Fight apathy. Be Colbertian.

We had to put up with sawdust gruel — they season it

with tar now, it’s surprisingly tasty — we all thought it

would be unbearable. But then we got used to it. And

the same with everything else.

This sad satirical passage is from Hermann Hesse's 1914 essay, "O Friends, Not These Tones!" The title's words are familiar to Beethoven fans; the bass soloist recites them when introducing the Ninth Symphony's chorus, its words, its lyrics, taken from Schiller's poem, "Ode to Joy."

But there is no joy among fans of late-night television. They'll think it will be unbearable.

On the other hand, they'll get used to it. And the same with everything else.

That, anyway, is what Donald Trump is banking on. Sure, many Americans are horrified by his dictatorial bullying and indirect censorship of even comedians, such as Stephen Colbert, for dictators are notoriously barren of humor and host the thinnest of skins. But, reckons Trump, those American millions will get used to it.

And the same with everything else — every inched-along act of his tyranny, right up to the malevolent apex of a nakedly authoritarian state, which our most prominent political commentators will, at last, no longer be able to insipidly label as "creeping." Americans may not find it surprisingly tasty, but to Trump, that'll be okay. As long as they get used to it.

That's the trick to retaining dictatorial power — a public acclimated to unrelenting apathy. The trick is a rather simple one: Just control the people's access to what appears in newspapers, on the evening news; what the hell, censor even late-night broadcasters of levity, assuming they're the irreverent type. Can't have that, might make people think, and uncontrolled thinking is dangerous to despots.

"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" has seen much success, observed "Entertainment." In its statement Thursday, CBS agreed. "Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas," wrote the network's Quislings. "The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons." So we're canceling it.

Elizabeth Warren posted what seems a rhetorical remark: "America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons." I mean, c'mon, senator, before that you wrote, "CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery." The "deal" walks and quacks like it, too.

Meanwhile, Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" was somewhat philosophical. "If they're looking at it as purely a real estate transaction, I think we bring a lot of value. But that may not be their consideration. They may sell the whole fucking place for parts." That having been done at Colbert's network, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel was philosophically blunt: "Fuck you," CBS.

I could argue that Kimmel's take was also a wee bit off — said sentiment being more accurately aimed at Donald Trump. I won't, however, notwithstanding the argument's veracity. In being ultimately truthful, Mr. Kimmel would only bring the hammer of Trump's nakedly authoritarian state down on ABC's head. It's a curious thing. Being considerate to one's employer can mean giving a pass to a tyrant.

About joyless late-night television fans, I wrote earlier in paraphrase, perhaps with improper punctuation, that they'll first think Colbert's absence will be unbearable. But they'll get used to it. And the same with everything else. Note the periods. Yet as Hermann Hesse wrote in his essay, "That is the crux of the question."

Will they? If so, that's how dictators retain power. And the above is what this dictator is banking on.

* This piece is cross-posted at my Substack page. Subscribe for free to be notified of new posts.