Unforseen Consequences

The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.
- Jane Porter

It is the proof of a bad cause when it is applauded by the mob.
- Seneca (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)


An open letter to the Republican National Committee:

Demagoguery is exhilarating, isn't it? There is nothing quite like the feeling of holding a crowd in your sway, feeding their anger and fear, controlling their collective emotions and inciting them to do your bidding. You start to feel that, with this kind of influence and power, you can accomplish anything. The crowd worships you, repeats your words, chants your slogans, denigrates your enemies and exerts your will. Your exhortations alone can trigger it's power, manifest it's menace. Yes, with the masses behind you, all of your aims will come to fruition . . .

As much as I hate to intrude on your little daydream, I just want to remind you of the reality of your situation. If you continue down this road, it will end badly. Not just for your organization, but for all of us.

Consider a few examples from history:

Alcibiades: Ancient Greek demagogue, political opportunist. His oratorical skills and ability to play upon the base emotions of the crowd allowed him to lead, at various times, Athens, Sparta and Persia to military disaster and famine. He died when his house was surrounded and set on fire by a Spartan mob, causing him to flee the flames . . . into the daggers of the waiting arsonists.

Maximilien Robespierre: French revolutionary, leader of the Committee of Public Safety. Despite a reign of terror that resulted in the formal execution of 16,000 French subjects and the mob lynching of perhaps 40,000 more, he failed to stabilize the French economy and raise the standard of living. He was executed in 1794. The political climate he helped to foster virtually guaranteed the death of the fledgling democracy and fostered the military dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, leading to a further 20 years of war.

Adolph Hitler: Rose to power in Germany by exploiting the ethnic and nationalistic prejudices of the populace. Upon his appointment as Chancellor, Erich Ludendorff was prompted to remark to Paul Von Hindenburg (President of the Wiemar Republic and the man who appointed Hitler), "By appointing Hitler Chancellor of the Reich, you have handed over our sacred German Fatherland to one of the greatest demagogues of all time. I prophesy to you this evil man will plunge our Reich into the abyss and will inflict immeasurable woe on our nation. Future generations will curse you in your grave for this action."

You see, at some point, the crowd that you incite, the mob whose fears and prejudices you have played upon, will expect results. Not just legislative results, but real world, "my life is better now" results. How are you going to deliver that? What is your plan? Where is the vision? Thus far, all we've seen is obstructionism, scare tactics and invective. What are you going to do when the mob you've created comes to you for results and your basket is empty? What will that mob do when they realize they've been used and manipulated for cynical gain? What will happen when they understand your true agenda?

You are creating a monster you cannot possibly control. By defining cooperation and compromise as "treason to the conservative cause", by encouraging your own fringe radicals to set the course for your party, you are poisoning the political process and popularizing hate. You have driven all of us who value moderation and compromise out of the party. What can anyone possibly stand to gain in the end?

Pulitzer Prize winning author Timothy Egan writes of this topic much more elegantly than I. His opinion can be found here.

This is a dangerous precedent to set, a perilous road to travel. It will have consequences none of us can foresee. Please stop while you still can.