If a poor and simple man looks at the table, and sees only an ideology of hate, and some charitable handouts, then that’s what he’s going to buy into, because that’s all there is. But if he looks at the table and sees a job, and an ideology that makes more sense, then now there is a choice, and 90% will choose a life, and will fight those who would take that life away. In the final analysis, the ideological extremists will not be able to capture the public’s imagination, once people begin to imagine a better life for themselves. It becomes incumbent, therefore, for the West, and for the intellectuals and experts in Iran, of which you speak, to make the case more forcefully, so as to convince the masses that there is indeed a better way.

Waiting for things to work out, or for people to learn their lessons gradually, will not work, especially when the acquisition of nuclear capabilities can easily be used to ensure that the status quo remains unchanged.

If a boy pees from a balcony up high on the people below, there surely is reason enough to make him stop peeing.

what if the majority ask him to continue?

in the above post, I consider the whole event from a social point of view. in today Iran, a populist figure can win for the masses don’t address concerns of the intellectuals and the educated.

You are right that four more years (or even a longer period) of suffering can’t bring about a change in a totalitarian political system. however, our problem right now is that the masses support a populist figure who is the symbole of the regime. after this period, when the age of populism is over, people will no more support irrational decisions of the administration for they take expert bodies seriously. This can help deligitemize the regime or make it change its behavior.

all in all, as long as the irrational decisions of an administration happens to have the support of masses (like in today Iran), we can expect no real change.

but there has been another fear. I felt another threat and thats the threat of fascism, you know. Its not very far from Ahmadinejad and thats why I voted and many others also did.

Possibility of facism exists as long as the society is not matured enough to embrace Democracy, full scale. In the above analysis, I mainly consider the process of democratization through which the society practices various models and gives a try to different practices until it comes to realize modern democracy.
From this point of view, experiencing populism (fully embodied in Ahmadinejad), however costly, is an inevitable part of the process.
Along the path toward a democratic system, we had to experience this as well. and this is our turn, or maybe our chance.

Also many tried to avoid populism; you know avoiding a threat (at any expense) is better than the “let it be” point of view, I believe.

If there were any options to aviod it forever, I would be for it for sure. However, if this is set to happen, let it happen once and forever. Let the people suffer enough to come to understand the dangers of populism and put it aside for the rest of their lives.

“when your boy is peeing, don’t stop him. Let him complete his task.”

Dear Mohammad,

Thats true, but there has been another fear. I felt another threat and thats the threat of fascism, you know. Its not very far from Ahmadinejad and thats why I voted and many others also did.

Also many tried to avoid populism; you know avoiding a threat (at any expense) is better than the “let it be” point of view, I believe.