You need to have a foothold somewhere to stop this slide into dictatorship and your only chance to get it is a democratic leadership. You will never see change in the US if you think that it has to be 100 or nothing. It’s not a single issue thing. This whole discussion is absolutely maddening from an outside perspective.
So, I hate to be that guy, but the dems get a chance every 4 years or so, and yet here we are. It seems that the democratic leaderships of the past haven’t really prevented the slow and continuous slide to fascism. And please do note that every dem president and candidate is more right wing than the previous ones. They’re sliding too.
I think a democratic leadership might be able to arrest the slide towards a dictatorship, but the chance of that is quite low - it would require a socialist to win the democratic nomination, and I just don’t see that happening. Anything less than a socialist would inadequately address the underlying material conditions which foment fascism, so there would be four years of neoliberalism or moderate social democracy or whatever - another four years of worsening conditions among the working class - thereafter, the authoritarian dictatorship would come into power.
I think the best way - probably, the only way - to prevent dictatorship would be for the working class to continue organizing and building a people-led direct action movement, like the Black Panther Party did.
I think the best way - probably, the only way - to prevent dictatorship would be for the working class to continue organizing and building a people-led direct action movement, like the Black Panther Party did.
Except there is no chance of this happening once the republicans have fully established their totalitarian regime. You will just get gunned down in the street at best or shipped off to a camp at worst.
Authoritarian regimes are only ever toppled by resistance movements like this, but they’re MUCH harder to build once the authoritarian regime tightens its grip. That’s why we need to do it now, instead of wasting time campaigning for Gavin Newsom or whatever fucking ghoul the democrats nominate.
Authoritarian regimes are only ever toppled by resistance movements like this
This is patently false. Remember Nazi Germany? My Grandparents sure do. There are countless other examples of dictatorships solidifying their grasp and unless there are outside factors, the population will never revolt or be unable to do so. The brain washing will continue until there is nobody left who even thinks of resistance. You have a small window to regain control now, so use it. Nobody will come to help you.
Yeah, that’s a fair point, although, Nazi Germany was toppled by literal communists and there were very successful resistance and partisan movements throughout the regime.
The brain washing will continue until there is nobody left who even thinks of resistance.
I don’t think that’s true. At the risk of being cringe, I’ll quote Nemik’s manifesto from Star Wars Andor:
There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy. Remember this. Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they’ve already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward. And then remember this. The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this, the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire’s authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege. Remember this. Try.
Authoritarian regimes are generally quite unstable compared to democracies, because humans naturally resist being oppressed. You’re totally right that it’s harder and that we need to organize now, and that’s what I’m trying to encourage people to do.
This is leaving out so much that it’s not really the truth.
and there were very successful resistance and partisan movements throughout the regime
This only happened in the occupied countries and it is debatable how much of a threat these movements really were. While they contributed, they were not what won the war in the end and most likely would’ve been squashed like all the other local uprisings before. Had Germany put all the focus inside their own borders and had the US and USSR not gotten involved, they never would’ve stopped. Which is precisely the situation in the US right now. There will not be any external factors to bring the military down. It will be like Russia or North Korea if you allow this to continue. There is no real resistance in countries like this, everyone falls in line eventually.
You’re totally right that it’s harder and that we need to organize now, and that’s what I’m trying to encourage people to do
Good, so start with the next best thing, voting for a Democrat who at least respects the constitution. Anything else is unrealistic at this point. You have to make a first step into the right direction before you can even think about realizing your final goals. Real change takes many, you can never just jump to the end of the line.
You need to have a foothold somewhere to stop this slide into dictatorship and your only chance to get it is a democratic leadership. You will never see change in the US if you think that it has to be 100 or nothing. It’s not a single issue thing. This whole discussion is absolutely maddening from an outside perspective.
So, I hate to be that guy, but the dems get a chance every 4 years or so, and yet here we are. It seems that the democratic leaderships of the past haven’t really prevented the slow and continuous slide to fascism. And please do note that every dem president and candidate is more right wing than the previous ones. They’re sliding too.
I think a democratic leadership might be able to arrest the slide towards a dictatorship, but the chance of that is quite low - it would require a socialist to win the democratic nomination, and I just don’t see that happening. Anything less than a socialist would inadequately address the underlying material conditions which foment fascism, so there would be four years of neoliberalism or moderate social democracy or whatever - another four years of worsening conditions among the working class - thereafter, the authoritarian dictatorship would come into power.
I think the best way - probably, the only way - to prevent dictatorship would be for the working class to continue organizing and building a people-led direct action movement, like the Black Panther Party did.
Except there is no chance of this happening once the republicans have fully established their totalitarian regime. You will just get gunned down in the street at best or shipped off to a camp at worst.
Authoritarian regimes are only ever toppled by resistance movements like this, but they’re MUCH harder to build once the authoritarian regime tightens its grip. That’s why we need to do it now, instead of wasting time campaigning for Gavin Newsom or whatever fucking ghoul the democrats nominate.
This is patently false. Remember Nazi Germany? My Grandparents sure do. There are countless other examples of dictatorships solidifying their grasp and unless there are outside factors, the population will never revolt or be unable to do so. The brain washing will continue until there is nobody left who even thinks of resistance. You have a small window to regain control now, so use it. Nobody will come to help you.
Yeah, that’s a fair point, although, Nazi Germany was toppled by literal communists and there were very successful resistance and partisan movements throughout the regime.
I don’t think that’s true. At the risk of being cringe, I’ll quote Nemik’s manifesto from Star Wars Andor:
Authoritarian regimes are generally quite unstable compared to democracies, because humans naturally resist being oppressed. You’re totally right that it’s harder and that we need to organize now, and that’s what I’m trying to encourage people to do.
This is leaving out so much that it’s not really the truth.
This only happened in the occupied countries and it is debatable how much of a threat these movements really were. While they contributed, they were not what won the war in the end and most likely would’ve been squashed like all the other local uprisings before. Had Germany put all the focus inside their own borders and had the US and USSR not gotten involved, they never would’ve stopped. Which is precisely the situation in the US right now. There will not be any external factors to bring the military down. It will be like Russia or North Korea if you allow this to continue. There is no real resistance in countries like this, everyone falls in line eventually.
Good, so start with the next best thing, voting for a Democrat who at least respects the constitution. Anything else is unrealistic at this point. You have to make a first step into the right direction before you can even think about realizing your final goals. Real change takes many, you can never just jump to the end of the line.