What causes tyranny?

[cigsandcoffee]

Real heavy-duty tyranny, where millions die or live in misery... like the Soviet Union of the 50s, 60s and 70s, Pol Pot's Cambodia, Mao's China or Kim Jung Il's North Korea?

[Redstone]

1. Lethargy and complacency.

I'll see your cigs and raise you a cuppa Joe.

Redstone

[cigsandcoffee]

4. They enable it for sure

But semantics aside, you make a good point. I'd also add poverty and desperation as enablers.

[Wwagsthedog]

7. I'm with RS on this.

Add willful ignorance to the mix and you get a feel for modern Amerika.

[NMMNG]

2. Greed & Conquest + Fear & Loathing

Hallmarks of the GOP/Fundies.

[neebob]

3. Tyrants cause tyranny.

Hello!

[cigsandcoffee]

5. Well, that's a cult of personality, then.

[neebob]

6. OIC.

You still have to have a personality to build the cult around, and that would be the tyrant. No?

[cigsandcoffee]

8. Your argument is that tyrants are born and not made

Fair enough, I suppose, but opportunity plays a large role, and his rise must be fueled by sentiment and loyalty among a significant percentage of the people. That's a cult of personality.

[neebob]

11. No, that would be the answer to what causes tyrants

and I didn't say tyrants are born. But it's your poll, and I'll go along with the cult of personality.

[TahitiNut]

9. I disagree. It's a population seeking 'leaders' ...

... and 'heroes' to solve their problems for them. "My daddy can beat up your daddy" is the desired foreign and domestic policy of far too many people, imho.

[neebob]

13. Not always

Some tyrants just take over, or are installed by outside forces. And many in the past attained power by birthright, or murdering their predecessors.

[PATRICK]

10. Fear and loathing

because it is an all pervasive answer. Greed and conquest is for a minority. Dictators don't tyrannize because everyone is satisfied and happy or even seemingly complacent. they must because what they are and wish to do is loathsome to the general population when not swept up in hysteria. When hysteria wears off it is fear above all else.

Fear of going against the social order. Fear of consequences to oneself. That is the all purpose glue of tyrannies when someone co-opts all systems unto his degenerate self. The tyrant is afraid too, but he is Lord of all fear and tops the pyramid of power.

"Enlightened" despots are likewise afraid of the messiness of democracy and dissent. Fear is what moves the nations and the "good dictator". Funny, when prosperity increases and foes disappear there could be a resumption of democracy. But fear of change and upsetting order works just as well until some new "bad dictator" turns up the emotion volume.

The saying "perfect love casts out fear" is true. that is why no one wants to admit to having it and oppose in themselves and others the simply exchange the bricks and mortars of Fortress Fear for the air sun and water of fearless compassion. "Love will set you free." the attempt is thus most perverse when, added to fear, Big Brother tries to obtain the love as well. But in any event, his power rests on fear.

[blonndee]

12. A combination of the above AND

corporate media and right-wing Christianity.

[Eric J in MN]

14. An authoritarian mindset by people in power.

And a media which fails to highlight government abuses.

And a crooked election system.

[undergroundpanther]

15. It's clear to me..

Abusers(sociopaths) getting away with it, and others Enabling the abusers and lots of bystanders shifting around responsibility to anyone else,waiting for a leader to act so they don't have to..

[rman]

16. I think fear and loathing are means to achieve tyranny. nt

[mikelewis]

17. I thought it was gay marriage...

or genetically mutated mice. It's so hard to keep these things straight.