UP ON THE DOWN STROKE: Machiavelli and his "Power Politics" started it all..

Machiavelli “Power Politics.”

Niccolo’ Machiavelli was an Italian political philosopher based in Florence during the renaissance that was a founder of modern political science. He was born May 03, 1469 in Florence, Italy and died at the age of 58 on June 21, 1527. During his lifetime he was in a diplomatic council that was responsible for negotiation and military affairs. During his lifetime he also devoted himself to study and to the writing of political treaties that earned his place in the development of his political philosophy that was his main passion. Machiavelli advocated “power politics” for the leaders of the any political structure with the main idea of a new prince (as the leader was called) to rule his subjects which would have to be different from a hereditary –prince that carefully retained power by maintaining the socio-political institutions to which his subjects/people were accustomed. The new-prince needed to first stabilize power in order to build a strong and lasting political structure. The new-prince needed to achieve stability and security in the face of moral corruption. Public and private morality had to be separate in order to rule. To achieve this required that the prince/leader be concerned not only with reputation, but he must be willing to act immorally and exercise brute force, deceit and other characteristics to achieve his ends as has been stated by Machiavelli’s quote of “the ends justify the means.” He would have to advocate for necessary violence for the transfer of power and willing to add new legal institutions and rules to reach those ends regardless of criticism. He would have to advocate force to eliminate political rivals, to purge previous rulers, and also to coerce resistant populations. Machiavelli’s’ “The Prince” was the manual to acquiring and keeping political power.

The “Machiavellian” principles have been used in modern political societies/systems in American and European politics, first in France and it can be argued that it is the model for leaders and leadership in American achievements throughout our history to lead us to be the most powerful nation on earth.

We can prove this political theory was followed throughout American history first by how America was started by up-rooting the native Indians by pushing them off and out of what was their land originally by brute force (killing, destroying and taking) with no regard for the Indian cultures well being. American success was achieved by any means necessary to take. Then once power was established by the new Americans, it’s influence was felt all over the world by creating the strongest military and military power on earth by lying, making and breaking alliances, promises, rules, or even misleading others to achieve world power and political control.

America first established a new government with military power and a new constitution that broke away from our forebearers. American leaders created new laws, became self-governed and gave it’ s citizens united and equal power to lead a nation for a more perfect union that did achieve stability for this new government that was willing and did act immorally, exercise brute force where the “ends justified the means.”

The American Revolution is a case in point, the civil war, WWII, etc. etc. which helped America act effectively in preparation for our modern society/country of the day. We did create a constitution with a republic under god and indivisible, but when needed, god was easily put to the side to get to our ends, our achievements, with the ends justifying the means anywhere in the world. When Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, when the Twin Towers were attacked and destroyed by our enemies, America got into a war in both instances to avenge the wrong that was done to us. Our politics and propaganda became engaged to justify the wars we entered into to achieve the necessary ends to maintain American strength that is associated with the Machiavellian political philosophy. "Machiavellism" has been duplicated in American principles of warfare and diplomacy that has been incorporated into our ideas, principles, ethics, and consideration for legitimate authority because we have the power. It further verifies that in America, if we obey the rules we can and have achieved safety and security for all, but not without having a strong government leadership that will do almost anything to maintain it.