To the editor,

Authoritarians, dictators, tyrants across the span of human history have learned from one another. Maybe defenders of our 250-year-old democracy should be using the following as a checklist in “turbulent times” like these. Anything here you’ve seen happening in our country?

1. Stoke discontent about any ongoing problems in the country until it has turned to rage. Fear is effective too, so paint a frighteningly bleak picture.

2. Introduce yourself as the people’s savior, the only one who can “fix it.”

3. Give supporters a sense of shared identity by inventing a piece of clothing, an eyecatching cap or armband, for example.

4. From the start, be sure to come across as a lifelong fan of law enforcement and the military. Never mind that most citizens are already grateful to those who serve; push the narrative that YOU have noticed how undervalued they are, that you are going to take care of them (because the plan is for them to ultimately take care of YOU.)

5. Also early in the game, start messing with the truth. Lying about the size of a crowd or the trajectory of a hurricane will do. Repeat your lie; never back down until people have decided to pretend you’re right or tell themselves it doesn’t matter. Now you can lie about increasingly important things.

6. This one is key: Instill mistrust of the mass media, even those publications that have a hundred-year reputation to uphold. Tell the faithful they can only trust the news outlets you approve … or even provide.

7. Find a scapegoat for every problem, but under no circumstances accept responsibility for mistakes of your own. That is what your staff is for. Allow others to go to jail for your own terrible judgment.

8. Make an example of anyone who is publicly disobedient to your will. Invent cruel nicknames and humiliating stories about him. Encourage your supporters to harass this person, sometimes even suggesting that execution might be too good for him.

9. Tell supporters that they are being intentionally victimized, fooled, taken to the cleaners. If you can do this while victimizing and fooling them and taking them to the cleaners yourself, all the better. This deceit might even culminate in declaring free elections illegitimate … those that don’t end as you want them to, that is. Make it harder to vote. Maybe even make it seem dangerous.

10. Do not call citizens of a different political persuasion your countrymen. Early on, normalize the term “the enemy.” Finally, dehumanize them by comparing them to predatory animals, perhaps rats and other “vermin.” Now you are igniting the level of fear and hatred required to tear a country apart and bring down a democracy.

Vicki Cobian

River Falls