plarq
Crazy forever
From the threads about Russian democracy, I was thinking to myself, what the heck is that? Sovereignty + national pride vs. Democracy and human rights? Both are inedible and incurable of social illnesses.
I'm quite sure that my country doesn't have "democracy" from day 1, so I guess I'm eligible of posting humble citizens' basics of perpetual authoritarianism.
1. Democracy is not a cure-for-all. Since it is authoritarian to start, only the powerful one (caste of leadership) dare say things about democracy, that alone should scare off naively dissidents and liberals.
Proof: Sakharov, Solzhenitsyn, Gorbachev, Fang Lizhi, Zhao Ziyang, and students from Tiananman Square.
2. Authority doesn't need your support. Since the government runs smoothly without your vote, why support it? Even if you agree with its policies (trust me, sometimes we call it "popular dictatorship"), doesn't mean you should spare your effort to support it--you add no work done by the government.
The last time Mao called people to support himself and to fight off "bourgeois restoration", it is the start of Cultural Revolution. If the government or any pro-government individual asks you to support the government since the situation is "urgent", think twice.
3. Don't borrow historical pride or national relativism. It is a national pasttime in authoritarian states to boost how big territory we had and we should have, even when it is against government's interest (you accidentally demand territory from a friendly state). It is another national sports to single out dangerous enemies that seek to destruct our glorious nation while the government is sitting pretty, developing economy and drinking wine with the said enemy.
Relativism is more absurd, it is borderline masochist to cover up our national blunders and civil right offenses--the government won't spare you from the burden, regardless you support the government or not. Saying Americans can have their democracy while we should have sovereignty first equals to say we are inferior in civil rights.
The authoritarians are great tutors to us citizens as "how to be political cynical", it is political indifference and complete demotivatization. Either supporting democracy (read: some less influential officials who try to win sympathy) or supporting government, is fruitless and hazardous to one's standing in an authoritarian world.
I'm quite sure that my country doesn't have "democracy" from day 1, so I guess I'm eligible of posting humble citizens' basics of perpetual authoritarianism.
1. Democracy is not a cure-for-all. Since it is authoritarian to start, only the powerful one (caste of leadership) dare say things about democracy, that alone should scare off naively dissidents and liberals.
Proof: Sakharov, Solzhenitsyn, Gorbachev, Fang Lizhi, Zhao Ziyang, and students from Tiananman Square.
2. Authority doesn't need your support. Since the government runs smoothly without your vote, why support it? Even if you agree with its policies (trust me, sometimes we call it "popular dictatorship"), doesn't mean you should spare your effort to support it--you add no work done by the government.
The last time Mao called people to support himself and to fight off "bourgeois restoration", it is the start of Cultural Revolution. If the government or any pro-government individual asks you to support the government since the situation is "urgent", think twice.
3. Don't borrow historical pride or national relativism. It is a national pasttime in authoritarian states to boost how big territory we had and we should have, even when it is against government's interest (you accidentally demand territory from a friendly state). It is another national sports to single out dangerous enemies that seek to destruct our glorious nation while the government is sitting pretty, developing economy and drinking wine with the said enemy.
Relativism is more absurd, it is borderline masochist to cover up our national blunders and civil right offenses--the government won't spare you from the burden, regardless you support the government or not. Saying Americans can have their democracy while we should have sovereignty first equals to say we are inferior in civil rights.
The authoritarians are great tutors to us citizens as "how to be political cynical", it is political indifference and complete demotivatization. Either supporting democracy (read: some less influential officials who try to win sympathy) or supporting government, is fruitless and hazardous to one's standing in an authoritarian world.