty.
Government Influence: Party control extends to all parts of the government.
Resource Distribution: The Party distributes resources and benefits to its key supporters to ensure loyalty.
Dependency Policies: The Party enacts national policies that keep the Nation dependent on them.
Threat Neutralization: The Party identifies and neutralizes potential threats or enemies.
Stand-In for Ambitions: The Party acts as a stand-in for the frustrated ambitions of small groups of people.
Cult of Personality (CoP) Characteristics:
Leader-Centric Guidance: The direction of the Nation comes from one leader rather than the Party.
Nationalism and Patriotism: There is a strong focus on nationalism and patriotism, with citizens doing what the leader asks for the good of the Nation.
Centralized Control: Centralized control with decentralized execution, keeping the focus at the top.
Support Coalitions: They maintain control through coalitions of key supporters, including military elites, wealthy individuals, and influential interest groups.
Weakened Institutions: Weakens institutions that can be manipulated, such as the IRS, education, and commerce.
Dependent Policies: Implements nationalistic policies that keep the Nation dependent on the leader.
Neutralizing Threats: Identifies and neutralizes potential threats or enemies that could undermine their power.
Representation of Ambitions: Acts as a stand-in for the frustrated ambitions of patriots.
Messianic Figure: May become a messianic figure for those who have lost faith.
Intertwined Loyalty: Loyalty to the leader becomes intertwined with national identity.
Political Theater: Produces masterpieces in the genre of political theater.
These characteristics are historical; I didn't make them up. Here are two final points from "The Dictator's Handbook" and "The 48 Laws of Power" that are true for both Parties:
1. Political Survival is the Priority: Leaders prioritize their political Survival above all else. They make decisions to ensure they remain in power, often at the expense of their citizens' well-being.
2. Law 15, Crush Your Enemy Totally: All great leaders since Moses have understood that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. No matter how faintly the ember smolders, a fire will eventually break out if left alight. More is lost by stopping halfway than through total destruction; the enemy will always recover and seek revenge. Crush them in body and spirit.
Happy Voting!
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