“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/04/shock-system-liberal-democracy-populism How populist uprisings could bring down liberal democracy Way more at the link, it's a long article. In general though, I'm very fascinated (and alarmed obviously) by what I perceive to be the greatest threat to our democratic systems since WWII. Is the West in danger of allowing populist uprisings to usher in authoritarian states? I know it was said in jest, but that crowd did cheer for Trump suggesting he should be president for life.
The history of the 20th century may some day boil down to this: democracy was at best a metastable experiment, mathematically a saddle point. Thereafter, it existed in only a few nations.
Imagine for a moment Donald Trump giving Palpatine's speech to one of his crowds, flanked by loyal members of the House and a few Senators. I genuinely wonder what would happen if he tried to set aside the Constitution. I think the only thing that would save us honestly would be military leaders refusing him.
Well there's no question that the anti-civil liberties wings are in control of both the right and the left, hopefully the pendulum will swing back towards sanity at some point.
I disagree. The two other branches would unite against someone as unfit and unhinged as 45. But I think what he's shown us is that an actually talented and smart version could totally turn this into a totalitarian state, with crowds cheering the whole way.
I'm not convinced they would unite against him. I'm really not. I agree that ultimately I don't think he could pull it off, but not because of Congress standing up to him. Let's keep in mind that they can only stop him because a piece of paper says they can. That piece of paper only means ANYTHING because we as a society say it does. There was a great episode of the West Wing where they are writing a Constitution for a third world country that is becoming a democracy. The staffers are fighting over the type of government they should have and are appalled at some of the ideas the writer kicks around. He finally makes the point that they can write the perfect form of government down on paper and it means nothing if the people who are signing it don't believe in it. They have to want it. I fear that the belief in the American system is eroding among the population at a significant rate. Some have valid institutional objections, some have irrational ones, some just have such a disinterest that it doesn't matter. It's just leading us to a dangerous place. If House members were guaranteed their seats as long as Trump could stay on as President, would they really object? Some certainly would, but would enough? And would the people in their states/districts rally behind them or throw them out and replace them with people who would support Trump?
We'll know a lot more by Nov 2020. The world will take its cue from the U.S. to see if we make the same mistake and elect an ignorant nationalist again.
Had Palpatine been booed, he'd have said "c'mon! it's just a joke!" Some district court would issue an injunction saying his decisionmaking process to set aside the Constitution didn't allow a long enough comment period. The Admin would try to appeal directly to the Supreme Court so that Gorsuch could do what he was appointed for. But, they'll remand the decision to the Appeals Court. It'll wind up in the 5th Circuit that will find there was no problem with the Admin's process. The ACLU will sue to get it to the Supreme Court, but it'll be rejected on the logic that the ACLU has no standing as a damaged party. And, finally, 3 years later, Trump will have his dictatorship.
No it is the last gasp of the lubys crowd and as they die off this country becomes a much better place. DD
I would like to think women and possibly children will stop it from happening. Women have effectively started a change in the culture where sexual harassment is no longer acceptable. Some pockets are still holding out but the women of our nation have started a real change. Others paid lip service for a long time but women have taken the lead in changing the culture. It looks like children that have been the victims of school shootings may have a chance to actually force a move in gun control. It is too early to say for sure, but they are making some progress. It is ironic because these same kinds of grass-roots-ish movements are where Authoritarian wanna-be, Trump gets his support. We just have to hope that Women and Children continue to take the lead in the movements and thwart the old white men groups that are making their last ditched effort to hold on to the oppressive ways of the present and imagined past.
About 18 months ago, more than half of white female voters pulled the lever for a snatch grabber. Not to dismiss what you're saying, but it's worth remembering this bizarre and sobering fact at this point. Sometimes I think for every #metoo woman there are still ten silently thinking "yeah, cry me a river, b****es," for various reasons.
Pretty sure the majority of conservative women I know think the #metoo movement is worthless and don't understand it and those women 'got what they deserved'.
What do I know, but I agree. From what I hear, I think it's a mix of: men will be men. We women have to just deal with it. Always have, always will. it must be nice to have time to complain about ass grabbing. I've gotta get to my next shift and pound some pills just to survive it. ****ing liberals and their blather, complaining about everything. But this is derailing from a very depressing thread topic in its own right. LOL
I'm paying more attention to the power around the globe revolving around the decisions of those who hold the purse. The billionaires have the influence in this country, and the majority of the global superpowers. If folks like Elon Musk, Bezos, Buffett, etc. want to create a better world free of dictatorships, war, and famine, they have the ability to shape the infrastructure of our governments. The right wing billionaires like the Koch brothers, Mercers, Russian Oligarchs, Saudi Princes, etc. obviously are reshaping our politics towards Nationalism, and dictatorship. Its just completely obvious what their interest are. They think what they are doing is right because it is right for them, but its history that should be the lesson for these self dealing billionaires buying our government. The obvious solution is for the other billionaires to recognize their place in this world, and not look the other way while they cash out. Warren Buffett could disrupt their business models that lead to irresponsible self dealing. Elon Musk can create change in the way we consume energy that eliminates the power of the fossil fuel industry. I hate that the answer is leaning on a billionaire, but that's just the world we live in. Governments are up for sale in the 21st century. Will the billionaire investors invest in a better world or will they continue to allow murders like Putin & his Oligarchs to buy off world power & influence? No I'm not saying there should be some secret society new world order like Alex Jones would make you think there is.
That is true, but I don't think it detracts from the successes of the #metoo movement and similar causes lead by women. I think during the end of the 19th century and early on into the 20th century not all women were suffragists, yet the progressive women were able to push through and make changes. These new changes don't mean there will be 100% buy-in, but the more changes are made, the more people will accept it as just and right. Progress isn't easy.
https://qz.com/833003/election-2016...whelmingly-for-clinton-except-the-white-ones/ True, but we are getting less white by the day. DD
