Activist Tyranny

            We all have seen protesters on Television and online outraged about something. They stand around with their signs, chant the same unimaginative slogans and generally annoy everyone. If it ended there that would be tolerable, but it keeps going. Politicians watch that and think, the people are upset and it is my job to help them. They then go and try to pass legislation to match the desire of these protesters.

            The old adage the squeaky wheel gets the grease is the best way to explain this series of events. A politician is in the business of getting elected. The best way to do this is to try and help the people (or at least appear to be helping the people). Especially if it means votes and looking good to the public. A politician cannot help someone he does not know needs help. So when the activist screams ‘I need help’ the politician is drawn to that like a moth to the flame. If you have a politician who is a bit more grounded then they won’t run so fast. In this case the activist just calls them a bigot or racist, which will cost politicians votes if they are seen in that light.

            The activist on the other hand has a world view and they want to correct problems that do not line up with their world view. An example is the push for equity rather than equality. If the community is 2% Asian than every organization needs to be made of up 2% Asians. If it isn’t then it is racist and needs to be dealt with. The activist stands up and boldly shouts that they are representing an oppressed group that is being treated unfairly, regardless of the fact that the group does or does not want them to speak for them. The activist gets what they want by being the loudest, most provocative and annoying voice. This allows them to gain the attention of those in power as well as drown out any opposing voices. They use sympathy to push their motives and if that does not work they attempt to use guilt and shame.

            These activist know what they are doing. They are smart and wield lots of power. You may think they are so stupid standing around chanting and waving signs, but they have a reason. It is the same reason most of us do anything, because it works. The starkest example of this activist tyranny you can see is the case of Evergreen College in Olympia Washington. The activist students hold all the power, so much so that they order the president of the college to not move his hands around when he talks because it is an oppressive gesture. Instead of telling them to kick rocks he complies with the order. They even tell him when he can and cannot use the bathroom along with sending someone to take him to the bathroom and back when he is allowed to go. This is why you will see politicians telling people to flood inboxes and call members of the opposite party. They want them to think that everyone wants what they want.

            The best way to combat the activist tyrant is not to become an activist tyrant ourselves but instead expose them for the totalitarian they are. Record what they are doing, mock them and make them laughable, and learn to speak and write your ideas clearly and articulately from a place of knowledge and authority. Become a civilized monster, one capable of terrible things but purposefully restrained. If this is done, you’ll be able to go into their darkness and drag them out into the light of truth without being turned into a tyrant yourself.