13 Things That A Dictator Can Do

13 Things That A Dictator Can Do

1. Seize your property or your business

2. Confiscate your savings

3. End social programs and keep collected funds for himself

4. Ban unions and force companies to pay lower wages

5. Ban the minimum wage

6. Levy taxes on fuel and food that would fund his own enrichment

7. Confiscate firearms

8. Force citizens into military service

9. Restrict your ability to travel

10. Suspend elections

11. Remain in power indefinitely

12. Use the military to intimidate, coerce, and eliminate citizens

13. Imprison anyone who complains about any of the above

A dictator can do anything they want to, no matter how outrageous. They have complete and unchallengeable power. There is no way to overthrow a dictator without violence.

If a candidate for public office talks about exercising authoritarian control, take it seriously. Think about the kind of country you want to live in and how invasive and oppressive a malevolent government could be.

Childhood Movie Memories

Awards season is bringing back memories. I watched movies mostly on television when I was a boy. Our TV was black and white, and the picture quality varied with the weather.

The first movie I saw on a big screen was “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.” My parents loaded us into the car and took us to the drive-in. I don’t recall us going to another movie as a family, but two little sisters came along which made it difficult to schedule outings.

Why they chose that film, I don’t know. It featured three legendary stars, but as a kid, I didn’t have the context to appreciate their fame. Hepburn and Tracy seemed like someone’s grandparents. The younger actors, including the incomparable Sidney Poitier, were more relatable.

The movie started with a plane landing at an airport. Understanding that the movie played at the drive-in every night, I asked my mom if the night before they showed what happened before the plane arrived. She explained that no, they showed the same story every night so lots of people could see it. My assumption seems daft now, but I can see the logic behind it. I’ve always had an analytical mind.

The first movie I saw in a cinema was “Destroy All Monsters.” When the trailer played on TV, I as a budding sci-fi fan, was smitten. My parents were mortified. They refused to take me to see “that junk.” Luckily, my town had a movie theater about ten blocks away. I had never walked that far by myself (I was nine), so I planned my route and even thought through how cars negotiated intersections so I could cross the street safely (analytical mind). I grabbed some coins from my dresser (I think the ticket cost $1.75) and treated myself to a Saturday matinee. I don’t think Mom ever forgave me, but the movie was awesome.

Dream of the Fantastic

I dream of the fantastic

Like biodegradable plastic

And underwear elastic

That never stretches out

I dream of the incredible

Like healthful food that’s edible

Or sunscreen that’s so spreadable

You’ll never miss a spot

I dream of the impossible

The outlandish and implausible

The unlikely, the improbable

The confounding and unfathomable

I dream each day of the absurd

Of soaring music yet unheard

And I’ll continue undeterred

To chase these dreams through deed and word

©️ 2024 Daniel R South

Remembering January 6

Three years ago, American democracy withstood a direct attack by a violent mob. The mob was enraged by lies and inflammatory rhetoric from its leader. Vastly outnumbered, brave police officers fought the mob valiantly while evacuating officials. Many were gravely injured.

Discombobulate to Educate

Some discombobulation

With a measure of frustration

Is the price we pay

Along the way

For effective education

Ask The Question

It’s better to embarrass yourself by asking a question than crashing the plane or sinking a submarine.

Lessons I’ve Learned Over Time

Lessons I’ve Learned Over Time

People expect you to know what they mean when they don’t explain it and how they feel when they don’t express it.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Humans hide their talents as effectively as they conceal their flaws.

Your opinions say more about you than the things that you criticize.

You’re not good at something until you can demonstrate it convincingly.

If you want to fix something, address the root cause. If you want to improve, work on your weaknesses.

The more someone claims to be good at something, they more likely they aren’t.

Nothing sells itself. Marketing requires time and effort.

Deliver the bad news first. Resolve the problem before it gets worse.

Challenges become more manageable when you face them.

If the phone isn’t ringing, either they’re not interested, or they don’t believe that you are.

Learn how to talk yourself into doing important things and out of doing wasteful things. Humans are hard wired to do the opposite.

Some of your neighbors are authoritarians. Some of your colleagues are schemers. Some of your friends aren’t friends. Factor that in to minimize disappointment.

Some people love to complain. Some love to exaggerate.

There’s no substitute for dedication, enthusiasm, authenticity, and hard work.

You are what you finish.

What you can do in a day is enough if you do it.