I regret to say, that I think Salvor Hardin was wrong in saying "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Or at least the threat of violence.
Given Kansas mayor resigns after threats over backing mask mandate, and the lessons from the Tea Party's successes -- packing town halls and bringing weapons -- what used to be called 'armed propaganda' effects change and suppresses opposition. To not understand that, and accept that, is to be at more peril.
One might hazard that as behavior that is rewarded continues, it might seem logical that violence and the threat of violence needs to be met with public, crippling force -- preferably that of the state -- and not stop until the threat is removed.
