So...How Would You Do It?
I've been intrigued lately by the idea of a coup. Not the kind for chickens, but the kind where an illigitimate force in the country seizes power. How could someone pull off a coup in the United States? I mean, would it be possible? Before you just poo-poo such an idea as the paranoid delusions of an insane blogger, consider the prophetic words of Kurt Vonnegut: "The [government's] greatest weapon is their ability to astonish. Nobody is willing to believe that they really can be that gready and that cruel." But what am I saying? No one in our government would ever dream of seizing power. It's just an exercise in what-if. You know...fiction. Remember: We can trust our government. They have never done anything to lose that trust. But, assuming that somebody actually would be willing to seize power...if it were possible...
First of all, how could they justify it...if only to themselves?
Option #1: Screw it. We love power and we can do it, so we did. Of couse, this justification is not very likely. It's not that it wouldn't be the reason for someone to seize power, but if it were, then more than likely they wouldn't be concerned about justifying anything to anybody.
Option #2: God / The voices in my head / My mother / Your name here told me to. This is dangerously close to #1. After all, if God tells you to do something, why would you have to expain it to either believers or non-believers? After all, the believers don't need you to explain, and the non-believers are not going to understand even if you do.
Option #3: Pass a law. Whereas this might work, there are a few major problems with it. One, you have to introduce the law. If the law doesn't pass, then you've tipped your hand. Also, even if it does pass, more than likely all you're going to be able to do is to get rid of the Admendment that says you're limited to two terms. Then you'd still have to campaign for the job, and you could lose. Then, once again, you've tipped your hand. I suppose it might be possible to pass a law making you president for life, if not longer, but good luck with that.
Option #4: My favorite... There are evil forces that exist that are waiting to destroy our great country. It is the sworn duty of every elected official, especially the president, to do everything possible to prevent those evil forces from accomplishing their evil goal. If handing over power at the end of the appointed term would cause those evil-doers to be successful, then it would be in the best interest of the country--indeed, it would be the sworn Constitutional duty of the president--not to give up power. Isn't logic wonderful? You can justify anything.
Option #5: A combination of any of the above.
Do we need and Option #5?
Moving on...
How would they do it?
Outright Force: Probably not a good idea. That would require the loyalty of a lot of troops and a lot of generals and admirals, to say the least. Also, it would probably give every gun toting American an excuse to open fire on the local Post Office. Not that there's anybody in the country that would go nuts with their hunting rifles. If that happened, and even if it didn't, it would probably require that troops are deployed within our own boarders. That would mean that it might be necessary to order our own troops to shoot our own civilians--they're own cousins and brothers-in-law. That has never really worked very well on a large scale. Besides, where would we get the troops? It's not like we have a surplus now. Asking people to volunteer at that point would probably not work very well.
The Threat of Force: Probably not a good idea either, for all of the above reasons. "If you threaten me, by God, you'd better be ready to shoot back...." You get the idea.
Make Everybody Think it's a Good Idea: My favorite. Of course, you're not ever going to make everybody think anything's a good idea, but you don't have to. All you have to do is sell it to the majority. The minority could then either be ignored, or disappeared.
But how could you make the country think it's a good idea, say, if you're the president, and you don't want to go away? How could you make the country agree that choosing somebody else to replace you is not only a bad idea, but would ultimately mean the end of all that is America? And maybe all who are Americans?
Let me think on that for a while. Suggestions?
First of all, how could they justify it...if only to themselves?
Option #1: Screw it. We love power and we can do it, so we did. Of couse, this justification is not very likely. It's not that it wouldn't be the reason for someone to seize power, but if it were, then more than likely they wouldn't be concerned about justifying anything to anybody.
Option #2: God / The voices in my head / My mother / Your name here told me to. This is dangerously close to #1. After all, if God tells you to do something, why would you have to expain it to either believers or non-believers? After all, the believers don't need you to explain, and the non-believers are not going to understand even if you do.
Option #3: Pass a law. Whereas this might work, there are a few major problems with it. One, you have to introduce the law. If the law doesn't pass, then you've tipped your hand. Also, even if it does pass, more than likely all you're going to be able to do is to get rid of the Admendment that says you're limited to two terms. Then you'd still have to campaign for the job, and you could lose. Then, once again, you've tipped your hand. I suppose it might be possible to pass a law making you president for life, if not longer, but good luck with that.
Option #4: My favorite... There are evil forces that exist that are waiting to destroy our great country. It is the sworn duty of every elected official, especially the president, to do everything possible to prevent those evil forces from accomplishing their evil goal. If handing over power at the end of the appointed term would cause those evil-doers to be successful, then it would be in the best interest of the country--indeed, it would be the sworn Constitutional duty of the president--not to give up power. Isn't logic wonderful? You can justify anything.
Option #5: A combination of any of the above.
Do we need and Option #5?
Moving on...
How would they do it?
Outright Force: Probably not a good idea. That would require the loyalty of a lot of troops and a lot of generals and admirals, to say the least. Also, it would probably give every gun toting American an excuse to open fire on the local Post Office. Not that there's anybody in the country that would go nuts with their hunting rifles. If that happened, and even if it didn't, it would probably require that troops are deployed within our own boarders. That would mean that it might be necessary to order our own troops to shoot our own civilians--they're own cousins and brothers-in-law. That has never really worked very well on a large scale. Besides, where would we get the troops? It's not like we have a surplus now. Asking people to volunteer at that point would probably not work very well.
The Threat of Force: Probably not a good idea either, for all of the above reasons. "If you threaten me, by God, you'd better be ready to shoot back...." You get the idea.
Make Everybody Think it's a Good Idea: My favorite. Of course, you're not ever going to make everybody think anything's a good idea, but you don't have to. All you have to do is sell it to the majority. The minority could then either be ignored, or disappeared.
But how could you make the country think it's a good idea, say, if you're the president, and you don't want to go away? How could you make the country agree that choosing somebody else to replace you is not only a bad idea, but would ultimately mean the end of all that is America? And maybe all who are Americans?
Let me think on that for a while. Suggestions?
posted by The Holy Grail Press at 9:55 AM
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