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Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
29. I used to teach government, and I had an exercise:
Sun Nov 22, 2015, 04:23 PM
Nov 2015

Put 100 people in a bolt-locked room. Now, what number of people are required to take over?

Most started with 50+.

But then, the number began to drop, and the immortal question of the great political theorist Chubby Checker came to bear: "How low can you go?"

When the nmber dropped to single digits, students began to look less at the bawling, nut-grabbing bully-boys, and more at themselves. Authoritarians cannot operate well unless there is a concommitant acquiescence to, ignorance of, attraction to the mere trappings of power. Most folks want to work their fields, file their reports, engross themselves in a smart phone, raise their kids.

That's when the number starts dropping.
K&R! marym625 Nov 2015 #1
This Phenomena And Behavior Can Also Be Seen In Center And Center Right Democrats As Well cantbeserious Nov 2015 #2
and particularly in people pretending to be Democrats. nt grasswire Nov 2015 #3
Democrats is just a label. Anyone can claim to be a Democrat. I believe that my statement about rhett o rick Nov 2015 #7
Not A Challenge - Just Calling Things What They Are cantbeserious Nov 2015 #8
I didn't take is as a challenge and I agree with you. Just wanted to add my view. nm rhett o rick Nov 2015 #17
....as obvious as a wart with a hair on the end of someon'es nose. bvar22 Nov 2015 #33
Always a big fan of Fromm. TM99 Nov 2015 #4
everyone should read Bob altmeyers free book Doctor_J Nov 2015 #5
If I may... KansDem Nov 2015 #10
Thanks. my tablet doesn't cut and paste well Doctor_J Nov 2015 #18
Thank you for the reference! KansDem Nov 2015 #24
Big fan. I've lent my paper back copy out so many times, I've lost track of it. rhett o rick Nov 2015 #19
my first download when I got my kindle for christmas Doctor_J Nov 2015 #25
It explains a lot about who we are dealing with. nm rhett o rick Nov 2015 #26
Because we evolved from tribal primates, and we are still tribal primates. phantom power Nov 2015 #6
much worse than that, it's been carefully cultivated with "personality politics"--you're supposed MisterP Nov 2015 #9
Dubya and his "brain", Turd Blossom. forest444 Nov 2015 #11
Or, as Terry Pratchett put it succinctly: malthaussen Nov 2015 #12
K & R!! Duppers Nov 2015 #13
Excellent analysis. Betty Karlson Nov 2015 #14
I don't think Sen Sanders can shake the blind loyalty of followers of any rhett o rick Nov 2015 #20
Another astute observation. eom Betty Karlson Nov 2015 #23
Religion is based on this principle. Arugula Latte Nov 2015 #15
Yes there are a lot of similarities. nm rhett o rick Nov 2015 #22
I have long thought that GeoWilliam750 Mar 2016 #35
K & R SoapBox Nov 2015 #16
Good riff on an important essay. DirkGently Nov 2015 #21
I'm going to read fromm's now Doctor_J Nov 2015 #27
I have no respect for anyone who can't or won't think for themselves tularetom Nov 2015 #28
It's so obvious that they can't think on their own. Ask one to explain how their leader stands on rhett o rick Nov 2015 #30
I used to teach government, and I had an exercise: Eleanors38 Nov 2015 #29
K&R Some exist only to please power in the hopes of befriending it. raouldukelives Nov 2015 #31
Well put. They don't understand that their authoritarian leaders don't love them. nm rhett o rick Nov 2015 #32
Loyalty tends to be directly proportional to how much one gives GeoWilliam750 Mar 2016 #36
I wasn't born to follow. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #34
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