The Impatient Tyrant

The tyrant and the extremist are usually very impatient with the democratic process of discussion, negotiation and compromise that distinguishes Western democracies. Disagreements are seen as betrayals, protests as insurrections, dissent as sedition, and the accommodation of different points of view as a waste of precious time. Thus they seek to speed up the process by decree, violence, or by the silencing of their opposition. Lastly, tyrants generally believe they know the “best way” to live life and to govern a nation, and waste no time in such niceties as freedom of speech or freedom of religion.