Sometimes history helps us understand the present. Authoritarian rulers from the kings and potentates of medieval times to the 20th century dictators have had certain characteristics:
■They find groups of immigrants, Jews, Muslims, Christians to demonize and blame for their own troubles.
■They preach law and order to justify repressive and violent actions.
■They like big rallies to build popular support and inflate their egos.
■They fill their staffs with yes men and fire or execute those who disagree.
The medieval tyrants didn’t have to worry about the media, the internet, elections, or the courts, but our modern rulers do, so they also:
■Criticize or shut down the free media,
■Rig elections in their favor,
■Propagandize their citizens with lies and distortions,
■Try to gain control of the courts.
Is it just a coincidence that the man now in the White House appears to fall in line with many of these actions?
BILL BARDSLEY
Andover