1.at first they ignore you.
2.if that doesn't work.they ridicule you (think nader,ron paul and even sanders.all labelled "kooks" "crazy" or "fringe").
3.if that doesn't work.then they co-opt you (think tea party,and dick army along with the Koch brothers funded "americans for prosperity".notice how the tea party message changed drastically?)
4.if that fails,this is when they bring out the full power and might to crush any and all dissent,and/or protest (think occupy and how Obama crushed 33 occupied cities in under 48 hours.or,more recently:julian Assange).this is the message to any who are watching: we WILL f**k you and anybody you associate with up.
5.if you survive all that=you win.