Welsh wrote a more forceful piece about if progressives get into power they must completely destroy the capacity of the conservative opposition. Failure to do so would mean they would use whatever capacity you left them to come back at you.
This is not situation for peace negotation. Sometimes it is a case that needs total defeat.
Let’s not dance around. Your first step will be to break the power of the current economic and political elites who are not willing to convincingly join you–or, at least, let you rule without trying to sabotage you.
You must do this all at once. When it happens, it has to happen to everyone to whom it is going to happen. This is Machiavelli’s dictum, and he was right. After it has happened, those who weren’t broken know they’re safe as long as they don’t get in your way.
If the breaking keeps going on and on, everyone who still has something to lose (and still, thus, has power) lives in fear. They must destroy you before you destroy them.
Let’s give a concrete example. Assume Obama was really a left-winger. He gets into power in 2009, and he really wants to change things. He needs to take out the financial elite: Wall Street and the big banks.
They’ve handed him the opportunity. Here’s part of how he does it: He declares all the banks involved in the sub-prime fraud racket (all of the big ones and most of the small ones) conspiracies under RICO.
He then says that all the individual executives’ money are proceeds derived from crime and confiscates it. (This is 100 percent legal under laws as they exist). He charges them, and they are forced to use public defenders.
They are now powerless. This is the second law of purges: Anyone you damage, you must destroy utterly. If you take away half their power, and leave them half, they will hate you forever and use their remaining power to destroy you.
Very interesting post, Tom, and a good analysis. I agree that the progressive Left seems to be stuck on playing by the rules when the right and the neoliberals won't.
However, I don't believe the Left should wait until it gains power to start breaking rules and being just as brutal as their opponents. They'll never gain power otherwise.
Sadly, I don't see an organized Left in the US anymore. The social contract has been destroyed and everyone seems to be in a state of learned helplessness.
"The left is considered illegitimate. Therefore, you do not have to play by they [sic] rules when fighting it."
And for extra bonus points, everything the centrist-right national party does gets blamed on the same left that's been locked out of the party's leadership (whose motto should be "Stop making me hit you!").
Keep in mind that the "real Left" in the West are thoroughly neutered.
Even if a Corbyn or a Sanders were to somehow get elected, the security apparatus would be sure to keep them in line. Witness the hysterical reaction to the election of Trump.
I meanr to annotate:
Welsh wrote a more forceful piece about if progressives get into power they must completely destroy the capacity of the conservative opposition. Failure to do so would mean they would use whatever capacity you left them to come back at you.
This is not situation for peace negotation. Sometimes it is a case that needs total defeat.
https://www.ianwelsh.net/7-rules-for-running-a-real-left-wing-government/
Obey the Laws of Purges
Let’s not dance around. Your first step will be to break the power of the current economic and political elites who are not willing to convincingly join you–or, at least, let you rule without trying to sabotage you.
You must do this all at once. When it happens, it has to happen to everyone to whom it is going to happen. This is Machiavelli’s dictum, and he was right. After it has happened, those who weren’t broken know they’re safe as long as they don’t get in your way.
If the breaking keeps going on and on, everyone who still has something to lose (and still, thus, has power) lives in fear. They must destroy you before you destroy them.
Let’s give a concrete example. Assume Obama was really a left-winger. He gets into power in 2009, and he really wants to change things. He needs to take out the financial elite: Wall Street and the big banks.
They’ve handed him the opportunity. Here’s part of how he does it: He declares all the banks involved in the sub-prime fraud racket (all of the big ones and most of the small ones) conspiracies under RICO.
He then says that all the individual executives’ money are proceeds derived from crime and confiscates it. (This is 100 percent legal under laws as they exist). He charges them, and they are forced to use public defenders.
They are now powerless. This is the second law of purges: Anyone you damage, you must destroy utterly. If you take away half their power, and leave them half, they will hate you forever and use their remaining power to destroy you.
Very interesting post, Tom, and a good analysis. I agree that the progressive Left seems to be stuck on playing by the rules when the right and the neoliberals won't.
However, I don't believe the Left should wait until it gains power to start breaking rules and being just as brutal as their opponents. They'll never gain power otherwise.
Sadly, I don't see an organized Left in the US anymore. The social contract has been destroyed and everyone seems to be in a state of learned helplessness.
doG help us, for we are truly fucked.
Y'all stay safe out there.
"The left is considered illegitimate. Therefore, you do not have to play by they [sic] rules when fighting it."
And for extra bonus points, everything the centrist-right national party does gets blamed on the same left that's been locked out of the party's leadership (whose motto should be "Stop making me hit you!").
Keep in mind that the "real Left" in the West are thoroughly neutered.
Even if a Corbyn or a Sanders were to somehow get elected, the security apparatus would be sure to keep them in line. Witness the hysterical reaction to the election of Trump.