Long ago on some social media platform I came across the idea that some famous dystopic sci fi and other dystopic fiction ends up being treated more like a playbook for ideas among the greedy and sociopathic, rather than works written as often rather urgent and serious cautionary warnings. I wish I knew who to attribute this observation to, but I don’t. But along with a few other complaints about dystopic writings, this perspective made a lot of sense to me.
I say the above in order to point out that this particular piece is not musing on what -could happen- if certain bad things play out. It’s much more based in (disgusted) observations of what -has already happened- in parts of the world… and is more me attempting to reverse engineer the situations in order to more clearly parse out (what I see as) the main factors that have led us to…this ongoing “polycrisis state” or as I tend to call it: these multiple shit shows.
Apologies in advance if this only half satirical (but fully cynical) piece depresses you. But please know that in the reverse engineering, there are obviously BIG clues to what could make things better and what to address, individually and as communities…
Having said that, this piece is very much a work in progress. Now, without any further hemming and hawing:
Struggling With How To Create An Idiocracy In YOUR Country? Here Are Some Easy Ideas To Implement:
First off, create an emotionally stunted populace. If possible, especially focus on emotionally stunting the folks who tend to be larger in the population so they can more easily be turned into violence doers if necessary. If they cannot tell right from wrong internally, it makes it much easier for them to believe the many lies (rationalized as “truths”) needed to believe in patriarchy, racism, crapitalism, other bullshit supremacies wrapped in cultural or religious dogma, and other stupid ideas.
Another crucial aspect of it: Don’t forget to tell these emotionally stunted folks they are superior for relying solely on what you call “logic”. This will probably lead them to mostly listen to folks who look like them (and/or other folks designated as superior), but if not, make sure that folks designated as “superior” flood the zone. AND make sure that there’s some variety within the folks deemed “superior” so that only some of them keep subtly making digs and denigrating any one who is not designated as chosen.
Periodically make sure you create outrageous contracts for total full on bigots and idiots who claim to be “average people” and “speak for the common man (sic)” and then market the hell out of them. Use every snake oil sales trick in the book to make them super famous and seem popular!! Don’t worry too much about whether or not people will buy into the snake oil sale tricks: remember you are using these tricks on people who have been told that it’s not important to be aware of their own internal states… so, they are likely to not notice some stuff you think most people would catch on to.
From there it should be relatively easy to cultivate some folks to be violence doers. Remember to constantly tell them they are heroic patriots for being willing to harm others for peace, and remind everyone in the larger culture of this as often as possible. Only don’t put it that way of course. But strongly imply that the job of military or law enforcement (aka being willing to harm others)…is for super patriots, and doing this is a great way to prove themselves as worthy humans! Also create entire genres of shows called copaganda, where there’s lots of fear and violence and “the good guys” are the ones that use violence for good.
In manipulating folks, it also helps to soak everyone in generous amounts of religious bullshit whenever possible. Get them to believe that external (and imaginary) authority (as told to them by self appointed human middlemen), is the one true way to live! Books could be written on this subject and then taken out of context for just about every occasion (see what I did there?).
Then: simply intensify tensions wherever possible. For example, you can create economic hardships in a variety of ways. And beyond economics: implementing unfair, harmful policies in every area you can think of…is your bread and butter. If the humane people start to complain: you are DEFINITELY doing something correct if your goal is to create an idiocracy. So basically, in any way you can: Traumatize workers! Say that’s your goal out loud!
An often overlooked tool is to allow corruption to grow and flourish (while pretending some or many in your “intelligence” and law enforcement agencies aren’t in the very center of most of it). You can create environmental and health problems and other distractions while the most sociopathic extract money from folks.
Start wars and funnel money to arms dealers and surveillance freaks whenever possible. Make sure you rig your political systems to only allow a few token voices of opposition, and vigorously vet for having a vast majority of folks in policy making who believe: big business and militarism are -crucial- to saving “democracies.” Carefully weed out -almost everyone-who can see beyond these false beliefs and act on them. Again, leave a few tokens, but as soon as they start democratically popping up (and they will) use all your resources to weed them out.
Also, big businesses will pretty early on see that you are out to consolidate wealth and power for a few and they will join in enthusiastically since they’ve already bought into notions of growth and profits for growth and profits sake.
It may take a while, but soon the bad stuff that inevitably goes along with the consolidation of wealth and power by corrupt, greedy and, well, stupid folks convinced they are geniuses will accelerate, and then one day:
VOILA! 500 million years (give or take) of complex systemic conditions that led to gradually more and more complex and diverse life forms… can be critically endangered. This can be done in well under 100 generations. Congratulations, you’ve created a world class and incredibly harmful Idiocracy.