Chaos, Power and Hypocrisy

   One way to achieve power is to create chaos and then step into the breach and announce, "Elect me and your troubles will be over."
   History is filled with examples of political figures surreptitiously stirring up trouble between two or more factions while quietly building and organizing their own factions to step in and suppress others in the name of peace, prosperity and victory for the favored few who support the Beloved Leader.
   It has happened in other times and in other countries. The one who holds himself out to be the leader identifies others as a danger to the nation's security and values, promising to stop them by whatever means necessary, thereby rescuing the nation and returning it to greatness.
   Such a leader demands absolute and unquestioning loyalty from his followers, verbally attacks those who disagree with him and quietly encourages violence against opponents, even as he makes a show of disavowing violence.
   A passing familiarity with the history of other countries that have passed from a free democracy to a cruel dictatorship will bring up several examples, many in the 20th Century. Typically, its leader will have manipulated the election system to win through to the top position.
   America now faces a similar danger. The president reached that office despite losing the popular vote, and investigators are questioning whether the electoral system was manipulated in such a way as to give him his victory.
   That situation, too, has happened in the past, in other countries and at other times.
   The current American president is now creating more chaos by continuing to encourage -- or at least not really condemn -- violence against those who oppose him.
   This rapidly escalating disruption could easily lead to enough chaos throughout the nation to justify an executive order to suspend the Constitution and, with the support of a virtual private army of supporters, solidify his power.
   Can this scenario be prevented, or stopped once it gets under way? Yes, but it will take awareness and a concerted effort by Congress and even the military to do so.
   Meanwhile, an alert and watchful press must continue to monitor and publicize any actions or words that endanger this democratic republic.
   Military commanders are expected to obey all lawful orders from the commander in chief. But what if such an order, for example, one that would suspend the Constitution, is not lawful? The military is morally and legally bound to refuse such an order, even to the extent of acting to stop quasi-military action by a gang of ruffians and hoods posing as a private army.
   Secondly, Congress has the authority and the duty to challenge the legitimacy of a president's actions, even to the extent of impeachment and removal from office.
   And if he does not go willingly?
   That would mean a crisis in America such that the nation has never before seen. But with luck and devotion to its principles, America will survive and remain great.