Summary:

Dr. Jim discusses the imperative of resisting the rise of authoritarianism by refusing to obey in advance, inspired by Tim Snyder's insights from On Tyranny. He emphasizes that most authoritarian power is unwittingly surrendered by citizens anticipating government demands. Highlighting the danger of targeting marginalized groups, Dr. Jim warns that complacency today can lead to broader oppression tomorrow. He advocates for unity in defending the vulnerable, urging citizens to challenge oppressive systems. This episode underscores the vital role of civic duty in safeguarding democracy for all.

Key Takeaways:

• Do Not Obey in Advance: Anticipating and complying with authoritarian demands before they are imposed empowers regimes and endangers democratic freedoms.
• Consent of the Governed: Governmental power is legitimized through citizen consent, underscoring the importance of active civic participation and dissent.
• Defense of the Marginalized: Protecting vulnerable, targeted communities from the outset is imperative to forestall the broader impact of authoritarian policies.
• Historical Lessons: Drawing parallels from historical authoritarian movements provides critical insights into present-day fascist threats.
• Unified Action: Effective resistance requires collective solidarity among the populace, transcending political divisions to safeguard democracy.

Chapters:

00:00 Standing Up Against Fascism

00:19 The Power of Non-Compliance

00:35 Understanding Authoritarianism

01:14 The Illusion of Safety

01:42 Our Duty as Citizens

01:50 A United Front

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Music Credit: Good_B_Music



Mentioned in this episode:

Left in Exile Intro

Left in Exile Outro

We need to do the exact opposite thing.

It becomes critical for us to not obey in advance. That is the number one lesson in combating tyrants and fascists. In fact, it is the first chapter of Tim Snyder's book on tyranny. Do not obey in advance. In fact, Snyder notes that most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these individuals think ahead about what more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves up without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power, what it can do.

You may think that just targeting the migrants or the so called illegal immigrants is going to keep you safe.

That is just the tip of the spear. And eventually that spear is going to be turned to you. And when no one else is left to defend you, you're going to be in the same place that those migrants are.

So from day one, it becomes critical for us not to obey in advance. We must hold the line. We must defend everyone that does not have the privileges that we do.