This is the second part (of three) of my deep dive into the political situation right before the midterms – an attempt to think through the dangers that lie ahead and reflect on where we stand in the struggle between authoritarian escalation and democratic resilience.
I don’t think it’s particularly helpful or enlightening to approach the political situation as if the task was to pour all creativity into coming up with doomsday scenarios - without weighing their likelihood, regardless of the empirical evidence, and without considering the actual track record / trajectory of this regime.
Some people react with great anger to anything that doesn’t reflect their own level of alarm back at them. I understand.
But please consider this: If what you are saying boils down to “Trump could end the Republic whenever he wants to,” what you are contributing is certainly not plausible analysis.
Trump is not some all-powerful God-King
To subvert the election and get from here to consolidated authoritarian rule, the Trumpists depend on cynicism, acquiescence, and defeatism in the democratic camp.
This is what really stands out about the current situation: Any chance of successfully subverting the election relies not only on the complicity of MAGA supporters, but also on the widespread acquiescence of those who oppose the regime.
The assertion of irresistible power is itself a key element of the authoritarian assault. We must not perpetuate it, must not buy into the idea that the Republic must fall if and when Trump decides to the pull the lever that has “Dictatorship” written on it.
Such a lever does not exist.
All those who value democratic self-government have agency and can act to block the path towards authoritarian consolidation.
I have no doubt about the MAGA movement’s intentions. But let us refuse to help them propagate the notion that reality does not apply to them.
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https://steady.page/en/democracyamericana/posts/1ebfca62-2ac4-4cd7-be24-1e888437c208
@tzimmer_history But he would soooo wish that he could be deified just like Caligula which he resembles in many ways.