MontyPython
It's Just a Flesh Wound!
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US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested many Americans would like a dictator as he signed orders to tighten his federal clampdown on the capital Washington and to prosecute flag-burners.
During a rambling 80-minute event in the Oval Office, Trump lambasted critics and the media as he complained that he was not getting credit for his National Guard-backed crackdown on crime and immigration.
"They say 'we don't need him. Freedom, freedom. He's a dictator. He's a dictator.' A lot of people are saying: 'Maybe we like a dictator,'" Trump told reporters.
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Are you one of the "many people" that supposedly wants Trump to become your dictator?
A dictator is a ruler with total or absolute control over a government and society, typically obtained by seizing power or subverting democratic institutions rather than through legitimate election. Modern dictators consolidate power by undermining courts, legislatures, and the media, often using propaganda and controlling information rather than overt terror to maintain compliance. While the role evolved from a temporary Roman emergency position, it now refers to a modern autocrat in a non-democratic state who monopolizes political power.
Key Characteristics of Modern Dictators
During a rambling 80-minute event in the Oval Office, Trump lambasted critics and the media as he complained that he was not getting credit for his National Guard-backed crackdown on crime and immigration.
"They say 'we don't need him. Freedom, freedom. He's a dictator. He's a dictator.' A lot of people are saying: 'Maybe we like a dictator,'" Trump told reporters.
# # #
Are you one of the "many people" that supposedly wants Trump to become your dictator?
A dictator is a ruler with total or absolute control over a government and society, typically obtained by seizing power or subverting democratic institutions rather than through legitimate election. Modern dictators consolidate power by undermining courts, legislatures, and the media, often using propaganda and controlling information rather than overt terror to maintain compliance. While the role evolved from a temporary Roman emergency position, it now refers to a modern autocrat in a non-democratic state who monopolizes political power.
Key Characteristics of Modern Dictators
- Consolidated Power:
They seize and maintain power through unconstitutional means or by eroding existing democratic institutions.
- Control of Information:
Modern dictators often manipulate news and media to control public perception and gain support, a tactic known as "spin dictatorship".
- Suppression of Opposition:
They intimidate or eliminate political opponents, prohibit opposing political parties, and suppress independent civil society groups.
- Erosion of Institutions:
Dictators work to weaken or co-opt other centers of power, such as courts, legislatures, and the media, so they are not constrained by checks and balances.
- Use of Elite Networks:
They rely on an inner circle of elites—often party members, military officers, or personal friends—who benefit from the regime in exchange for their support and loyalty.
- Shifting Tactics:
While past dictators relied heavily on terror and overt violence, many 21st-century dictators prefer subtler methods to engineer consent and maintain control from within
- Consolidated Power:
