Trading freedom for stuff and rights for false supremacy

Things We Normalize That Should Terrify Us Series

This post was particularly challenging to write. My relationship status with America is “It’s complicated.” If she were a person, she’d be the friend I love but can only hang out with if I compartmentalize so I can put aside her issues and enjoy her redeeming qualities. I guess I wouldn’t be as emotionally affected about our state of affairs if I didn’t love this country. As millions of Americans out there, all I have is one vote and one voice. Here, I speak.

Can I live without Amazon? I did for the 11 months I spent in Europe. I hated it! Even though France and Germany have their own Amazon, Bulgaria and many other EU countries do not. Besides, people in Europe still shop in actual stores. They do the local thing and support small shops around the neighborhood a lot more than Americans do. I like the idea, but lack the patience to go shopping. As much as I dislike Jeff Bezos, I am making him richer with every click.

And, of course, Costco! Walking through rows of giant TVs makes me wonder how movie theaters stay in business, but it helps me understand why Americans have given up on so much of their freedom and rights and are totally OK with it. It also reminds me of how the Roman Empire fell, and I wonder if the American Empire is next.

The Romans didn't have Costco, but they had democracy for a long time. While the Roman Republic technically lasted nearly 500 years, the breakdown of democratic norms and rise of dictatorship happened over the last 100 years, with the final shift occurring in the last 60 years, from 133 BCE to 27 BCE, the rise of Emperor Octavian Augustus.

Octavian Augustus was best known for masterminding the Roman political makeover. He didn't just seize power. He cleverly reshaped the Roman world so that most people didn't realize democracy had died. He kept the appearance of republican institutions – the Senate, elections, etc., but controlled them from behind the curtain. He took control of the army, treasury, and religious authority and became Pontifex Maximus, the high priest. He also used propaganda, public works, and art to make people want his rule. He became the original "benevolent dictator" PR package.

A couple of centuries later, the poet Decimus Junius Juvenalis observed:

"…Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses."

World history has been "rhyming" ever since, as Mark Twain would say.

Modern "Octavians" who dismantled democracy while selling stability and prosperity include Mussolini (Italy), Hitler (Germany), Orban (Hungary), Putin (Russia), Erdoğan (Turkey), and Xi (China). They slowly dismantled independent media and co-opted the judiciary. Putin, Orban, Erdoğan, and Xi changed the constitution to extend their rule. They attacked independent institutions, "reformed" the education system, suppressed dissent, persecuted their political opponents, and created crony capitalism. Yes, even China, which is a communist country on paper.

"Believe, Obey, Fight" was stamped on posters, shouted in schools, and on the streets of Mussolini's Italy, together with "Mussolini is always right." While Hitler's supporters wanted "One People, One Empire, One Leader" and believed that "The Führer is always right."

In Russia, they still raise fists saluting "Strong Russia," and "There is no Russia without Putin." While in China, Xi is promising "Comprehensiveness National Security" and "The Chinese Dream" to all possessing the proper social score. Orban's government champions "Christian Democracy" and wants to "Build The Wall" to keep immigrants out. Erdoğan's signature nationalist slogan is: "Strong Leader, Strong Turkey." All of them started out as supposedly democratically elected heads of state.

And Trump? He wants to "Make America Great Again," and his supporters to "Fight, Fight, Fight," and to believe that he is the only one who can fix the country.