Lone Magician Urgently Needs Extras

This time he lost completely.

A country at a crossroads desperately needs a focus. Bright. Stunning. Sudden like ball lightning. To shake the discouraged vertical. And with the new invention to dumbfound the space still under the control of the self-proclaimed leader. Because this plan is essentially a win-win. If everything intended goes according to plan, the audience will freeze in amazement in the finale and then exhale unanimously: magician!

The circuit is reliable, tested many times. In Soviet times, such craftsmen could not be counted. But they were limited, as a rule, to the inner circle. And at a particularly difficult moment in their careers, they successfully used the same technique. Some chairman, manager, or simply director comes out to his devoted team or individual representatives and, after a long pause, says sparingly: "I was in Moscow. I endured a terrible reprimand. But I defended your quarterly premium."

And that's all. Loud applause is guaranteed. And the welfare of the chief until the next shake-up. And also gratitude to the hastily assembled crowd. Isn't the upcoming meeting being prepared according to this simplified scheme? People's. And even all-Belarusian. Is it not that grateful crowd that is being formed, with the help of which you can pull off a long-conceived trick?

In the old days, especially advanced leaders resorted to such methods. But in order to give something to someone, one must have it. Which is not given to everyone. That is why the bosses, in a shabby way, amazed the subordinate audience with a simpler attraction. Such a craftsman will require a handkerchief from a subordinate. Neatly folded, carefully ironed. And will cut off the corner with scissors while calming everyone: nothing is wrong here - just magic. And already at the end, showing an impressive hole, he sighs with an insidious grin: the trick failed!

For twenty-six years, the engaged audience has invariably admired - wow, what a grip! Whatever he undertakes is a deafening failure. And he confidently repeated the same old trick. And if there was no handkerchief at hand, he showed the donut hole - always successfully. And therefore, at this strange meeting, the public will be shown the same rotten trick. Because there is nothing more to offer except for the same hopeless hole.

The sixth meeting of ardently approving of the highest trick will hardly differ from the previous ones. This is all an absurd relapse of long-forgotten Soviet times. The parody version of the party congress.

What they will discuss there does not matter. The event will take place, and everyone will forget about it. And even the one who started it will hardly remember. The illusionist doesn't need yesterday's extras. They have already appreciated the focus to the best of their ability, applauded selflessly, and must leave. Because it is being replaced by virtual extras. The same poll, which lasts almost a month.

Political scientists were surprised why this losing power, which could not stand sociology and even drove it almost underground, suddenly became so interested in public opinion. Moreover, it initiated a survey of 10 thousand citizens. And why is the audience so vast, if from one to two thousand is enough for representative research by a professional sociologist?

There is no mystery. It's simple: the elections are lost, but he doesn't want to leave. Therefore, it is necessary to create the illusion that the people have come to their senses and do not want to let go of the numerous courtiers' under-elected leader. The trick is simple and even primitive. But it can remain in the repertoire of the amateur government until better times. If only cleverly and carefully select a benevolent audience. So that after the trick, they do not accidentally boo. But this seems to be no problem.

At the last meeting on preparing what seemed to be the main February event, an irresistible stream of enthusiastic assessments of the still-unfinished survey suddenly gushed out. This means that the answers to the question about the current government's attitude are successfully formed in the right direction.

Almost at the same time, another equally creative idea emerged. In response to Western sanctions and other regime grievances, create your own irresistible brand. And to enter the world market with it effectively. The general outline of the idea lined up clearly - a popular assembly, a popular poll, and, in addition, an irresistible brand. Here is such an ideological trident, striking outright. It would seem, what else its creator, who through negligence has suddenly lost his legitimacy, can dream of?

However, it was here, at the height of the general nomenclature enthusiasm, that a simple question arose: what is a brand? The question seems to be stupid. If you have any doubts, isn't it easier to google it. But there is a big twist here. A government decree to that effect requires the hapless brand to "eliminate unfavorable stereotypes." This is necessary, how famously they swung! So what, after all, of the characteristic, iconic features of this unique system can optimally contribute to the "definition of positive, recognizable associations about the country?"

A paddy wagon? A truncheon? Shackles? Too rude and frank. So what remains in the bottom line? Absolutely nothing. Maybe, a black AMAP mask with a slit for eyes and swear words. The regime has not yet shown any other characteristic signs and signs.

It is impossible to live next to such power. Its presence is dangerous. And external calm is deceiving. Sooner or later, it will certainly break into your house. And it will do it without any reason. In normal countries, power is those whom the people choose. And if they make their way to the top with the help of gimmicks, manipulations, or brute force, this is no longer power. Such dodgers are called differently.

Only this time, they lost completely. Therefore, they hate everyone and take revenge on everyone. They see a threat everywhere. They are constantly waiting for a catch. And they will find it. Not only because the threat is real and too great, and the punishment is inevitable.

The trick just failed.

Uladzimir Khalip, specially for Charter97.org

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