Quote:
Originally Posted by Wastedyouth
I am sure in the history of the US this is the first time they have ever been tested or threatened.
Clearly we need to live in fear.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...cy-almost-died
Edit: to be fair to you, recency bias probably makes it seem more significant than previous threats. But we, as a people, are also far more educated than previous generations, which I would hope leads to stronger resistance. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cappy
I don't think the example you provided is going to comfort anyone.
The last time democracy almost died .... and the subsequent deadliest war in history.
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That article wasn't reassuring at all. Essentially, the US is in the same situation as the 1930s crisis with the same alarm bells being rung. However, the systems and strategies they had in place 80 years ago to combat the fall of democracy simply wouldn't work in modernity.
Can you imagine a campaign, funded by the federal government, employing local representatives and groups to organize public town halls of panelists across the political spectrum (including foreign experts) happening right now? It would be a total gongshow if it ever even got off the ground.
Add to that the fact that in the 1940s Americans had a World War to rally around, and then subsequently the threat of Communism in the 50s. Now the enemy is your neighbor either with the blue sign or in the red hat. Could you picture even just 10 years ago the concept of a dictatorship being floated in American democratic discourse? Now we have a Presidential candidate openly endorsing the idea and cuddling up with counterparts as his base shrugs and says "a dictatorship is needed".
Every check and balance that was meant to prevent a dangerously unqualified buffoon like Donald Trump from even sniffing public office have failed, one by one. We are
far divorced from the respectability and civility of the 30s. The way they got out of it then is not the way they get out of it now. And while I'm not advocating walking naked through the streets with a bell proclaiming the end is nigh I don't blame anyone for losing sleep at the very real possibility of another Trump presidency and what that could realistically do to dismantle traditional democratic principles. If a healthy helping of fear gets people to the polls then so be it.
The waterwings have already done nothing, anyway.