Quote:
Originally Posted by Itse
[B]It really isn't. The checks and balances of a democratic system only work, if all sides respect the rules and want to uphold the democracy. We've seen time and time again that they have have a tendency to fail when challenged by populist authoritarianism.
The US system is actually more vulnerable than many others because so much power is centralized in the White House. Additionally, much of the political system is archaic and based in either tradition or legal precedent instead of, for example, constitutional law.
|
Bolded: Agree, but isn't this every human system of government. Autocrats have to pay off so many people to stay in power too. I'm not aware of every coup d'état, but from my recollection you need the military to be in on it. The US military is sworn to uphold the constitution. Even the most repugnant politician in their system also has to answer to their electorate. Without a willing military and rigged elections democracy is tough to tumble. How do you rig an election without the courts and people on your side or the military standing there with a gun?
Underlined: Agree in definition, but disagree in practice. While the individual position of President has more powers bestowed on it than a PM in Canada, UK, Aus, NZ, etc. A PM with a majority can effect change easily. A President can rule by executive order, but Federal Courts can put a stop to these as can congress. Of course you can stack judges, but both parties do this, so there is a mix, even if the current Supreme Court leans for the red team. The issue there is more life long appointment.
Project 2025: These types of policy papers have come out for decades. Its not really new, as are the asks coming out of the think tank that created it.
My read has been, Trump himself only really cares about himself and having people praise him. Will he use the DOJ to hunt his enemies, sure. Will he randomly fire entire swathes of government employees like Twitter if someone gets in his ear, maybe. Will he cut support for foreign wars, most definitely (the guy has always been anti war), but Europe should have seen this coming a mile away.
Will social issues become "state issues", well that's more the long term dream of the plan to get the courts onside. Having abortion be a state issue has backfired though, and the others likely will as well. The American people lean more left of their right party, and its a bit sad that the centrists that vote for the red team are stuck in a system that holds them hostage to more extreme social policies of a minority of their party.
TLDR: Youth unemployment is far too low to even have a chance at overthrowing American democracy.