In the early years of the Cold War, American policymakers had one nightmare above all. To be sure, they publicly fretted that Stalin would send the Red Army into western Europe and impose communism there. But what they really worried about was that some of the western Europeans would
Brands writes: "the United States is indeed a democracy." I confess to being a cynic and a curmudgeon, but I feel we're in reality a plutocracy. I like what Joe (father of the Kennedys) Kennedy said when urging JFK to run for office. "Three things win elections: money, money, and money. And who has more of it to throw around than your old man?" Of course, money alone can't win an election. If it were, Michael Bloomberg would be president today. To phrase it in logical terms, it's a necessary condition without being a sufficient condition.
We are arguably still living with negative blowback of the CIA's intervention in Iran.
It is worth noting that many nations which were ostensibly democratic have slid into fascism and authoritarianism whether aided by outside intrigue or not. Most famous of course are Germany, Italy and Spain in the early 20th century. Then we have Argentina and Chili. Brazil has had their bit.
But in 230 years, we have seen nothing like we are seeing now with the modern Trump GOP. The denial of democracy using the tautology "we are a constitutional republic, not a democracy" argument tells you all you need to know.
The GOP is planning on creating a neo-fascist government should Trump win. Project 2025 lays it all out:
-recruit tens of thousands of conservatives to the District of Columbia to replace existing federal civil servants
-slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ),
-dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
-sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor fossil fuel production,
-eliminating the Department of Commerce,
-ending the independence of federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
-Funding for climate research would be cut
-National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be reformed along conservative principles
-It promotes capital punishment and the speedy "finality" of those sentences.
"Jeffrey Clark, a contributor to the project and a former official within the DOJ, advises the future president to immediately deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and direct the DOJ to pursue Donald Trump's adversaries by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807"
"Paul Dans, the project's director, explained that Project 2025 is "systematically preparing to march into office and bring a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially weaponized conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state."
The whole plan is a christian autocratic nationalist theocratic movement - Jesus version of Iran. Then there's the Hillsdale College professor advocating a "Red Caesar". DeSantis in Florida has created his own brownshirt militia.
Democratic principles in the USA have never been more at risk than this year.
"Anyone who disputes the result of an election bears the burden of producing evidence of error or fraud." I agree, based on realities of human nature. However, suppose there were, in fact, shenanigans behind the election. If that were the case, would it not be that Trump's questioning was in fact fighting to preserve democracy? And Biden, having benefited, is suppressing democracy? In a fair and friendly race, would the winner not assist in rooting out any possible fraudulent activity in the name of democracy if enough people are questioning its integrity?
I think that ultimately neither side is a true friend of democracy, each is only a friend of their own power. Admittedly, I am not an ardent follower of present day politics, but I am yet to see sacrifices of power to uphold democracy. (Having said this, I do agree with the next line as well: "Persistent denial, absent persuasive evidence, reveals the denier as no friend of democracy.")
There is much I'd like to question and discuss on this topic, but suffice it to say that I believe both sides are aiming to achieve the same goal: gain power. The goal is not to uphold democratic principles (and perhaps hasn't been since the first several presidents, right?). Both sides will do whatever they can to achieve power and discredit the other. Trump just happens to be a singular overt offender, easy to spot, and as such, an easy target.
I may, however, be under appreciating the severity of Trump's perceived discard of democratic principles. Perhaps time will tell.
Trump is a jerk and he's unfit for the Presidency. His undemocratic tendencies are appalling.
Biden is barely competent. Seriously, why didn't he give the job to Kamala? Maybe she grows into it - and she's at least young enough to handle the horrific pressures of the job.
But Biden (and the left's in general) philosophy is not much better regarding undemocratic tendencies. The Administrative State has become awful (especially regarding Covid). Although, in Red states, there's been legislation passed to kneecap the Public Health Stalinists. And there's hope that SCOTUS blows up Chevron.
That said, my perfect election would pit DeSantis vs Newsom. The US needs a good battle of ideas between fit young (ish) men.
Biden is more than competent and I don't concern myself with his age. If something does happen like dying in office we still have Kamala- which you seem to not have an issue with. We have had 8 presidents die in office and most were succeeded by someone competent, except Lincoln.
To call public health officials 'stalinists' is extremely unfair. Covid was an anomoly not the like of which we had seen since the spanish flu! We had bodies piling up in refrigerated trucks for cripes sake!
To equate the 'left' with the current GOP and Trumper's is a ludicrous comparison. And Desantis is far from fit for office either- he also has fascist tendencies.
As an Evolan, democracy is an extension of socialism and communism. To say Trump is undemocratic is odd, since Trump worked so hard to work with the establishment in his first term and simply wants to exercise a strong executive. Today's version of democracy is inept.
Brands writes: "the United States is indeed a democracy." I confess to being a cynic and a curmudgeon, but I feel we're in reality a plutocracy. I like what Joe (father of the Kennedys) Kennedy said when urging JFK to run for office. "Three things win elections: money, money, and money. And who has more of it to throw around than your old man?" Of course, money alone can't win an election. If it were, Michael Bloomberg would be president today. To phrase it in logical terms, it's a necessary condition without being a sufficient condition.
We are arguably still living with negative blowback of the CIA's intervention in Iran.
It is worth noting that many nations which were ostensibly democratic have slid into fascism and authoritarianism whether aided by outside intrigue or not. Most famous of course are Germany, Italy and Spain in the early 20th century. Then we have Argentina and Chili. Brazil has had their bit.
But in 230 years, we have seen nothing like we are seeing now with the modern Trump GOP. The denial of democracy using the tautology "we are a constitutional republic, not a democracy" argument tells you all you need to know.
The GOP is planning on creating a neo-fascist government should Trump win. Project 2025 lays it all out:
-recruit tens of thousands of conservatives to the District of Columbia to replace existing federal civil servants
-slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ),
-dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
-sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor fossil fuel production,
-eliminating the Department of Commerce,
-ending the independence of federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
-Funding for climate research would be cut
-National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be reformed along conservative principles
-It promotes capital punishment and the speedy "finality" of those sentences.
"Jeffrey Clark, a contributor to the project and a former official within the DOJ, advises the future president to immediately deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and direct the DOJ to pursue Donald Trump's adversaries by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807"
"Paul Dans, the project's director, explained that Project 2025 is "systematically preparing to march into office and bring a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially weaponized conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state."
The whole plan is a christian autocratic nationalist theocratic movement - Jesus version of Iran. Then there's the Hillsdale College professor advocating a "Red Caesar". DeSantis in Florida has created his own brownshirt militia.
Democratic principles in the USA have never been more at risk than this year.
[1] https://www.project2025.org/
[2] https://www.salon.com/2023/10/09/the-rights-red-caesar-plan-a-new-order-keeps-marching-forward/
"Anyone who disputes the result of an election bears the burden of producing evidence of error or fraud." I agree, based on realities of human nature. However, suppose there were, in fact, shenanigans behind the election. If that were the case, would it not be that Trump's questioning was in fact fighting to preserve democracy? And Biden, having benefited, is suppressing democracy? In a fair and friendly race, would the winner not assist in rooting out any possible fraudulent activity in the name of democracy if enough people are questioning its integrity?
I think that ultimately neither side is a true friend of democracy, each is only a friend of their own power. Admittedly, I am not an ardent follower of present day politics, but I am yet to see sacrifices of power to uphold democracy. (Having said this, I do agree with the next line as well: "Persistent denial, absent persuasive evidence, reveals the denier as no friend of democracy.")
That next line is the key. You have to provide evidence.
There is much I'd like to question and discuss on this topic, but suffice it to say that I believe both sides are aiming to achieve the same goal: gain power. The goal is not to uphold democratic principles (and perhaps hasn't been since the first several presidents, right?). Both sides will do whatever they can to achieve power and discredit the other. Trump just happens to be a singular overt offender, easy to spot, and as such, an easy target.
I may, however, be under appreciating the severity of Trump's perceived discard of democratic principles. Perhaps time will tell.
Trump is a jerk and he's unfit for the Presidency. His undemocratic tendencies are appalling.
Biden is barely competent. Seriously, why didn't he give the job to Kamala? Maybe she grows into it - and she's at least young enough to handle the horrific pressures of the job.
But Biden (and the left's in general) philosophy is not much better regarding undemocratic tendencies. The Administrative State has become awful (especially regarding Covid). Although, in Red states, there's been legislation passed to kneecap the Public Health Stalinists. And there's hope that SCOTUS blows up Chevron.
That said, my perfect election would pit DeSantis vs Newsom. The US needs a good battle of ideas between fit young (ish) men.
Biden is more than competent and I don't concern myself with his age. If something does happen like dying in office we still have Kamala- which you seem to not have an issue with. We have had 8 presidents die in office and most were succeeded by someone competent, except Lincoln.
To call public health officials 'stalinists' is extremely unfair. Covid was an anomoly not the like of which we had seen since the spanish flu! We had bodies piling up in refrigerated trucks for cripes sake!
To equate the 'left' with the current GOP and Trumper's is a ludicrous comparison. And Desantis is far from fit for office either- he also has fascist tendencies.
As an Evolan, democracy is an extension of socialism and communism. To say Trump is undemocratic is odd, since Trump worked so hard to work with the establishment in his first term and simply wants to exercise a strong executive. Today's version of democracy is inept.