The Prince in a Democracy
Niccolo Machiavelli THE MIND OF THE PRINCE The only goal of a Prince is to get and keep power. Others may lust after wealth or prestige but all that matters to the Prince is power. Power is the only reality. Information is just a tool to support and increase power. Power is personal. The Prince's interests are the country's interests. The Prince sees society divided in three groups - supporters, enemies, and the silent, fearful politically passive. Politics is a zero-sum game. You win, your enemies lose. There are no democratic negotiations or compromises. Temporary alliances that can be broken. BUILDING YOUR POLITICAL BASE You share with your supporters a deeply negative view of the future of society. Your supporters see a bright past compared to a dark future. You share this vision. You tell them that only you can fight against or reverse this trend. You share their belief that the present is corrupt, there are "corrup...