As I was reading the history of Magna Carta it occured to me that not a lot has altered down through the millenia. Tyrants have always wanted more power, control and money and most people just want to get on with their lives until they are so hampered by the tyrants that they rebel.
So much so that I am considering writing another book, “The Unpublished Maxims of Tyrants and Would Be Tyrants”.
Got the first 11 chapters sorted and I am sure you could help me round out the titles of the firt 50.
Chapter 1. Suppress free speech and criticism of you and your agenda.
Chapter 2. Progressively gather as much power unto thine self as possible.
Chapter 3. Weaken the power of your enemies and rivals.
Chapter 4. Gradually increase the taxation and compliance burden and economic duress on the populace so they have no free time to foment rebellion or protest.
Chapter 5. Regularly invent or stage or have staged real or imagined emergencies so the population will surrender more liberties in exchange for safety.
Chapter 6. When about to enact legislation that might otherwise be objected to, have an attention occupying distration well planned to grease the wheels. (Never a bad idea to have a couple of these up your sleeve at all times.)
Chapter 7. Learn the fine art of pursuasion, specifically being able to spin a positve benefit on any loss of liberty or freedom.
Chapter 8. Get evidence of the wrong doings of your enemies and potential rivals and have it ready for use when the need arises.
Chapter 9. Cultivate a band of rabid adherents willing to do anything you ask.
Chapter 10. Dole out money to create a dependence on your administration.
Chapter 11. Infiltrate all rival groups to gain intelligence and control the opposition.