If you want to read book more frightening than a Stephen King novel, I recommend Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator McCarthy by Larry Tye, 2020, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Most of us would not have watched the live telecast of the congressional anti-communism hearings chaired by the Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy in the early fifties. This was period in American politics known as the Red Scare. The Cold War was at its height and there was paranoia over the fear of the spread of communism.

In his attempt to uncover communists in the United States, Senator McCarthy engaged in recklessly charging innocent people, ignoring their civil liberties, and destroying lives. Several people committed suicide as a result of his bullying tactics.  The term “McCarthyism” is a lasting reminder of his abuse of power. His behaviour has led the author, Tye,  to brand him as a demagogue, a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

What I found interesting was how, in his rise in prominence, so many around him stood by, even encouraged, his exaggerations, lies and smearing of political opponents. His fear mongering generated a following and demonstrated how bullies can gain power. The  sycophants and enablers who allowed him to gain power and influence, history has judged, must be held equally accountable for the damage he did. You would think sane people would have learned a lesson from McCarthyism. Given the current state of leadership in a neighbouring country, one can see history repeating itself.

Lest we think this phenomenon of demagoguery  can play itself out only on the  grand scale of national politics, think again. Take for example the various reactions to the COVID 19 pandemic in our own backyards. What do we say to the misguided few who, even here in Manitoba, want to downplay the pandemic, some even going so far as to say it is a hoax and no worse than the flu. What do we say to those who choose to break safety orders, gather in large crowds, and defy the order to wear masks and social distance? We have seen recent examples where elected officials at the local, provincial, and national level have chosen to ignore and, in some cases, speak out against safety orders. Some of these leaders have been fined, others removed from their positions. These so called “leaders” rightfully have been called out and held accountable. To stand by and say nothing is tantamount to providing these people with the encouragement to continue their demagogic behaviour.

I am inspired by the words of Martin Luther king Jr. who once said, “For evil to succeed, all it needs is for good men to do nothing.”

People at all levels whether they have a formal leadership title or not, have a moral obligation to stand up and call out demagogues. Read the book. Guaranteed to make you think!  

Published by

Status is onlineRoy SeidlerBachelor of Educations at University of ManitobaPublished • 1y9 articles