This fine article by Ruth Ben-Ghiat (and Gingrich's comments) recall the writing of Aristotle's "Politics" written in 350 B.C.E wherein he describes many instances of demagogues' and tyrants' actions to keep themselves in power.
It's an old playbook - going all the way back to ancient Greece in Aristotle's day - and now in ours not seen in our history at it's current and rising level - rearing it's historic, disruptive head in the actions and words of DJT and his enablers.
Aristotle wrote:
"Revolutions are effected in two ways, by force and by fraud...Fraud is of two kinds; for (1) sometimes the citizens are deceived into acquiescing in a change of government *, and afterwards they are held in subjection against their will and (2) In other cases the people are persuaded at first, and afterwards, by a repetition of the persuasion, their goodwill and allegiance are retained ** "
* Sound familiar? January 6th 2021?...and if it had succeeded...the majority of us would be "held in subjection (to the resulting autocracy) against our will"
** The constant DJT, Republican lackeys, and other enablers repetition upon repetition of lies about the "stolen election" [reminding of Hitler's propaganda man Joseph Goebbels' statement: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it"!!] just like DJT's processionary-caterpillar-like-devotees willingly do !!
Once again - both (1) and (1) are discernable in the words and actions of DJT and his enablers and if he is returned to the Oval Office - both will not only continue but over the course of another presidency get much much worse (even bordering on the USA becoming something akin to a police state with seizing voting equipment, jailing or removing political adversaries...or worse...as advocated by some who populate the most extreme edges of groups such as Q Anon, Neo-Nazis, etc !!
So, Gingrich (who is oddly popping back up into discourse with a terrifying book) is now quoting Mussolini? This is the stuff that they need to be reporting on. Gosh knows there are no slots to fit the majority of the stories into what with how much craziness is happening, but the slow creep is now a full-on promotion of anti-democratic sentiments and voices from the right, now just even the far right let's be honest.
I fear the threats against our democracy and for our mutual constitutional freedoms. The select committee on January 6th needs our support and investigative direction as they uncover facts regarding the failed Trump coup. Pray that we are not again under the threat of the GOP yoke of conformity and submission.
Another very clear signal on what the GOP intends to do if they gain back power. The GOP "Status generation machine" is running full steam, (ref "The Status Game" by Will Storr). Separately, Putin is running his own status game in Ukraine, assisted by his American "cousins" The signs are all there but too few seem to be taking notice...........
Ughh! This is simply an ongoing Tsunami. We've all watched people on beaches as an incredibly destructive wave is about to hit. The people on the beach sometimes appear confused and follow the wave as it first recedes out to see. A few minutes later they are swept away. I worry that so many Americans are the people on the beach following the receding water. We have to be involved and get those we can involved as well. Ruth, I just heard the term Onocracy...what? I looked it up and there was an article suggesting we get ready to see this term more.
Gingrich's comment seems to be a psychological projection. We're not evil, you are. His debauchery and shenanigans were brought to light in Joe Conason's book, "Big Lies". Newt is highly suspected of being a high functioning sociopath. Given what I've read about him, this is probaby true. Sociopaths seem to love fascism, as we have seen in so many past leaders of fascism. Gingrich definitly leans in the fascist direction. The more radical Republicans get, the more likely they will choose a sociopath to lead them. Trump was the first, in what may be a long line of sociopathic leaders for their party; a dark path.
Take a circle, caress it, it will become vicious. The radicalized GOP and its authoritarian leader cult remind me of a rabid dog frothing at the mouth. There's no way to save them they have to be put down or they will put you down!
My question is - what can we ordinary citizens who hold no power beyond our soon to be useless vote do to help thwart, slow down or stop America’s rush into authoritarianism?
This is a sincere question. Is there anything we can do?
I mean beyond calling, emailing or writing our congressional reps. My three here in Indiana are all trump lapdogs, more than willing to sell out democracy to stay in power and to enact horrible, restrictive rules on all those they deem not worthy (ie. not white or rich). Two will run again most likely and the third is headed to some think tank or corporate position to continue to run things from there. None of the three give a damn about what their constituents want - not the ones who refuse to join the trump/rethuglican cult.
Is there anything that can still be done in a country where AG Garland and our FBI just don’t care either? Or are we just going to have to watch it happen?
How can regular citizens make a difference when democracy is threatened with such egregious abuses of power, including the threats to our voting system. If voting rights are no longer treated as sacrosanct, even extreme grass roots efforts such as deep canvassing are futile.
Ruth, based on your studies of other autocracies, is the inaction (or more charitably, glacial pace) by the DOJ accelerating the open descent into authoritarianism, or would it have little impact, buried under an avalanche of 'witchhunt' propaganda?
This fine article by Ruth Ben-Ghiat (and Gingrich's comments) recall the writing of Aristotle's "Politics" written in 350 B.C.E wherein he describes many instances of demagogues' and tyrants' actions to keep themselves in power.
It's an old playbook - going all the way back to ancient Greece in Aristotle's day - and now in ours not seen in our history at it's current and rising level - rearing it's historic, disruptive head in the actions and words of DJT and his enablers.
Aristotle wrote:
"Revolutions are effected in two ways, by force and by fraud...Fraud is of two kinds; for (1) sometimes the citizens are deceived into acquiescing in a change of government *, and afterwards they are held in subjection against their will and (2) In other cases the people are persuaded at first, and afterwards, by a repetition of the persuasion, their goodwill and allegiance are retained ** "
* Sound familiar? January 6th 2021?...and if it had succeeded...the majority of us would be "held in subjection (to the resulting autocracy) against our will"
** The constant DJT, Republican lackeys, and other enablers repetition upon repetition of lies about the "stolen election" [reminding of Hitler's propaganda man Joseph Goebbels' statement: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it"!!] just like DJT's processionary-caterpillar-like-devotees willingly do !!
Once again - both (1) and (1) are discernable in the words and actions of DJT and his enablers and if he is returned to the Oval Office - both will not only continue but over the course of another presidency get much much worse (even bordering on the USA becoming something akin to a police state with seizing voting equipment, jailing or removing political adversaries...or worse...as advocated by some who populate the most extreme edges of groups such as Q Anon, Neo-Nazis, etc !!
We have to do much more than just write books.
So, Gingrich (who is oddly popping back up into discourse with a terrifying book) is now quoting Mussolini? This is the stuff that they need to be reporting on. Gosh knows there are no slots to fit the majority of the stories into what with how much craziness is happening, but the slow creep is now a full-on promotion of anti-democratic sentiments and voices from the right, now just even the far right let's be honest.
Also from the National Constitution Center:
https://constitutioncenter.org/calendar/rule-of-law-in-america-and-abroad-a-comparative-view
My non-apology for shamelessly promoting this “somewhat” related Zoom event:
https://www.radicalrightanalysis.com/carr-attackondemocracy-webinar-series/
I fear the threats against our democracy and for our mutual constitutional freedoms. The select committee on January 6th needs our support and investigative direction as they uncover facts regarding the failed Trump coup. Pray that we are not again under the threat of the GOP yoke of conformity and submission.
Another very clear signal on what the GOP intends to do if they gain back power. The GOP "Status generation machine" is running full steam, (ref "The Status Game" by Will Storr). Separately, Putin is running his own status game in Ukraine, assisted by his American "cousins" The signs are all there but too few seem to be taking notice...........
The volume of threats of retribution is directly proportional to the degree of criminality.
Ughh! This is simply an ongoing Tsunami. We've all watched people on beaches as an incredibly destructive wave is about to hit. The people on the beach sometimes appear confused and follow the wave as it first recedes out to see. A few minutes later they are swept away. I worry that so many Americans are the people on the beach following the receding water. We have to be involved and get those we can involved as well. Ruth, I just heard the term Onocracy...what? I looked it up and there was an article suggesting we get ready to see this term more.
Gingrich's comment seems to be a psychological projection. We're not evil, you are. His debauchery and shenanigans were brought to light in Joe Conason's book, "Big Lies". Newt is highly suspected of being a high functioning sociopath. Given what I've read about him, this is probaby true. Sociopaths seem to love fascism, as we have seen in so many past leaders of fascism. Gingrich definitly leans in the fascist direction. The more radical Republicans get, the more likely they will choose a sociopath to lead them. Trump was the first, in what may be a long line of sociopathic leaders for their party; a dark path.
Take a circle, caress it, it will become vicious. The radicalized GOP and its authoritarian leader cult remind me of a rabid dog frothing at the mouth. There's no way to save them they have to be put down or they will put you down!
Excellent piece.
My question is - what can we ordinary citizens who hold no power beyond our soon to be useless vote do to help thwart, slow down or stop America’s rush into authoritarianism?
This is a sincere question. Is there anything we can do?
I mean beyond calling, emailing or writing our congressional reps. My three here in Indiana are all trump lapdogs, more than willing to sell out democracy to stay in power and to enact horrible, restrictive rules on all those they deem not worthy (ie. not white or rich). Two will run again most likely and the third is headed to some think tank or corporate position to continue to run things from there. None of the three give a damn about what their constituents want - not the ones who refuse to join the trump/rethuglican cult.
Is there anything that can still be done in a country where AG Garland and our FBI just don’t care either? Or are we just going to have to watch it happen?
How can regular citizens make a difference when democracy is threatened with such egregious abuses of power, including the threats to our voting system. If voting rights are no longer treated as sacrosanct, even extreme grass roots efforts such as deep canvassing are futile.
Petrifying ...more so among those who study the work you and other experts do on the rise of authoritarianism....L.
Ruth, based on your studies of other autocracies, is the inaction (or more charitably, glacial pace) by the DOJ accelerating the open descent into authoritarianism, or would it have little impact, buried under an avalanche of 'witchhunt' propaganda?