Dear Readers,
It seems to me that the tactics used by the Taliban, Communists, Al Qaeda, National Socialist Party, and others are like Stalin’s Chicken, (explanation here). This tactic is merely a means to power. It has no redeeming attributes. The means is to achieve power for the few at the expense of the many. The definition of Aristotle’s Oligarchy. It is a Machiavellian scheme that violates Machiavellian principles. This means Stalin’s Chicken has a few weak points that are studiously overlooked by those that are fighting such monsters…
The population would prefer some other government they just don’t have the power to change their situation. The average person who is the subject of the violence cannot fight back. The freedom to keep and bear arms is the first social contract broken when these groups and others like them seek power. The common man’s defense is taken from him. Therefore we are reduced to dependant on the State to protect us from our fellow citizens and more importantly… the State.
This seems to follow the tenet that a wise prince seek a way that his people rely on him for everything and in every way, to guarantee the loyalty of the people. In fact it violates Machiavelli’s fundamental principle that a prince have the backing of the people. If a prince must forswear the backing of either the people of the Aristocracy it is wiser to forswear the backing of the Aristocracy.
The economy is savaged by the constant violence and intimidation. Fear and perpetual intimidation result in only the most basic economic operations taking place. Food clothing and shelter are produced. No one wants to stick his or her neck out to make a profit that will probably result in the seizure of it and lead to the death of one and one’s family.
Machiavelli was strident in propounding a strong economy. Economic power of the principality being a fundamental maxim. Machiavelli said that a stable tyranny is better for the middle class than an unstable democracy. In that a stable principality is better for business. An unstable principality is bad for business. If business is good the people’s necessities will be met. This makes us more peaceable and leads to a more powerful army that is better at protecting the principality, the people and the prince…
Average people are repulsed by the violence. No matter how you may detest a crime it is quite different to see a person stoned to death than to simply know but not witness it. Part of the weal of Stalin’s Chicken is that the violence must be in the face of the people. To terrorize us into submission. Violent acts are in front of the people constantly.
This violates Machiavelli’s tenet that an evil done to a people must be done quickly and ended as soon as possible. (He went on to say a good should be extended in time so the people can better enjoy it). Perpetual evil makes a people restless. This necessitates more repression…
So as Machiavellian as Stalin’s Chicken is it violates many of Machiavelli’s basic tenets. It alienates the people from the tyrant, it weakens the economy, and it makes the people restless. These shortcomings could be used by those that seek to stop such un human hearted systems from becoming powerful. Alas this has and is not being done…
