Thread by @AdamWagner1

I try and avoid using words like "disgrace" and "outrageous" on Twitter. It's one of my rules!

But @thetimes running this opinion piece by @ClareFoges which literally - LITERALLY! - makes the argument for anti-human rights strongmen is a disgrace thetimes.co.uk/edition/commen…

It's a disgrace as The Times know that as the establishment paper and still respected, it running this kind of article will inevitably expand the Overton Window for what is acceptable in public debate. And we need supposed liberals to be defending liberal democracy right now

The word "yet" in this paragraph is doing a huge amount of work. Awful.

I'm not against articles which try to explain the attraction of strongmen -decisiveness etc. But this isn't that. It's an article which pays lip service to the fact that strongmen like Putin and Erdogan build massive airports and sporting events (see also Berlin Olympics 1936)...

... *because* they eliminate debate, opposition and the rights of individuals. That's a massive "yet" - it's the "yet" which is the reason for democracy, the separation of powers / rule of law (prevents majorities squashing minorities) and regular changing of governments

I can't believe I'm making this argument about a Times article but the whole reason we in liberal democracies decided we didn't want strongmen in change was that we privilege the rights of the individual and of the powerless over quickly building massive airports

And actually liberal democracies can run brilliant sporting events, build massive airports (without the cronyism which inevitably flows from strongmen regimes) - please give me slow and methodical decision-making rather than some big prejudiced ego monster

In short:

History indisputably shows us that strongmen build amazing airports and concentration camps