Sincerely, Niccolo Machiavelli: An open letter to Donald Trump, from the guy who wrote the book...
SATURDAY, FEB 18, 2017 09:00 AM EST
Sincerely, Niccolo Machiavelli: An open letter to Donald Trump, from the guy who wrote the book on power moves
I must commend you on your masterful victory over your opponents. But some of my lessons you've failed to learn
LIAM FRÖLUND
To: Donald J. Trump, President
From: Niccolò Machiavelli
Re: Recommendations
As I have elsewhere explored at length, the true worth of a Prince is determined by the means with which he takes power and how he seeks to manage his principality in the aftermath. Concerning your rise to power, I must first commend you on your masterful victory over your opponents. In Gaul, Caesar divided the barbarians so thoroughly that even when they united under Vercingetorix they could not bring themselves to victory, just as you have stoked existing divides in the opposing Democratic faction to ultimately rule over them. I must also commend your ability to grab opportunity and fortuna — a most masculine virtue — as well your ability to use hidden allies, whosoever they may be, to great effect. In that, however, my commendation must turn to caution, for these methods which have brought you success could also bring your downfall. Consider Agathocles, the Syracuse tyrant who came to power by slaughtering his fellow citizens. He not only acquired a princedom out of his misdeeds, but retained it. Why? Because by committing his worst sins at once, he could then reassure his subjects and make amends for his misdeeds. Alas, such wisdom in sinning is today lacking.
Instead, your ill-advised sins in election and in governance have been committed in continuous succession, a manner allowing the bitter vice to be savored in the thoughts of your subjects. Such sins include vilification of your enemies — that may have brought you victory, but comes with great costs and enemies. Once disjointed and apprehensive, these foes now hold hatred for you, greater than ever before, and thus will only labor greater than ever before to defeat you. Remember Gracchus, who led an army raised of slaves against Carthage and punished with death any who chided his soldiers for their past stature — that only inflamed and reminded them of those who had enslaved them. Your words alone, often ill-chosen and sent by nightly courier, only remind and rouse your enemies into a pack of wolves thirsting for your blood.
You have also acquired allies, within and beyond your state, who have helped put you into power, and on whom you have come to depend, for lack of your own foundation. Yet, those allies have little to give, and you are fortunate they squabble among themselves. Beware Russia, however, where corruption is a cancer upon state and people, and its Prince who will use you for his own purposes. When your real enemies come baying, you will have acquired from your friends only an image of promised aid rather than the aid itself. It was thus when the Florentines, under assault from the King of Naples as allies of the Pope, sought such undelivered aid from friends Bologna and Milan, a friendship offering “more notoriety than protection.” So, like Caesar before you, beware the Ides of March, for should you ever waver in your rule, at home and across the seas, those wolves shall come: You will have neither sword nor shield to defend with.
more
http://www.salon.com/2017/02/18/sincerely-niccolo-machiavelli-an-open-letter-to-donald-trump-from-the-guy-who-wrote-the-book-on-power-moves/
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