US to become right wing dictatorship?

[Esceptico]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/03/us...

Saw this article in the Guardian. Canadian professor saying there is a risk that democracy will collapse in the US and it could become a right wing dictatorship.

I think a few years ago I would have laughed at such an article, dismissing it as pure hyperbole. However I would have laughed at the idea of Trump becoming President and that as President he would refuse to accept the result (and there would be an invasion of the White House by his supporters).

I think there is a risk of Trump being re-elected. My understanding is that the Republicans have done so much gerrymandering that even if Trump lost the popular vote like last time he would still win enough electoral college votes to become President.

Even if Trump isn’t the candidate the Republicans seem to have moved significantly to the right and also towards the lunatic fringe so we could see a candidate just as mad as Trump. Possibly worse as I’m not sure Trump believes all the st he espouses (like our dear BoJo he seems to be quite flexible in his beliefs, changing them when it suits him for political purposes).

[Donbot]

It could easily be argued that it could turn into a left wing dictatorship.

Or not.

Though that is a bit rich coming from a Canadian when you look at their Covid response, and the state of politics over there the last few years.

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

[durbster]

It would have seemed a ridiculous question before Trump but now it looks very much like the door to authoritarianism in the US has been kicked open.

Brian Klaas is worth reading on this topic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/22...

It's not a pleasant prospect.

[Esceptico]

durbster said:

It would have seemed a ridiculous question before Trump but now it looks very much like the door to authoritarianism in the US has been kicked open.

Brian Klaas is worth reading on this topic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/22...

It's not a pleasant prospect.

Thanks for posting. Situation seems more depressing than I had thought!

[bitchstewie]

What happens when Trump is gone?

Whilst not on the same scale we have our own little populist in the form of "Britain Trump" and I'm reasonably confident that once he's gone (and possibly a couple of other frothers) the Conservative Party will find its way back to being vaguely sensible.

Do we not have a similar situation in the US where it's basically a "Cult of Trump" and the key to that is in the name?

[Pupp]

There are indeed parallels here, but the problem is not the players who are the focus of the populism; it’s those who have that particular focus in the first place. We do get the politicians we deserve.

[Jasandjules]

We are looking at authoritarian dictatorships all over the West FFS.

[98elise]

Donbot said:

It could easily be argued that it could turn into a left wing dictatorship.

Or not.

Though that is a bit rich coming from a Canadian when you look at their Covid response, and the state of politics over there the last few years.

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

America doesn't have a far left mainstream party, let alone one that's intent on overthowing democracy.

[paulguitar]

Donbot said:

It could easily be argued that it could turn into a left wing dictatorship.

?

[Countdown]

98elise said:

America doesn't have a far left mainstream party, let alone one that's intent on overthowing democracy.

The Loon Wing of the GOP see the Dems as "Far Left" and it's the Loon Wing which is currently in the ascendancy.

[RDMcG]

It is very worrying. We could see a civil war in the US. More and more articles are showing up. The mid terms this year will be a bloodbath for the Dems and I expect a GOP house and senate. Gerrymandering is rampant and many states are putting in severe voting restrictions. Gun sales are absolutely huge. Suspicion of government is everywhere.

The inward isolationist turn of the US has hastened its global decline and allowed China to continue to rise both economically and militarily.

I think very bad times are on the way.

[amgmcqueen]

98elise said:

Donbot said:

It could easily be argued that it could turn into a left wing dictatorship.

Or not.

Though that is a bit rich coming from a Canadian when you look at their Covid response, and the state of politics over there the last few years.

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

Edited by Donbot on Monday 3rd January 08:13

America doesn't have a far left mainstream party, let alone one that's intent on overthowing democracy.

Are vaccine mandates democratic...?

[paulguitar]

amgmcqueen said:

Are vaccine mandates democratic...?

Yes.

[paulguitar]

vixen1700 said:

paulguitar said:

amgmcqueen said:

Are vaccine mandates democratic...?

Yes.

In one word you've explained gun sales in the US going up.

It's get a vaccine or get tested weekly.

If a gun is involved I'm not as to why that would be?

[monthou]

amgmcqueen said:

Are vaccine mandates democratic...?

Depends.
If they're imposed by a democratically elected government thn yes. If not, no.
Democratic does not mean 'what you like'.

[Electro1980]

Esceptico said:

My understanding is that the Republicans have done so much gerrymandering that even if Trump lost the popular vote like last time he would still win enough electoral college votes to become President.

Trump has never won the popular vote. The way the electoral college system is set up makes it heavily tilted against urban (more liberal) voters, towards rural (more conservative) voters. A voter in the rural Midwest has far more influence on who the president is than a voter in California or New York.

Gerrymandering doesn’t really impact presidential elections, as they are based on states, but they do hugely impact state, senate and congress elections. The argument for state representation impacting the presidential election (why the electoral college exists) is predicated on the idea that state legislature, senate and congress elections are based on popular vote.

Basically the whole system is broken and massively tilted in favour of the GOP. If the election was popular vote the last GOP president would have been Bush Snr in 1988. Also, 5 out of 17 Republican Presidents have been elected whilst loosing the popular vote (although it should be noted that somewhere around the end of the 19th C they swapped political leanings).

98elise said:

America doesn't have a far left wing mainstream party, let alone one that's intent on overthowing democracy.

Fixed that for you.

Edited by Electro1980 on Monday 3rd January 13:52

Edited by Electro1980 on Monday 3rd January 13:56

[Jasandjules]

monthou said:

Depends.
If they're imposed by a democratically elected government thn yes. If not, no.
Democratic does not mean 'what you like'.

Which definition of democracy are you referring to?

For example, IF the UK followed majoritarianism, we would have the death penalty.....

[monthou]

Jasandjules said:

monthou said:

Depends.
If they're imposed by a democratically elected government thn yes. If not, no.
Democratic does not mean 'what you like'.

Which definition of democracy are you referring to?

For example, IF the UK followed majoritarianism, we would have the death penalty.....

Sorry, life's much too short.

[NRS]

Electro1980 said:

Esceptico said:

My understanding is that the Republicans have done so much gerrymandering that even if Trump lost the popular vote like last time he would still win enough electoral college votes to become President.

Trump has never won the popular vote. The way the electoral college system is set up makes it heavily tilted against urban (more liberal) voters, towards rural (more conservative) voters. A voter in the rural Midwest has far more influence on who the president is than a voter in California or New York.

Gerrymandering doesn’t really impact presidential elections, as they are based on states, but they do hugely impact state, senate and congress elections. The argument for state representation impacting the presidential election (why the electoral college exists) is predicated on the idea that state legislature, senate and congress elections are based on popular vote.

Basically the whole system is broken and massively tilted in favour of the GOP. If the election was popular vote the last GOP president would have been Bush Snr in 1988. Also, 5 out of 17 Republican Presidents have been elected whilst loosing the popular vote (although it should be noted that somewhere around the end of the 19th C they swapped political leanings).

98elise said:

America doesn't have a far left wing mainstream party, let alone one that's intent on overthowing democracy.

Fixed that for you.

Edited by Electro1980 on Monday 3rd January 13:52

Edited by Electro1980 on Monday 3rd January 13:56

The reason for the rural voters having more of a voice was deliberately baked into the system back in the day, to try and balance people in cities completely overriding rural people, who have very different views and things that are important in their life. It wasn't designed to be the majority vote from what I understand. The question is has it gone too far now, based on just political party rather than where people live, and likely a part of that reply depends on which way you vote. I don't know the details, I know a lot of liberal voters say it is basically massive gerrymandering, but you'd also expect that too given just how divided people are.

I'd also say that the dems are probably more of a cultural leftwing party, but not economically. The more traditional views of left and right wing are a bit messed up now, as the cultural and economic definitions seem to have separated a bit more over time.

[voyds9]

Isn't a Right wing dictatorship historically safer than a Left wing dictatorship