A dictatorship is a form of government characterized by the absolute rule of one person or a very small group of people who hold all political power. While a dictatorship is a form of government in some nations, just as monarchy or representative democracy is the form of government in others, dictatorships are seen by non-dictatorships as dangerous and cruel because of the way they tend to treat their citizens.
Dictators and Control
You won’t find a dictator who calls himself a dictator. Instead, dictators have ordinary titles such as president, prime minister, emperor, great leader and similar monikers. That’s because ‘dictator’ is a pejorative term assigned to certain rulers by other nations, particularly the developed nations of the West – that is, countries with thriving economies – such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and many others.
To be considered a dictatorship means that a country is known to be run by one person without any checks and balances on his power. Dictators make unilateral decisions that affect their countries without having to consult any other branch of government. That’s because there’s no other branch of government that is not controlled by the dictator. Human nature being what it is, dictators don’t rise to power for the good of their nations (though they usually claim otherwise). They seize power to benefit themselves, their families and their close political allies.
Dictators usually scheme to stay in power for life and rig elections to do so. How do they rig elections?
There are several steps dictators use to rig elections. You would think that a dictator would do away with elections. However, many dictators maintain the facade of so called “democratic” or “free and fair elections” to ingratiate themselves with the liberty loving nations of the world. To stay in power dictators do as follows:
1. Use state resources to benefit themselves and their party.
2. Use public media to brainwash the population with a biased view that demonizes all opposition supporters as traitors.
3. Ensure that teachers and other civil servants tow the party line or face victimization where they deviate from the party line.
4. Promote the leader as an idol who is the salvation of the nation and above the law.
5. Corrupt the court system so judges are biased in favor of the government.
6. Arrest opposition activists on false charges.
7. Corrupt the security forces and use them as enforcers of the dictator, to intimidate, oppress and spy on citizens.
8. Use state resources to dole out favors to supporters of the dictator and deny services to citizens who oppose the dictator.
9. Force into exile the most intelligent, free thinking, liberty loving, industrious and innovative citizens so that they do not threaten the dictator by providing themselves as an independent alternate source of power.
10. Control or destroy trade unions and other civil society organizations so that the government monopolizes all power in the country .
11. Destroy or co-opt private sector organizations and leaders so that they cannot criticize the regime but instead must bow to its will.
12.Make the average citizen dependent on the regime for sustenance and enroll the church in blessing the dictator as God ordained.
Where the above twelve factors are present then a dictatorship is present in your country.
The dictator usually skillfully crafts a public image of “generosity” and “kindness” courtesy of highly paid image consultants, faith leaders or entertainers.
In that fashion the dictator gives the impression that he was peacefully elected by the citizens, when in fact the elections are manipulated through intimidation of voters to ensure the dictator’s victory.
A cult of personality often surrounds a dictator, driven by myths – typically perpetuated by the government-controlled media – about the ruler that are designed to build him up in the minds of the citizens as an all-knowing divine being who is the only one capable of bringing prosperity to the nation.
In cases such as the late Kim Jong-il in North Korea, the ruler is even worshiped as a god.
All Dominicans are asked to give themselves the gift of discernment this Christmas season. Dominicans, educate yourselves in the basic principles of democracy. Dominicans, study and meditate on what your society has become.
When you do, you will recognize your island as the dictatorship it has become. Then, you must exercise your civic duty to remove that dictatorship so we can once again enjoy the liberty and prosperity that is our birthright. To do so we must cast off the shackles of mental slavery and truly worship God, not an idol with red shoes capped in fools gold.
In this moment we remember when Christmas was merry and bright. Let us work to redeem the glory of Christmas and usher in better days to come by God’s grace and wise effort.
So very very true. It is sadder though, that such words of Truth and wisdom will go unseeded by so many who have no interest in educating themselves. Supporters of a dictatorship are like drug addicts. They have to really hit Rock Bottom to realize the need for a charge.
Well said Let’s hope our Dominican citizens take serious note and act before it is too late