Be the wind

What is a demagogue? Wikipedia says this: A demagogue is a power-seeking person who uses many of the following techniques: scapegoating, fear mongering, lying, emotional oratory and personal charisma, accusing opponents of weakness and disloyalty, promising the impossible, violence and intimidation, personal insults and ridicule, vulgarity and outrageous behavior, folksy posturing, gross oversimplification, attacking the news media.

Humans are easily swayed by oratory and promises – such as, "I'll love you, swim rivers and bring you the moon (or riches or security) – if you will just do XYZ for me."

It's also clear that people can be negatively influenced (intimidated) by insults, demonization, and threats of violence. These de-humanizations tend to silence both the target person and also other observers who don't want the same treatment. Silencing all is the goal.

Demagoguery seems to work. How unfortunate. It limits real knowledge; it promotes emotional fetishes and overpowers rational thinking; and it silences the values and lives of those who become intimidated.

But demagoguery can also have a silver lining. Each lie is a crack in reality. This gives opportunities to aggressively expose each lie and intimidation. This requires having a commitment to knowledge to be better informed – and the courage to speak truth-to-power.

Storm clouds eventually move away and are replaced by sunlight and fresh air, but only if the wind blows. Be the wind.

– Gene Johnson, Polson