The Plan

The post was titled, simply enough, "10 Steps." And the eponymous steps were as follows:

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

10 is, of course, an arbitrary number. It's possible to make a slide into "things being bad" into any number of steps one chooses. Decompose a step or two here, consolidate a few there, and it's fairly simple to create any number of steps one wants. Even the order is somewhat arbitrary. But only somewhat. Because it's likely, and I think that history bears this out, that the first step always deals with fear.

"10 Steps" makes this seem as if there is an external entity, whether that be a person or an organization, plotting out how they are going to take over and seize power for themselves. But the fact of the matter is that this process repeats itself over and over, just as a matter of everyday life. Any group of people with something to fear has a chance of starting down this road, and taking the process as far as their collective powers will allow.

Which may seem disheartening, but it points to the idea that there is a straightforward, if not easy, way to disrupt things.

1. Relieve people of their fear.

But that requires something difficult. And that is: disinvestment in others' fears. And it's difficult because coming to see the fear of others as an asset may be simply part of human nature. People value allies, and fears can be powerful allies. And to the person who views the fear of others as a benefit to themselves the disappearance of that fear can be a tangible loss, no different than a loss of another's goodwill can be seen as damaging. And from there it's only a short step to seeing someone who does something to help other people assuage their fears as an opponent.

Sometimes, though, the best way to deal with an opponent is to beat them to the punch.

In the 10 Step program, Step One concerns itself with amping up people's fears to the point where Steps Two through Ten seem like reasonable, or even necessary, means to calm those fears. Which is why it's the starting point. But it's also a single point of failure, because undermining Step One removes the need for whatever follows. It speaks to the depth of the investment in fear that people won't do more to eradicate it.