The Thriller
Well-Known Member
I’ve been reflecting on a few books I’ve read lately:
Fascism (Madeline Albright)
Escape from Democracy (Fromm)
How Democracies Die (one of the best I’ve read in years)
And I worry that we’re basing all of our hopes on returning to normalcy on getting rid of Trump. When in reality, “normalcy” was already under assault for years.
Whether Trump leaves through impeachment, resignation, or political defeat, the wounds left on American democracy by republicans over the past 10 years will need to be healed or we’ll continue our slide into kletopcracy.
After Obama won in 2008, we saw unprecedented attempts of voter suppression, racism, and obstruction from republicans. Never has a major political leader called for “making a duly elected president a one-term president” like McConnell did in early 2009. For 8 years after we saw birtherism, nonstop filibustering of legislation that republicans previously sponsored (Dream Act), and attacks on American Democratic norms like confirmation of judges (federal and in the case of Scalia, Supreme).
Let me be clear, trying to worsen a recession in order to hurt the president isn’t normal. Refusing to work with the president on issues like health care and immigration to prevent him a legislative win isn’t normal. Refusing to hold a hearing on a judge for nearly a year isn’t normal. Colluding with Russia to win an election isn’t normal. Diminishing voting rights and gubernatorial power because you lost isn’t normal.
In 2016, clearly, at the very least, Russia put a finger on the scale. Now it’s becoming clearer that the Trump campaign worked with the Russians to defeat Hillary. Another attack on democratic norms.
Finally, after a harsh rebuke at the midterms, republicans in defeat do this:
My fear is that even After Trump is gone, the GOP is so focused on power and ruining the game if they lose, that American democracy will continue to erode. How long can these anti-democratic tactics be played before it breaks our game of democracy?
Trump is merely a symptom of the GOP’s anti-democratic problem. Rather than self-reflect and adjust the platform to appeal to voters, they’re just throwing away the game.
Democrats don’t do this. They don’t ruin the game when they lose. Yet another glaring difference between the two parties that need to be emphasized when poorly informed or cynical people try and paint both parties as “the same.” Democrats don’t work to marginalize minorities or prevent people from voting. This is a very real assault on our dear democracy that must be repudiated by every thinking American that values our democracy. Merely getting rid of trump won’t fix this.
What do you guys think?
Fascism (Madeline Albright)
Escape from Democracy (Fromm)
How Democracies Die (one of the best I’ve read in years)
And I worry that we’re basing all of our hopes on returning to normalcy on getting rid of Trump. When in reality, “normalcy” was already under assault for years.
Whether Trump leaves through impeachment, resignation, or political defeat, the wounds left on American democracy by republicans over the past 10 years will need to be healed or we’ll continue our slide into kletopcracy.
After Obama won in 2008, we saw unprecedented attempts of voter suppression, racism, and obstruction from republicans. Never has a major political leader called for “making a duly elected president a one-term president” like McConnell did in early 2009. For 8 years after we saw birtherism, nonstop filibustering of legislation that republicans previously sponsored (Dream Act), and attacks on American Democratic norms like confirmation of judges (federal and in the case of Scalia, Supreme).
Let me be clear, trying to worsen a recession in order to hurt the president isn’t normal. Refusing to work with the president on issues like health care and immigration to prevent him a legislative win isn’t normal. Refusing to hold a hearing on a judge for nearly a year isn’t normal. Colluding with Russia to win an election isn’t normal. Diminishing voting rights and gubernatorial power because you lost isn’t normal.
In 2016, clearly, at the very least, Russia put a finger on the scale. Now it’s becoming clearer that the Trump campaign worked with the Russians to defeat Hillary. Another attack on democratic norms.
Finally, after a harsh rebuke at the midterms, republicans in defeat do this:
My fear is that even After Trump is gone, the GOP is so focused on power and ruining the game if they lose, that American democracy will continue to erode. How long can these anti-democratic tactics be played before it breaks our game of democracy?
Trump is merely a symptom of the GOP’s anti-democratic problem. Rather than self-reflect and adjust the platform to appeal to voters, they’re just throwing away the game.
Democrats don’t do this. They don’t ruin the game when they lose. Yet another glaring difference between the two parties that need to be emphasized when poorly informed or cynical people try and paint both parties as “the same.” Democrats don’t work to marginalize minorities or prevent people from voting. This is a very real assault on our dear democracy that must be repudiated by every thinking American that values our democracy. Merely getting rid of trump won’t fix this.
What do you guys think?
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