What is a 'Demagogue'? You should know..

You see .. since ancient times the ruling classes have known the formula - how to herd and shepherd the common people. They have had plenty of practice to get the formula right - thousands and thousands of years they have had to figure it out, and the formula is passed down and circulated among the ruling class.


Demogogue:

1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.

2 : a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times.

From Merriam Webster

From Wikipedia:

A demagogue (a popular leader, a leader of a mob, people, populace) or rabble-rouser is a leader in a democracy who gains popularity by exploiting prejudice and ignorance among the common people, whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasoned deliberation.

Link

Demagogues have appeared in democracies since ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because ultimate power is held by the people, it is possible for the people to give that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.

The central feature of the practice of demagoguery is persuasion by means of passion.

..four criteria above: claiming to represent the common people, inciting intense passions among them, exploiting those reactions to take power

Sounds familiar?

There are many interesting parallels to today in the article.

a reply to: nOraKat

A dictionary quote AND a Wiki link??!





Couldn't this be applied to many leaders from many backgrounds from many countries?

What point are you trying to make?

a reply to: nOraKat

Sounds familiar?

Sounds like every politician in the U.S. for the past 100 years. Do you have anyone in particular in mind?

a reply to: nOraKat

Obama and HRC come to mind.

a reply to: MarkOfTheV

That the ruling classes have known how to shepherd the common people for thousands of years, and they have the formula down to a science.

I thought this was interesting, though today's situation is much more complicated -

Attacking the news media:

Since information from the press can undermine a demagogue's spell over his or her followers, modern demagogues have often attacked it intemperately, calling for violence against newspapers who opposed them, claiming that the press was secretly in the service of moneyed interests or foreign powers, or claiming that leading newspapers were simply personally out to get them.

Today - the press *is* under control of .. interests. However today, the demagogue may badmouth the press, but the demagogue and the interests are of the same camp, to make things more confusing..

Lol..

In the United States, many took folksy nicknames: William H. Murray (1869–1956) was "Alfalfa Bill".. Texas governor W. Lee O'Daniel (1890–1969) was "Pappy-Pass-the-Biscuits".. Georgia governor Eugene Talmadge (1884–1946) put a barn and a henhouse on the Executive Mansion grounds, loudly explaining that he couldn't sleep nights unless he heard the bellowing of livestock and the cackling of poultry. When in the presence of farmers, he chewed tobacco and faked a rural accent—though he himself was college-educated

They know how to play you..

Lol..

Vulgarity and outrageous behavior
Legislative bodies usually have sober standards of decorum that are intended to quiet passions and favor reasoned deliberation. Many demagogues violate standards of decorum outrageously, to show clearly that they are thumbing their noses at the established order and the genteel ways of the upper class, or simply because they enjoy the attention that it brings. ..the demagogue can use the upper class’s contempt for him to show that he won’t be shamed or intimidated by the powerful.

For example, Huey Long famously wore pajamas to highly dignified occasions where others were dressed at the height of formality. He once stood "bukk nekkid" at his hotel suite when laying down the law to a meeting of political fuglemen. ..He had to dominate every scene he was in and every person around him. He craved attention and would go to almost any length to get it. He knew that an audacious action, although it was harsh and even barbarous, could shock people into a state where they could be manipulated."

All of these techniques have been used for ages. However today, perhaps the difference is that so much (of the government, and of the world) is under tight control of the secret government, where it is not a case that the new administration is using these techniques to take over, but just the old administration maintaining its hold.

originally posted by: nOraKat
a reply to: MarkOfTheV

That the ruling classes have known how to shepherd the common people for thousands of years, and they have the formula down to a science.

And the “common people” have been willingly shepherded for thousands of years.

Because the “common people” are too lazy/greedy/weak willed to stand up for themselves, together, for their betterment.

Nature, it is said, abhors a vacuum, and when the “masses” fail to fill the vacuum of leadership the so-called “elite” step up.

WE, by our failure to act in our own best interests, make the “elite” possible; in fact, we determine who becomes an “elite” by who WE promote to the position by our (usually tacit) consent.

a reply to: Bhadhidar

Not that the common people are lazy,we are trying to work to survive, not tend a herd. We can band together, but likely at the last minute..... Sorry I gotta go finish my 6 pak and corned beef dinner.

Don't kid yourself into thinking that there are not people out there who either need to be controlled or want to be controlled. They're all over the place. Some even have land markers that tell you exactly where they're at. They're called churches. Don't pin it all on the leaders.

From the uneducated to the educated, many people believe that everyone needs leadership. That there needs to be a ruling class above the masses to regulate how people act. The educated believe it's necessary because they believe the uneducated cannot regulate their own behavior, which is not entirely false. So even though the educated who know right from wrong, logical from illogical and productive behaviour non-productive behaviour do not need leadership, they will take it if it means that their counterparts are kept in check. They sure as he!! don't want the job.

In short, a demagogue cannot exist if everyone is smart enough to see through the weirdness and confident enough in their own abilities to vote in leadership that represents them, rather than rule over them.

Keep letting your leaders chip away at your confidence, strength and intelligence and you'll get the leaders you deserve.

a reply to: 3daysgone

Donald Trump using the illegal immigration issue to 'rouse up' the common people's passions (perhaps those out of work or having a hard time) came to mind.

a reply to: nOraKat

Very familiar. Sounds like every politician not named Trump. Unlike Obama and his false promises Trump is keeping his word on almost everything.

a reply to: nOraKat

Dealing with criminals and a real problem is rousing people up? Is it also rousing people up to say you will put killers behind bars? If so please let every politician rouse us all up and keep their word.

originally posted by: nOraKat
You see .. since ancient times the ruling classes have known the formula - how to herd and shepherd the common people. They have had plenty of practice to get the formula right - thousands and thousands of years they have had to figure it out, and the formula is passed down and circulated among the ruling class.


Demogogue:

1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.

2 : a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times.

From Merriam Webster

From Wikipedia:

A demagogue (a popular leader, a leader of a mob, people, populace) or rabble-rouser is a leader in a democracy who gains popularity by exploiting prejudice and ignorance among the common people, whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasoned deliberation.

Link

Demagogues have appeared in democracies since ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because ultimate power is held by the people, it is possible for the people to give that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.

The central feature of the practice of demagoguery is persuasion by means of passion.

..four criteria above: claiming to represent the common people, inciting intense passions among them, exploiting those reactions to take power

Sounds familiar?

There are many interesting parallels to today in the article.

Donald Trump... the False Prophet and Anti-Christ too... All 3 rolled into 1

originally posted by: Taupin Desciple

In short, a demagogue cannot exist if everyone is smart enough to see through the weirdness and confident enough in their own abilities to vote in leadership that represents them, rather than rule over them.

Keep letting your leaders chip away at your confidence, strength and intelligence and you'll get the leaders you deserve.

Excellent!

So wish I had said this exactly as you did!

This quote should be a viral meme.

For the love of what is left of our freedom and democracy, please spread this meme!