The Study

Another meeting is called. There are four men now who are plotting a new ‘military’ regime. They stand around the Guards’ station. They already assume the position of power. One, pPB, speaks. He berates the Communards in no uncertain terms. He tells them they are in a mess because their liberal system doesn’t work. He derides them for being useless and spineless. He praises brave men and heroic men, even if they might sometimes go to far. He calls for strong leaders who impose clear rules on the weak. He is that leader.

The Communards hang their heads. Eventually one speaks up to challenge pPB. But when another of the plotters proposes the new tougher Guards’ regime, the other participants don’t actively disagree with him.

The will of the Communards is weakening.

One admits that he might not like tyranny, but he wouldn’t do much to resist it. Our psychometric data shows that the Communards as a whole are becoming more sympathetic to the New Guards’ authoritarian solution.

It isn’t just that they are unwilling to fight for democracy. It is also that their belief in democracy is fading.