The Land of the Demagogues: But why do we listen?

We have heard a number of strange voices which have been blaring incessantly in public arenas over the last few years.  These are a cornucopia of utterances echoing in screeching but very audible tones about contemporary American politics.  The ancient writers referred to these kinds of practitioners and slogans as demagogic.  Political cliques whose goal is to stir the people’s passion and elites who will use the popular angst to advance a disguised partisan agenda at the expense of reasonable debate or the absence of any debate.  Truth is not the end but most importantly the accumulation of power is the desired result. Demonizing its opponents, stifling speech, controlling media outlets are the tools of mayhem utilized by the adherents of these devices.  There are those with very loud voices who often speak or really shout with a great megaphone.  Always filled with passion, but very little evidence, ready to transform every possible issue into a crisis with a kind of spasmodic hysteria.  Assemble the mob, demand redress of perceived grievances and threaten violence if your terms are not accepted. They chime eerily in lockstep with diatribes such as, “ It sounds like Russian collusion was involved with the President! I think the laptop is a simple case of Russian disinformation! Keep safe!-stop misinformation and continue those COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns! It’s just another example of global warming! Or maybe that was climate change! Whose side are you on?!  Our democracy is under threat!”  Wow!  That is a lot of chatter with very little, if not any evidence to support their wild eyed assertions!  It is quite deafening and it seems to be coming exclusively from one side of the aisle.  Fear, doom, destruction but don’t you dread any because the answer is always obvious or at least it should be- big brother is here and will help you!  The strength of an omnipotent government with powers beyond what was ordained in the Constitution are in the clutches of this demagogic clique but now at least you will be safe within the edifice of the leviathan state.  In an odd twist, the bureaucracy, the Leftist political party are allied with the mob.  Always ready to lend you assistance and to be the purveyor of truth.  Don’t ask any questions.  Don’t comment about the issue, just go along to get along.  This is the new citizen, compliant, fearful, not to be bothered in their newly created bubble.  Otherwise, you will be censored, removed from social media platforms, and flagged as a giver of misinformation.  You could lose due process, equal protection of the laws, your income, your career if you choose to dissent from the state.  Former Trump administration official Peter Navarro was taken away in leg irons, ostensibly for being in contempt of Congress.  If memory serves me, former Attorney General Eric Holder was also accused of being in contempt of Congress but needless to say, no leg iron was needed. Of course the official narratives are quite different with Holder’s vote by Congress being “political in nature” while Navarro is portrayed as an opponent of the republic, the democracy, the people for heaven’s sake.  Or, there is the issue of the FBI agents, the people’s law enforcement agency armed to the teeth, descending on the home of Mark Houck, an opponent of abortion with the FBI taking this pro life advocate into custody in front of his shocked and frightened family members.  Why?  He violated the FACE Act is the official explanation.  The FACE Act forbids blocking access to abortion clinics but Houck and his family members were regular demonstrators in front of these clinics.  During one such protest, Houck and son were being harassed by a pro abortion supporter which ironically became the basis of the arrest. This protester accused Houck of intimidation and blocking access to the clinic.  Local officials did not believe there was any merit to the case but the corrupt sages at the Justice Department pursued the case leading to the excessively armed siege and arrest of Houck but the reality was that Houck dissented from the official narrative and therefore a price must be paid.  He was acquitted of all charges but the precedent has been set.  As we take in the stark boldness of these actions we wonder aloud, “Where shall we draw the line?