Can Dictatorship/Authoritarianism Happen in the US?

OnWis97
OnWis97 St. Paul, MN Posts: 5,610
in A Moving Train
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.
1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
2024 Napa, Wrigley, Wrigley

Can Dictatorship/Authoritarianism Happen in the US? 44 votes

We're already there
6%
static111dankindVocalImagery 3 votes
We very well may be on the way
65%
gimmesometruth27pjhawksjeffbrdarwinstheorystuckinlinejosevolutionSVRDhand13PJ1973marjenJimmyVBentleyspopTim SimmonsHesCalledDyerOnWis97Abe Fromanerocshiftyjpgoegelangry_skullbrianluxF Me In The Brain 29 votes
Anything's possible, but not time to worry
11%
cincybearcatbootlegger10mrussel11ThoughtKnownHughFreakingDillon 5 votes
No way
15%
Ledbetterman10nicknyr15tempo_n_grooveriley540drakeheuer14Meltdown99PJattheGorge 7 votes
«134

Comments

  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Of course.
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,614
    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!
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    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.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • HughFreakingDillon
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,473
    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. 
    By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.




  • HughFreakingDillon
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,473
    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. 
    By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.




  • mrussel1
    mrussel1 Posts: 30,882
    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
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,473
    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". 
    By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.




  • dankind
    dankind Posts: 20,841
    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.
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,889
    We very well may be on the way
    Money begat money begat money
  • Thoughts_Arrive
    Thoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    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".
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • OnWis97
    OnWis97 St. Paul, MN Posts: 5,610
    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.
    1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
    2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
    2024 Napa, Wrigley, Wrigley
  • mrussel1
    mrussel1 Posts: 30,882
    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
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,256
    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
    OnWis97 St. Paul, MN Posts: 5,610
    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.
    1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
    2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
    2024 Napa, Wrigley, Wrigley
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,614
    We very well may be on the way
    Big big win for the Baffoon this only embolden’s him to feel like an untouchable!
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,614
    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! 
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,385
    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
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    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.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Kat
    Kat Posts: 4,961
    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. 
    Falling down,...not staying down
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    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!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

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