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Posted on 07/12/2026 5:11:19 AM PDT by MtnClimber
The ideology is new, but using ancient examples, Aristotle proves that tyranny’s tactics are always the same.
This is an edited version of an essay that first appeared in American Thinker’s subscribers-only newsletter.
I admit without shame that I’m one of those people for whom classic philosophy is a closed book. That’s my excuse for being unfamiliar with Aristotle’s Politics, an eight-volume work from the middle of the 4th century BC that analyzes various political systems. Fortunately for America, many of the Founders had read Politics and applied it to the Constitution.
I mention Aristotle now because I learned yesterday that Aristotle, looking at examples in the ancient world, predicted the growing threat of leftist tyranny in the U.S. and Europe. He also answered a question I’ve been asking myself as I think about Europe’s imminent downfall because its leftist leaders decided to erase all borders and welcome in the entire Middle East and Africa to replace the native populations. Here, too, Democrats (and some Uniparty Republicans) tried desperately under Joe Biden to do the same, only to be foiled when voters insisted on reelecting Donald Trump.
With these thoughts in mind, I asked myself (literally, I spoke the words out loud), “Has there ever before been a country in which the leaders simply replaced the native population?” I couldn’t think of one—but Aristotle could. He revealed that one specific type of leader desperately wants to be surrounded by foreigners: the tyrant.
Having alienated his own people, writes Aristotle, the tyrant can no longer trust them, and he feels safe only when surrounded by those to whom he imputes the virtues he believes his own people lack—and whom he believes (probably naively) will not destroy him as his own people will eventually be driven to do.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
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Anyone who thinks the globalists don’t want white people gone is not paying attention. Muslims are like sheep: they will stick their butts in the air five times a day on command. That bleating starts on the loudspeaker and they drop to the ground. Just the kind of cooperation needed in order to be ruled.
“Having alienated his own people,”
That remark speaks volumes as to what’s going on today. The democrat-communists cannot sell their brand of politics to the typical American. So they have to both cheat at elections and bring in 3rd class foreigners to take our places. The good news is the typical American is catching on to this.
History matters.
Heavenly Father, please guide and strengthen us.
Tatt
The Greeks have another saying. “Before the gods destroy, they first make crazy.”
Which seems odd because western ‘elite’ is predominantly white.
“Has there ever before been a country in which the leaders simply replaced the native population?” I couldn’t think of one—but Aristotle could. He revealed that one specific type of leader desperately wants to be surrounded by foreigners: the tyrant.
Having alienated his own people, writes Aristotle, the tyrant can no longer trust them, and he feels safe only when surrounded by those to whom he imputes the virtues he believes his own people lack—and whom he believes (probably naively) will not destroy him as his own people will eventually be driven to do.
Commie Dems ... to a T (for tyrant :)
They love to be ruled rather than be governed. The bigger the iron fist that rules them the better. Try to "spread democracy" there, I dare you...oops
‘Human nature is a constant, one that is incredibly resistant to the lessons of history.‘
I don’t think it’s “white people” per se. It’s cultures that are based primarily on the foundations of classical liberal thought (Greek philosophy, etc) and Judeo-Christian ethos. Historically, that is by and large been the Western culture that white Europeans fostered.
That’s not a good starting place for the globalists, because it is demonstrably superior than every other culture on the planet; doubly so after the founding of the US. So, the use the wedges of skin color (unhealthy tribalism) and class (unabashed envy) to pull it apart.
Yes, you read that right. The people had lost the confidence of the government. ie the people are there to serve the government and not the other way around. This is how Communists think.
It was a notion so laughable that even devoted Communist playwright Bertolt Brecht sarcastically noted that the government should dissolve the people and elect a new one.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WESTERN ELITES ARE TRYING TO DO NOW.
At heart, they are just as arrogant and tyrannical as the Commies were.
” Whom the gods would destroy
They first make clazy.”
Alexander the great had aristotle’s grand nephew executed after he refused to prostrate himself before the leader.
This prostration requirement wasn’t a Greek tradition, it was a Persian tradition that Alexander newly adopted among many other Persian customs.
Aristotle was disgusted by Alexander surrounding himself with Perisians and adopting their court customs and dress.
He thought cultural homogenity was a requirement of a stable and thriving society.
And this all happened after Aristotle had personally advised Alexander to treat Barbarians as though they were plants or animals. And alexander did the opposite, putting their customs and culture on a pedastal above greek.
Anyway “politics” didn’t come out of thin air as you can see
“I couldn’t think of one—but Aristotle could. He revealed that one specific type of leader desperately wants to be surrounded by foreigners: the tyrant.”
This is a marginal non-sequitur but does Swiss Guard sound related?
I’ve written it many times in FReeper comments, but it’s still accurate:
Socialism and communism will always be popular among those who think they can get something for nothing.
The Byzantium Emperors used Viking/Varangan as their Praetorians...could not trust Greeks,,,,
The French Kings had a retinue of Scot’s as bodyguards to counter any French unrest.
The Tsar used Cossacks. Even a Russian does not trust a Russian.
There’s more.....but as far as loyal populations?
The Chinese driving out all other races in any areas they take over like Red ants is foremost in my mind.
As a counterpoint, in the decolonization days it was Chinese and Paki/Indians servants who had followed the Brits in who were driven from the former colonies by the “natives”.
The Swiss Guard was founded in 1506 when the old feudal system of military obligation was being challenged by the rising free cities, which organized their own militias. And then there were the mercenaries, who were as old as warfare. Mercenaries were often the best trained and equipped forces available aside from the very small number of professional men at arms attached to feudal lords — the lord’s house troops, which were usually vastly outnumbered by the men at arms supplied by his fief holders, plus peasant conscripts. Mercenaries were professional, and they were (usually) loyal to whoever paid them.
Mercenaries were the backbone of many European armies in the early modern period. They were very much associated with the rise of centralized nation states, when aspiring monarchs were forever challenged by overmightly barons and dukes who were constantly wanting to go into business for themselves.
Pope Julius, the warrior pope, was operating like an Italian prince of the same period. He was trying to maintain and expand the papal holdings in Italy as mercenary dominated armies battled nonstop. For a time, the Swiss were regarded as Europe’s best mercenaries and, along with the German landsknects (sociologically very similar), they were instrumental in the pike and shot era in restoring infantry battlefied dominance and ending the military supremacy of mounted, armored men at arms.
Infantry had always been essential in rugged or wooded terrain and for siege warfare. It was numerically dominant in most medieval armies. But it couldn’t stand in the open field against the armored, mounted men at arms without the ability to maneuver and fight in massed formations, the pike being the dominant weapon. That required a very high degree of training. Hence the mercenaries.
The mercenaries were duly replaced by national armies that fought for country and, during the wars of religion, for Sect A vs. Sect B. But those loyalties came later.
Julius had the revenues of the Roman Catholic Church to finance his wars. Some of the leading Italian city states, perhaps most notably Venice, had enormous revenues through control of trade routes. They could pay mercenary armies far larger than their own population bases could support. The existential threat to Europe came from the Turks, waging war in the name of Islam and dedicated to plunder and slavery. The wars of that period can’t be understood without recognizing that Spain anchored the line in the west, the Austro-Hungarian empire anchored it in the east (especially after the fall of Constantinople in 1453), and the Italian city states held the Mediterranean.
So yes, Julius hired mercenaries. The Swiss Guards are a colorful anachronism.
There is only one good type of dictator. A dead one.
Right now, a lot of them are accumulating.
Brings to mind a great story about migrations and mercenaries. In the mid 15th century the Turks invaded Albania then a predominantly Catholic country. A thirty year was ensued. The Albanians were supported by the King of Naples. The Turks eventually won and the King allowed many Albanian Christians refuge in southern Italy and Sicily. Later to become known as the Aberache. Among those refugees were entire battle hardened Albanian infantry and their families who as a rule were much taller than native Italians Turns out the King needed mercenaries primarily to collect taxes and secure his rule. There is an old joke among the Abereche. These mercenaries were led by an Albanian officer who spoke Italian. Imagine this officer knocking on the door of a manor house or some castle accompanied by 20 or thirty of these very rough and scarred soldiers. Then telling the owner they are there to collect the taxes that are overdue. The officer would say “Look I know we came unexpected but we have to collect the taxes. If you don’t have the money right now you can pay us tomorrow or the next day. My men right now are in a good mood. On the march here they found a barrel of wine and some nice ladies. They will be glad to camp out here on the lawn. However not sure what their mood they will be in morning”. The taxes were paid that day.
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