How Not To Steal An Election

On January 6^th, 2021 the nation and the world witnessed the most visible demonstration of how not to steal an election. If you are one of the self-deluded people who believed in the “Big Lie” then I must warn you the attempted theft of America’s right to self-rule by Trump was the foiled crime. America should not be surprised that Trump attempted to rob Americans of their freedoms, it is completely consistent with his character, behavior, and corruption through out his life and businesses. Perhaps more surprising is that the Idolatry of Trump depended upon the acceptance of one Big Lie after another which were and are accepted as a matter of faith, not in the law but in just a severely flawed man.

While Trump’s efforts to steal the Presidency were fortunately thwarted, they have and will continue to damage and threaten America for years to come. In many ways, the cult of Trump provides numerous lessons about how not to steal an election. [Note: Learning how not to steal an election does not provide a one with a means to competently steal one. As long as America can maintain a minimal level of “informed citizenry” than stealing an election will be fraught with risks. This is of course was what Jefferson advised us, and Franklin cautioned was a condition to “keep it”.]

So, what are some of the lessons that we can learn, if we want to follow Franklin’s advice?

1. A.      The “Big Lie” can be difficult to get acknowledged if there is even a “Little Truth” that is presented in opposition to it. Thus, the necessity to maintain a free press, not controlled by the government, not beholding to political parties, and not in-service to those in power.
   
   
2. B.      The “Big Lie” can’t be something that is easily disproved or rejected due to facts that even the deluded can’t explain away except by repeating the “Big Lie”. Something is proven to be true because you say you “know” something but can’t provide proof of what you “know”.
   
   
3. C.      You cannot surround yourself with incompetent supporters. Ineptitude and stupidity demonstrated by those attempting to support the “Big Lie” degrades the effort and provides counter-arguments against the very lie they are struggling to push. Claiming over and over that you have proof of your assertions is typical, but not bringing that proof forward or even claiming the charge in judicial proceedings is sheer incompetence. Consider the sage advice: “When the law is on your side argue the law. When the facts are on your side argue the facts. When neither the law nor the facts are on your side make an ad hominem attack.” Even supposedly respected individuals (who may only receive such respects as a common curiosity) that are seeking to protect their own interests will demonstrate the incompetence of their support by being evasive, waffling, duplicitous, and weak-kneed in defending or arguing for the “Big Lie”.
   
   
4. D.      Don’t base your “Big Lie” on logical pillars that are tenuous, fragile and self-contradictory. If you had foreknowledge of your claimed act(s), if you had undertaken efforts to prove your claims and failed, if you had the opportunity to prevent the now claimed “Big Lie” but did nothing, and if you provide evidence against yourself of your own culpability in being engaged in the “Big Lie” then you are making the “Big Lie” a visible farce. It easier to believe in the “Big Lie” when all elements that it depends upon are kept in the dark; actively exposing the “Big Lie” to the light of day just results in the predictable disinfectant effect. These are all acts of incompetence at all levels.
   
   
5. E.       Do not allow supporters who present themselves in visually inconsistent attire with themes of the “Big Lie”, or who speak in support of your “Big Lie” with messages that undercut logic, reason, or intelligence. While the icon of the “Big Lie” is important, it is tarnished if the images tagged to it are incongruent with that of the idol’s.
   
   
6. F.       It is extremely important that you do not appear to be stupid on any front. You can’t make missteps related to the “Big Lie” and certainly not over and over. If every time the “Big Lie” is put forward there are more challenges to it, then you are exposing all the vulnerabilities of the ”Big Lie” to numerous points of attack. The “Big Lie” like any organism can die from many factors including “death by a thousand cuts”, even a thousand cuts self-imposed.
   
   
7. G.      Always remember that there is a high risk to your “Big Lie” when it also applies to your very own situation. It’s one thing to put forth a “Big Lie” that has not connection with yourself, doesn’t relate to the other side of the same coin, or can become an “equal and opposite” force applied to you. Being the lead on the “Big Lie” give you vulnerability but no plausible deniability.

While Trump will not and cannot benefit from these lessons, the American people could. It’s even possible, thought it is probably a remote possibility, that our elected officials could not just learn valuable lessons; Congress could act to deal with the many vulnerability that this “Big Lie” has put on display front and center. This would be relatively easy to accomplish, but you need a degree of competence in these efforts just as much as you should avoid the levels of incompetence demonstrated in the attempted execution of the “Big Lie”.

This may indicate one of the biggest lessons that the public needs to learn. It is actually important to elect officials who are competent. Why voters seem to fail at electing intelligent representatives in government is a remarkable state of affairs. How much this is the fault of and a failure of our political parties might be worth consideration.