It is May 2026 and for this month the Spirit of ‘76 theme is Tryranny. We have covered Stoicism, History, Religion, and War, and now we must confront the spectre of authoritarianism.
Tyranny is the exercise of political power without lawful limits or accountability, where a ruler or ruling group governs for its own advantage rather than the common good. It typically relies on coercion—fear, force, censorship, and arbitrary punishment—so that people must obey not because laws are just, but because resistance is costly. In classical philosophy (e.g., Aristotle), tyranny is a “perverted” form of rule: authority detached from justice and used to dominate rather than to serve.
Tyranny seems incompatible with the American values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and it is. Americans in large numbers have been compelled to march against tyranny on multiple occasions at the “No Kings” protests. There is ample evidence that the current Administration is taking deliberate steps to increase executive power, with manifestos such as Project 2025 being used as guidance for changing the fabric of federal power. It is this primary concern that led me to create the Spirit of ‘76 Project, and respond to creeping this tyranny with opposition rooted in the founding principles of the USA.
Madman Theory is the sixth single from Spirit of ‘76. The track is a fast-paced metal track that shreds, slaps, and entices the inner headbanger to surge to the surface. The lyrics deal with the concept of a leader who is either crazy or pretending to be crazy, and repercussions of that. “If I can’t have your love I will be your fear” is the Machiavellian logic of this leader, who pursues a path of sadopopulism with delusions of grandeur.
Thinking Thursdays Schedule in May
| May 7th, 2026 | Dictatorship in Historical Perspective: From Ancient Tyrannies to Electoral Autocracies |
| May 14th, 2026 | From Democracy to Disguise: How Free Societies Slide Toward Tyranny |
| May 21st, 2026 | Sadopopulism: When Populism Turns Cruel |
| May 28th, 2026 | Everyday Defenders: How Citizens Prevent Tyranny |
By focusing on Tyranny in May we will be ready to discuss Liberty in June.
Thank you for reading,
Jared Endicott
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