Can Dictatorship/Authoritarianism Happen in the US?

OnWis97

As the title says...

The reason for my Trump Derangement Syndrome is because given his statements, the unprecedented devotion of his followers, and the tacit approval of the GOP to do whatever he wants, I think authoritarianism is on the table.  Maybe even probable.  This stuff does not happen overnight.  The "jokes" about a third term and "president for life?"  Those are feelers.  We've learned that the GOP will stand by this man regardless of what he says or does.  We've learned that his base essentially thinks of him as a god-like figure.  We've learned that the GOP cares about winning the Red vs. Blue battle more than anything.

I see the dems eating each other on "issues." And I firmly believe we don't have the luxury to even get into "issues" right now.  

I believe we are well on the way to authoritarianism. And by that I mean, journalists and political opponents being locked up during Trump's second term, a Trump being "appointed" president some day, and every person of power working for the one and only party (leaving the court system nothing but a rubber-stamping political body).  It can happen here...and the dominant party wants it to.

dignin

Of course.

josevolution

We very well may be on the way

We’re well into the 1st faze of dictatorship! Putin is the master and the Baffoon is the useful idiot give him another term and we will be there!

brianlux

We very well may be on the way

Without a doubt.  We're no different than any other civilization or country that has fallen under a dictatorship.  In fact, given the overall level of intelligence in America in the 2000's, I'd say we're more vulnerable than ever.

HughFreakingDillon

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

of course anything is possible, but highly doubtful. we all knew that trump would push the boundaries, however, no one could have predicted how spineless and self-serving the rest of the GOP would become. becoming a dictator would require a constitutional amendment, which takes 2/3 of the states to ratify. that would be incredibly difficult to push through. 

i honestly believe the joking about term limits thing really IS trump's humour and his way of driving the media and liberals crazy. he's not going to do it. he can't do it. we're not going to have 20 years of trumps in office unless they are elected to be. 

there is a certain level of apathy in any modern electorate, but i think when it comes to stuff like this, the majority won't stand for it. 

HughFreakingDillon

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

we're not at Gilead yet. But I gotta be honest, the thought has crossed my mind. 

mrussel1

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

Coincidentally, Huckabee said he was selected to head Trump's 2024 campaign.  Now I think it's all a ruse like everything else, just a giant marketing campaign.  That's the tough thing about Trump, weeding through what is total BS, what is marketing, and what is serious.  I also don't know that he will be healthy enough in 2024 to be president.  The dude is seriously overweight.  

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-2024-election-third-term-mike-huckabee-impeachment-inquiry-a9244761.html

HughFreakingDillon

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

mrussel1 said:

Coincidentally, Huckabee said he was selected to head Trump's 2024 campaign.  Now I think it's all a ruse like everything else, just a giant marketing campaign.  That's the tough thing about Trump, weeding through what is total BS, what is marketing, and what is serious.  I also don't know that he will be healthy enough in 2024 to be president.  The dude is seriously overweight.  

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-2024-election-third-term-mike-huckabee-impeachment-inquiry-a9244761.html

huckabee is known for his abysmal attempts at humour on social media (he's not funny in the slighest). he's joking, and tonight on fox he's just going to laugh with hannity about "driving the fake news crazy". 

dankind

We're already there

I'll point everyone again to this Harvard University/University of Melbourne study: https://www.smh.com.au/world/democracy-under-threat-as-young-people-warm-to-authoritarian-rule-researchers-say-20161201-gt1usr.html.

Lerxst1992

We very well may be on the way

Money begat money begat money

Thoughts_Arrive

It's happening in Australia too.
Our government are silencing journalists, secretly trying people in court, secretly jailing people, refusing to be transparent, saying that Australians should be "quiet Australians".

OnWis97

We very well may be on the way

Given the way that this thread died so quickly, I guess nobody's too concerned about authoritarianism...

Does "no witnesses" matter?

Also, I totally disagree with this:

HughFreakingDillon said:

of course anything is possible, but highly doubtful. we all knew that trump would push the boundaries, however, no one could have predicted how spineless and self-serving the rest of the GOP would become. becoming a dictator would require a constitutional amendment, which takes 2/3 of the states to ratify. that would be incredibly difficult to push through. 

i honestly believe the joking about term limits thing really IS trump's humour and his way of driving the media and liberals crazy. he's not going to do it. he can't do it. we're not going to have 20 years of trumps in office unless they are elected to be. 

there is a certain level of apathy in any modern electorate, but i think when it comes to stuff like this, the majority won't stand for it. 

I think we can become a dictatorship without it.  Today the Senate chose to take a pass on checks and balances.  We're one election (an election that's unlikely to be on the level) away from having a one-party system.

mrussel1

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

OnWis97 said:

Given the way that this thread died so quickly, I guess nobody's too concerned about authoritarianism...

Does "no witnesses" matter?

Also, I totally disagree with this:

HughFreakingDillon said:

of course anything is possible, but highly doubtful. we all knew that trump would push the boundaries, however, no one could have predicted how spineless and self-serving the rest of the GOP would become. becoming a dictator would require a constitutional amendment, which takes 2/3 of the states to ratify. that would be incredibly difficult to push through. 

i honestly believe the joking about term limits thing really IS trump's humour and his way of driving the media and liberals crazy. he's not going to do it. he can't do it. we're not going to have 20 years of trumps in office unless they are elected to be. 

there is a certain level of apathy in any modern electorate, but i think when it comes to stuff like this, the majority won't stand for it. 

I think we can become a dictatorship without it.  Today the Senate chose to take a pass on checks and balances.  We're one election (an election that's unlikely to be on the level) away from having a one-party system.

You're saying that trump is going to outlaw the democratic party if he wins,  regardless of the outcome of the Senate and House?

bootlegger10

Anything's possible, but not time to worry

There are a lot of powerful people in this country whether it is the politicians or the wealthy.  A dictatorship is not good for the wealthy as it is unpredictable and brings uncertainty.   I will get concerned if the two term limit gets removed. 

OnWis97

We very well may be on the way

mrussel1 said:

OnWis97 said:

Given the way that this thread died so quickly, I guess nobody's too concerned about authoritarianism...

Does "no witnesses" matter?

Also, I totally disagree with this:

HughFreakingDillon said:

of course anything is possible, but highly doubtful. we all knew that trump would push the boundaries, however, no one could have predicted how spineless and self-serving the rest of the GOP would become. becoming a dictator would require a constitutional amendment, which takes 2/3 of the states to ratify. that would be incredibly difficult to push through. 

i honestly believe the joking about term limits thing really IS trump's humour and his way of driving the media and liberals crazy. he's not going to do it. he can't do it. we're not going to have 20 years of trumps in office unless they are elected to be. 

there is a certain level of apathy in any modern electorate, but i think when it comes to stuff like this, the majority won't stand for it. 

I think we can become a dictatorship without it.  Today the Senate chose to take a pass on checks and balances.  We're one election (an election that's unlikely to be on the level) away from having a one-party system.

You're saying that trump is going to outlaw the democratic party if he wins,  regardless of the outcome of the Senate and House?

Laws are meaningless.  If Trump is re-elected and the Senate remains GOP, they don’t need to outlaw the other party.  The only need to continue doing what they are doing and ramp up the election fraud.  Today the Senate told Trump he can do whatever he wants.  The second term is gonna be Trump’s Revenge Tour.  I legit believe he’s gonna be ordering hits on media members.  He has the green light.

It can happen here.

josevolution

We very well may be on the way

Big big win for the Baffoon this only embolden’s him to feel like an untouchable!

josevolution

We very well may be on the way

OnWis97 said:

mrussel1 said:

OnWis97 said:

Given the way that this thread died so quickly, I guess nobody's too concerned about authoritarianism...

Does "no witnesses" matter?

Also, I totally disagree with this:

HughFreakingDillon said:

of course anything is possible, but highly doubtful. we all knew that trump would push the boundaries, however, no one could have predicted how spineless and self-serving the rest of the GOP would become. becoming a dictator would require a constitutional amendment, which takes 2/3 of the states to ratify. that would be incredibly difficult to push through. 

i honestly believe the joking about term limits thing really IS trump's humour and his way of driving the media and liberals crazy. he's not going to do it. he can't do it. we're not going to have 20 years of trumps in office unless they are elected to be. 

there is a certain level of apathy in any modern electorate, but i think when it comes to stuff like this, the majority won't stand for it. 

I think we can become a dictatorship without it.  Today the Senate chose to take a pass on checks and balances.  We're one election (an election that's unlikely to be on the level) away from having a one-party system.

You're saying that trump is going to outlaw the democratic party if he wins,  regardless of the outcome of the Senate and House?

Laws are meaningless.  If Trump is re-elected and the Senate remains GOP, they don’t need to outlaw the other party.  The only need to continue doing what they are doing and ramp up the election fraud.  Today the Senate told Trump he can do whatever he wants.  The second term is gonna be Trump’s Revenge Tour.  I legit believe he’s gonna be ordering hits on media members.  He has the green light.

It can happen here.

I wouldn’t put anything past him at this point! 

tempo_n_groove

No way

dankind said:

I'll point everyone again to this Harvard University/University of Melbourne study: https://www.smh.com.au/world/democracy-under-threat-as-young-people-warm-to-authoritarian-rule-researchers-say-20161201-gt1usr.html.

If tyhey start taking guns away and removing them from homes then I'll say the sky is falling.

The eyes in the sky though would lead me to believe that the Govt want to keep everyone in check.

brianlux

We very well may be on the way

Bill Maher predicts that if Trump loses the election he will not vacate the office.  If this happens, we will certainly get a chance to find out the answer to this polls question.

Kat

I could see the new president running things from a different location until the squatter leaves or is escorted out. There's no way soul-eater can run anything when we have a new president. In the end, the WH is just a house. What's going on now is disgusting. I never thought I'd see the day. 

brianlux

We very well may be on the way

Kat said:

I could see the new president running things from a different location until the squatter leaves or is escorted out. There's no way soul-eater can run anything when we have a new president. In the end, the WH is just a house. What's going on now is disgusting. I never thought I'd see the day. 

Same her Kat, especially having had Obama as POTUS not so many years ago.  Amazing that where we got to today has happened.  Let's hope that all changes in November!

OnWis97

We very well may be on the way

Finally someone who doesn’t think am nuts...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-americans-are-the-witnesses-to-democracys-demise/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Referrer%3A+Social+Network+%2F+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links&fbclid=IwAR0BAxs5YLtpB5KfH8kQK0_Fjza3ZL2W4jLjbdG0NSZkTp3eKfQrT1T-5EY

VocalImagery

We're already there

Um all I know is my Smart Samsung TV interacted with me in 2013. I was in my living room on New Years Eve and I screamed “I’m still grieving” and Anderson Cooper popped up on the screen and said “Blanket apologizes across the board” I traded the TV for $300 worth of weed with full disclosure “It’s Interactive” Best decision I ever made! 😂

VocalImagery

We're already there

PJ_Soul

We very well may be on the way

Yep. All the signs are pointing in that direction right now. It's not inevitable yet, but it wouldn't take long for the line to be crossed.

HesCalledDyer

We very well may be on the way

We have, for the last decade, completely fucking ignored how every dictator in the history of dictators came into power.  We've brushed every single warning sign aside because we're the mighty USA and nothing can happen to us.  Time to stop living in denial and wake the fuck up! 

Spiritual_Chaos

Kat said:

 What's going on now is disgusting. I never thought I'd see the day. 

Halifax2TheMax

Did you hear the dog whistle last night? “We’re never going back.”

josevolution

We very well may be on the way

Halifax2TheMax said:

Did you hear the dog whistle last night? “We’re never going back.”

Yep mass shootings are part of everyday life like reading a paper or putting on shoes ..

erocshifty

We very well may be on the way

The people currently in charge keep moving the goal posts and are very brazen in their attempts to create an *Us vs. Them* reality. Hope cooler heads prevail and we can find a place of mutual respect and peace within our culture again. 

brianlux

We very well may be on the way

If you're on FaceBook, check out Bill Maher's "Why Republicans Hate Democracy".  Answer's the thread question in both the present, and the affirmative.  Strange days.