How does a small group of people control an enormous group of people?

[Chimpy McCokespoon]

This plays out all over the world and has been with us since time immemorial. How does a very small group of people convince a large group of people that their value systems are the same and how does that small group maintain power even in the face of their value system being exposed as fraudulent?

[YDogg]

1. Ask the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. Chimpy McCokespoon - welcome to DU!!!

And may I be the first to say - you have one of the funniest damn screen names I've seen in a while!

Looking forward to hearing more from you!

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :pals:

[Katherine Brengle]

3. Fear.

It's the only way to truly control people.

[LunaSea]

4. Fear

"..freedom has a twofold meaning for modern man: that he has been freed from traditional authorities and has become an 'individual,' but that at the same time he has become isolated, powerless and an instrument of purposes outside of himself, alienated from himself and others; furthermore, that this state undermines his self, weakens and frightens him, and makes him ready for submission to new kinds of bondage. Positive freedom on the other hand is identical with the full realization of the individual's potentialities, together with his ability to live actively and spontaneously."

Eric Fromm
Escape from Freedom

http://www.alternativeinsight.com/Escape_from_freedom.html

[skepticscott]

5. It's simple

A combination of apathy and ignorance on the part of the majority with passion and ideological fervor on the part of the minority. The reason the relatively small religious right dominates the political scene rather than the much more numerous religious moderates and liberals is because they simply care much more about the issues involved.

[Bonescrat]

6. Media control should not be discounted. nt.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. Welcome DU, Chimpy McCokespoon!!! Love the handle!!

:rofl:

In answer to your question, I believe an essential element is a network of manipulative communications. Of course, you have to be able to fund that network somehow, as well.

[unpossibles]

8. step one: make people doubt information

by casting doubt on and outright attacks on the media, education/universities, intelligence, and learning in general.

Step two: replace that information with propaganda: Rush Limbaugh, Coulter, FOX, etc.

Step three: profit.

It makes me sad and angry to see so many people helping the propagandists, and it hit me this morning how ironic it is that the "small government" people not only create more government reach into civil liberties and spend more, but how the voters who fall for that somehow seem to trust the government more than I do. In other words, despite the anti-government rhetoric of the ringwingnuts, they repeat verbatim the claims of government mouthpieces (who also claim to be anti-government) without even seeking to find out if their claims are accurate.

It's kind of disturbing really, how well it works.

[Robeson]

9. Add one part fear, with one part bogymen, with one part.....

...nationalistic jingoisms. Stir briskly.

[AuntPatsy]

10. I'm not so sure its fear, perhaps more along the lines of self serving in that

until something actually touches one's life in a personal way their attention is easily diverted.

[SecularMotion]

11. By dividing the enormous group against each other

[SecularMotion]

12. delete dupe

[DemGa]

13. Attach itself to religious culture

and always wear a flag pin.

That's one element, anyway.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Manufacturing Consent...and now Manufacturing Acquiescence...

The majority still believes we are governed by majority rule...

When that belief breaks down, there is usually a long period of rule by power. Eventually, rule by power breaks down and, after much bloodshed, a better form a government emerges. Not right away: often the revolutionary government is as unjust as the government it replaces, but eventually a more equitable government emerges.

[zalinda]

15. Read "The Wave" by Ron Jones and

you will find your answer.

But to put it simply, everyone wants to belong to some group. We, as humans do not like to be alone. So, you will find that a person plunked down into the middle of a group whose thinking is the opposite of the person, will eventually come around to the group's way of thinking. No one wants to stand out and be different, as that is dangerous position to be in. For example: someone needs to be sacrificed to the volcano, would the group sacrifice a treasured member of the group, or someone who is not so treasured.

"The Wave" is based on a true story, and it will give you insights into group dynamics. I think it should be required reading for all middle school children. It would be an easy enough read for them, and maybe helpful in their transition into high school.

zalinda

[northernsoul]

16. By discouraging independent thought

just label any sort of rational analysis or independent thought as "heresy," "unpatriotic," etc.

[Arugula Latte]

17. Then there's the famous Nazi quote:

Herman Goering: "But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

[Yael]

18. Divide and Conquer -- keep them all at each other's throats where they trust none and fear all

and welcome to DU. Love the nick!

[The2ndWheel]

19. Well, time actually could be one way

Controlling the source of food/water/land. Language. Economics. Physical force. Mental force. Compulsion under penalty of taking time and/or money away. Centralized political structures. The usual stuff.

[Elspeth]

20. Huge money and the willingness to kill

....

[otherlander]

21. People have to work with the system

when all the food is kept under lock and key.

On edit: Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Bucky]

22. With television

[niyad]

23. welcome to DU

fear is at the top of the list, always.

[OHdem10]

24. Ask the Fundies----

[Emit]

25. The recipe: Machiavellian approach to governance

A leader must perpetually deceive those being ruled.

Those who lead are accountable to no overarching system of morals, only to the right of the superior to rule the inferior.

Religion is the force that binds society together, and is therefore the tool by which the ruler can manipulate the masses (any religion will do).

Secularism in society is to be supressed, because it leads to critical thinking and dissent.

A political system can be stable only if it is united against an external threat, and that if no real threat exists, one should be manufactured.

As posted previously: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1880285&mesg_id=1880285

Add money, political power & clout.

edited clarity

[OHdem10]

26. The Fundies have made themselves INDESPINSABLE.

Make up about 20% of Republican Party. They do the
grassroots grunt work, they get everyone out to vote.
Without this 20% the GOP cannot win elections.

They make demands for their efforts. To show the GOP
they are to be taken seriously, they stayed home and
the Democrats won. Power is in their hands.

This election is interesting. I am waiting to see
what they will demand for their votes if it looks
like GUilliani is staying in the lead. Horse Traders.

Never let people take you for granted.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

27. Because most people would rather be "led" than act for themselves.

That's when Lord Acton's famous axiom inevitably kicks in.

[AndyTiedye]

28. By Lying a Lot, and Making the Media Endlessly Repeat their Lies

[applegrove]

29. Disrali said to whip up patriotism to get the "masses" to vote with conservatism.

[Igel]

30. Perhaps 3 ways.

Relieve them of the burden of freedom and independence, of the fear of making choices and decisions for themselves. Assume moral and ethical responsibility for them.

Feed them, so even if they're not grateful they're still obedient.

And teach them a mystery that they can believe in and feel they derive their greatness from. It can be loyalty to an ideology, it can be religion, it can be a cause.


Not original with me, but from dear ol' Fedor Mikhailovich.

[dorkulon]

31. religion, television, school, fear. nt