Egypt and The Politics of Obedience

The people of Egypt got mad at their overlord and took to the streets in protest.  Sounds like a noble idea, but what will it really accomplish?  (hint:  two words combined:  no + thing)

They've gotten the figurehead of their discontent to resign (Mubarak), and now the United States-supported Egyptian military gets to take over and lead the people to the promised land of "democracy."  Milk and honey will surely flow.

Right.  (insert sarcasm here)

Nevermind that......

Egypt's armed forces are by far the most powerful institution in Egypt and have dominated government for decades. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took over after Mubarak's ouster and said it will run the government until elections are held.

"It will be up to the military to decide what the political direction will be," McGregor said.

The council has pledged to continue on the path to democracy. Bowing to protester demands, the council dissolved the parliament and suspended the constitution Sunday.

Whether it continues to liberalize politics and the economy will depend on how much pressure it feels and the willingness of officers to sacrifice their standing in the country, McGregor said.

The military has a direct interest in about 10% of the economy, McGregor said.

HOORAY!  WE THREW OUT THE DICTATOR AND GOT A BUNCH MORE!!!!!!  REJOICE!

Sigh.

Rather than take to the streets and waste time protesting a dictator only to get a new batch of them, it might be wiser to listen to a bit of wisdom from a little known French man from the 1500's:  Etienne de La Boetie.

His essay, "The Politics of Obedience," wonders out loud why it is that people choose to live under dictators and governmental rulers when they have the power to simply not obey, thus stripping the rulers of any power they might have.  To overcome the dictator, the people must simply stop consenting to their own enslavement.

Obviously there is no need of fighting to overcome this single tyrant, for he is automatically defeated if the country refuses consent to its own enslavement: it is not necessary to deprive him of anything but simply to give him nothing; there is no need that the country make an effort to do anything for itself provided it does nothing against itself. It is therefore the inhabitants themselves who permit, or, rather, bring about, their own subjection, since by ceasing to submit they would put an end to their servitude...

Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed. I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break into pieces.

The hard part about this is that it takes courage from a mass of people to resist the violence of the tyrant and not strike back in kind.  When the tyrant's minions come for their taxes, will the people empty their pockets?  When new Patriot Acts are enacted, will the people obey the laws?  When the tyrant screams that chaos will ensue if everyone does not bow down to his leadership, will the people trust in their own judgment and ability to take care of themselves?

Instead of seeing hundreds of thousands of people marching, chanting and throwing rocks at tanks, it would be incredible to see hundreds of thousands of people working, trading, and enjoying life while simultaneously turning their backs and raising a middle finger to those who bark worthless orders at them from positions of so-called authority.  The principalities and powers would surely be put to shame and the people wouldn't have to trade their slavery for a different flavor.