It's not that the authoritarian impulse is new to our system. It's always been there, sometimes on the Democratic side, more frequently--especially post-1980--on the Republican side. But in the past, there has been bipartisan pushback, sometimes (although not often enough) quite vigorous.
With the vanishing of authentic conservatism on the Republican side, there's no longer a Republican impulse to check the power of the state through principled libertarian or conservative theories of governance. Democrats, meanwhile, are uneasy about being seen as hostile to law enforcement (the "defund the police" business still resonates), and have allowed themselves to be backed into a policy corner by the right, although there's still an opportunity to take a principled pro-law enforcement stand.
On the right, we've reached the dawn of "big government Republicanism," which appears to be evolving quite rapidly into a form of fascism. It's not out of the question that if Republicans take power in November (or two years from now, or four), they will move toward a fascist welfare state along the lines of apartheid South Africa, with enormous state benefits provided to certain segments of the population, in exchange for which those fortunate citizens will agree to give up democratic checks on the police powers of the central state.
It's not as though the authoritarian plot against America is new. Back in the Founding era, probably a third of the population was royalist. They've tried again and again to overthrow the democracy and replace it with an authoritarian system. Just in the 20th century, there have been repeated attempts to accomplish that, starting with the Business Plot and continuing through the Supreme Court decision on Bush v. Gore (which had the effect of entrenching an extremist Supreme Court whose next steps were to overturn the Voting Rights Act, let money flood political campaigns, and ultimately keep an obvious insurrectionist on the ballot). Long before Project 2025, there was the Powell memo.
And I don't doubt that Trump wants absolute power so that he can avoid jail, enrich himself including maybe by shaking down the US government, and intimidating his enemies.
But Trump and Vance are possibly the worst possible vessels the authoritarian plotters could have chosen. Trump is old and pretty clearly not well. His policies would be disastrous for the power of the United States and therefore the wealth and privilege of the people who are trying to re-install him. Their wealth is based on the relative social peace and hard and soft power of the US. Take those away and the US is just another Russia.
I hope, Radley, that you will sometime write about how the power of community is what overcomes authoritarianism. Our democracy was based on a leap of faith--the idea that, over time, ordinary people make better decisions than even the most brilliant autocrats. In so doing, they enrich and strengthen a nation far more than its less democratic peers. It took a long time to include people of color and women in that scheme, but each time it has paid off. Let's hope it pays off as we endure not just this election but the likely attempt of the thugs to take by force what they could not win through money, threats, and a riptide of bulls--t.
All consent decrees? Not just police dept ones? Would this include those in Pharma, Oil, and other businesses?
I absolutely believe he would do all of this. The only checks would be Congress filing impeachment charges AND convicting him. Which, let's be honest...That last part.
And the Senate failing to confirm Flynn as an appointee. One can dream. But I hope this nightmare fails to get elected.
It's not that the authoritarian impulse is new to our system. It's always been there, sometimes on the Democratic side, more frequently--especially post-1980--on the Republican side. But in the past, there has been bipartisan pushback, sometimes (although not often enough) quite vigorous.
With the vanishing of authentic conservatism on the Republican side, there's no longer a Republican impulse to check the power of the state through principled libertarian or conservative theories of governance. Democrats, meanwhile, are uneasy about being seen as hostile to law enforcement (the "defund the police" business still resonates), and have allowed themselves to be backed into a policy corner by the right, although there's still an opportunity to take a principled pro-law enforcement stand.
On the right, we've reached the dawn of "big government Republicanism," which appears to be evolving quite rapidly into a form of fascism. It's not out of the question that if Republicans take power in November (or two years from now, or four), they will move toward a fascist welfare state along the lines of apartheid South Africa, with enormous state benefits provided to certain segments of the population, in exchange for which those fortunate citizens will agree to give up democratic checks on the police powers of the central state.
Unfrickin believable and a clear and present danger to the people. We don’t live in a police state. Protecting incompetence is criminal.
It's not as though the authoritarian plot against America is new. Back in the Founding era, probably a third of the population was royalist. They've tried again and again to overthrow the democracy and replace it with an authoritarian system. Just in the 20th century, there have been repeated attempts to accomplish that, starting with the Business Plot and continuing through the Supreme Court decision on Bush v. Gore (which had the effect of entrenching an extremist Supreme Court whose next steps were to overturn the Voting Rights Act, let money flood political campaigns, and ultimately keep an obvious insurrectionist on the ballot). Long before Project 2025, there was the Powell memo.
And I don't doubt that Trump wants absolute power so that he can avoid jail, enrich himself including maybe by shaking down the US government, and intimidating his enemies.
But Trump and Vance are possibly the worst possible vessels the authoritarian plotters could have chosen. Trump is old and pretty clearly not well. His policies would be disastrous for the power of the United States and therefore the wealth and privilege of the people who are trying to re-install him. Their wealth is based on the relative social peace and hard and soft power of the US. Take those away and the US is just another Russia.
I hope, Radley, that you will sometime write about how the power of community is what overcomes authoritarianism. Our democracy was based on a leap of faith--the idea that, over time, ordinary people make better decisions than even the most brilliant autocrats. In so doing, they enrich and strengthen a nation far more than its less democratic peers. It took a long time to include people of color and women in that scheme, but each time it has paid off. Let's hope it pays off as we endure not just this election but the likely attempt of the thugs to take by force what they could not win through money, threats, and a riptide of bulls--t.
All consent decrees? Not just police dept ones? Would this include those in Pharma, Oil, and other businesses?
I absolutely believe he would do all of this. The only checks would be Congress filing impeachment charges AND convicting him. Which, let's be honest...That last part.
And the Senate failing to confirm Flynn as an appointee. One can dream. But I hope this nightmare fails to get elected.
This part of P2025 only addresses consent decrees with PDs. But I wouldn't be surprised if it advocates revoking them in other areas as well.
Thank you for the answer. And I agree. I wouldn't be surprised either.