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> 109. I will see to it that plucky young lads/lasses in strange clothes and with the accent of an outlander shall REGULARLY climb some monument in the main squ

> 109. I will see to it that plucky young lads/lasses in strange clothes and with the accent of an outlander shall REGULARLY climb some monument in the main square of my capital and denounce me, claim to know the secret of my power, rally the masses to rebellion, etc. That way, the citizens will be jaded in case the real thing ever comes along. [From 'Cell Block A'] Makes me think, as an evil overlord, I'd do something like: "I will allow the people to have a democracy, and elect a new government every few years. I will rule from behind the scenes, with my henchmen acting as civil servants. If the people are upset about my rule, they can always be reminded to elect a new government (which will, of course, be powerless to do anything about me)."

lukifer 8y ago
> If the people are upset about my rule, they can always be reminded to elect a new government (which will, of course, be powerless to do anything about me) This is paralleled/satirized in the British comedy "Yes, Minister", wherein an idealistic politician attempts to enact his campaign agenda alongside a cynical (and unelected) bureaucrat, who holds all the political capital, and tediously educates the new Minister on how power actually works in practice. It's also mirrored in the original concept of the "Deep State" (before the term was heavily co-opted by conspiracy theorists): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state