Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #fromdictatorshiptodemocracy

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17 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 5: Exercising Power

This chapter (and especially page 44) has truly slowed my 2nd reading of this book, dramatically. I won't fully know why till I'm on the other side of the speed bump.
2) Perhaps part of the answer comes from this quote on the next page: "Nonviolent struggle is a much more complex and varied means of struggle than is violence."

Let's ponder what that means.
3) Complexity and simplicity can be defined by very simple math. It can be reduced to more than (>) vs less than (<) each other. A pencil with graphite and wood is a simpler thing for its 2 parts, than is a pen with its tip, ink source, casing, etc. The pencil is simpler.
Read 32 tweets
13 May 2021 #MAGAanalysisPrep

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 4: Exercising Power

Here's a list from page 45. It isn't an easy list to unpack.

The Categories of Weapons in Political Defiance:

1) Psychological
2) Social
3) Economic
4) Political
2) I think what I have to do is make it very personal. I know a great deal about psychology. For instance, I know how be respectful on the path to earning respect, and I can do this with enemies at will. I also know how to agree and disagree, gently yet forcefully.
3) Further, I also know how to introduce myself and initiate friendships. I have a list of local sheriffs I've been procrastinating reaching out to. I must STOP procrastinating. I can be a powerful friend. I will reach out to a minimum of 1 per day till my list is complete.
Read 16 tweets
10 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 4: Dictatorships have Weaknesses – Closing Case

Young fool that I was, I had NO idea of the power of showing my work when I was in school. I just hated rules and authority and rebelled over every little thing. ImageImage
2) For instance, how do you know how to note the day? Is it month first, or date first? I don't know, do you? As you can see in my pictures, I got it wrong, but, AHA!, I corrected my error. In this school, where we show our work, that's a badge of honor!
3) Another thing we do is quote our authors. We do NO plagiarism here. None. We attribute. And that's what we're going to do right now. I'm going to quote the points I underlined and dated. We love our authors here, and credit them every chance we can.
Read 21 tweets
7 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 4: Dictatorships have Weaknesses – Proof of Case

Let's discuss the scientific method. And we're going to discuss truth. Gene Sharp's work demands this. We must know the truth. Truth is what we cooperate with.
2) Within the scientific method, there is a single most powerful moment. It is the moment we've discovered "proof of case." A vaccine for polio is possible. Heavier than air flight is possible. Birds are heavier than air. Leonardo Da Vinci made that case. The Wrights proved it.
3) A dictatorship can be defeated. It has weaknesses. It has vulnerabilities. How is it, I ask, that YOU comply? How do you allow our current dictatorship its power? How do you help it cover for its weaknesses?
Read 21 tweets
6 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 4: Dictatorships have Weaknesses – The 17 Weaknesses

If there's a single fact we need Sharp to give us, it is the title of this chapter. Dictatorships have weaknesses. A moment from sci-fi will illustrate. ImageImageImageImage
2) Be it an alien invasion or some creature from beyond like Godzilla, the question is always, does it bleed? If the poor creature can, then its doom is already in the can. Monsters bleed and that means humans can kill them.
3) This is 100% true of all dictatorships. They bleed and they can be taken down. The simple fact that dictatorships DO, in fact, HAVE weaknesses is one of Sharp's greatest points. Tyrants do NOT enjoy the cosmic powers they wish us to believe they do.
Read 21 tweets
3 May 2021 - #MAGAanalysisPrep

Can't get to my essay till this afternoon, but you'll want to dig into #FromDictatorshipToDemocracy Chapter 4, Dictatorships have Weaknesses asap if you can! Here are today's study notes.
2) This clip is a PERFECT reflection of EXACTLY what Sharp is teaching us. Do check this out!

3) Then last for now, here's the list of weaknesses Sharp gives us, as I've reduced them to smallest number of terms possible:

1) Cooperation Needed
2) Regime's Past Policies
3) Less Able to Adjust
4) Personnel and Resources NOT Available
5) Subordinates NOT Reporting Accurately
Read 6 tweets
1 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Chapter 4: Dictatorships have Weaknesses – Introduction

In today's short meditation leading into our study of Chapter 4, we're going to follow just one idea around a bit...

#DictatorsCanBeOverburdened
2) We have just completed Usurper Biden's 1st 100 days. This dictatorship is still very new, at least under his aegis. However, all its powers and infiltration throughout our society is almost ancient at this point. He holds no new powers.
3) What's more, it is critical that we remember we won 2016 handily, and we won a massive reelection landslide in 2020. This forced the dictatorship to expose its own weaknesses as never before. Truth is, this is not a new Biden Dictatorship, it is an old Swamp Dictatorship.
Read 22 tweets
1 May 2021 #MAGAanalysis

#FromDictatorshipToDemocracy – Concluding Chapter 3

Sharp doesn't say this, but I believe it's right here in these concluding pages. Truth is a social function. We do know this from psychological testing. It's kind of amazing. I'll explain...
2) As I recall from college, psychologists decided to test what it takes to make someone doubt what they know to be true. So the created an experiment where there were 5 or 6 actors and 1 person being tested. We'll call the person be tested by the name X.
3) All the actors in the test were instructed to tell an absolute lie, 100% false, something like 1 + 1 = 3. The group leader would then put up the question:

What does 1 + 1 equal?

Actors 1 - 5 would all confidently and obviously answer 3.
Read 31 tweets

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