Ender’s game is fantasy, and I’m against Machiavellian “Principles”, because those too were fantasies, no different than Marx’s theory of ruling by despotism. Indulged fantasies, dreaming when reality calls, bring on a lot of havoc, chaos, and misery.
A few days ago I called Machiavelli’s approach solving a small problem by introducing a bigger one.
Study William Tecumseh Sherman, or George Washington. Study Samson and why he stole clothing and why that worked. And if you want to deal with a street mob, first take some walks in their territory and learn about them.
Like hornets can be observed without drawing a swarm of them you can go and observe reality.
Machiavelli is reality, it has provided useful advice for centuries. That aspect of Ender's Game only reflects the truths put forth by Machiavelli.
Study William Tecumseh Sherman, or George Washington.
Sherman - wipe out their ability to fight back, very Machiavellian. Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion with overwhelming military force. Of course Washington was fighting against intelligent men who had valid grievances, so after the federal government's will to use crushing military force was proven, he later pardoned some of the leaders of the rebellion.
And if you want to deal with a street mob, first take some walks in their territory and learn about them.
Am I sensing a bit of liberal feel-good understand the poor little babies it's not their fault kind of thing? If I were to do that, it would only be to better learn how to take them down. They're feral, they live by force, they respond to force. Maybe I have a different take on this because I have been accosted by a gang before.