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(Thread) How to take down Trump
Recently, in “Trump’s Parade v. Rule of Law," I argued that current U.S. politics can be seen as a clash between Rule of Law and Charismatic Leader (definitions by Max Weber).
The thread is here: (Read it before this one)
Recently, in “Trump’s Parade v. Rule of Law," I argued that current U.S. politics can be seen as a clash between Rule of Law and Charismatic Leader (definitions by Max Weber).
The thread is here: (Read it before this one)
1/ Following Weber’s model, I suggested that the way to bring down Trump is to undermine the myth he that propelled him to power (and the myth he created.)
This raises the question: How do we do that?
This raises the question: How do we do that?
2/ Mussolini (a quintessential charismatic leader) rose to power by evoking the “myth of Rome,” promising to return Italy to the era of Roman glory.
Italian military losses in the war proved the myth false and caused his down fall.
history.com/this-day-in-hi…
jstor.org/stable/2543405…
Italian military losses in the war proved the myth false and caused his down fall.
history.com/this-day-in-hi…
jstor.org/stable/2543405…
3/ Trump isn't promising victory through military conquest.
He promises to restore America to past "greatness" through force of personality, rule and norm breaking, and destruction of the deep state (bureaucracy created by liberal democracy, see: )
He promises to restore America to past "greatness" through force of personality, rule and norm breaking, and destruction of the deep state (bureaucracy created by liberal democracy, see: )
4/ This comment was funny and true 👇
Modern day fascists (Charismatic leaders) have taken the fight and myth creation to the Internet.
Modern day fascists (Charismatic leaders) have taken the fight and myth creation to the Internet.
5/ Trump’s myth—it seems to me—is this:
The Deep State is an illegitimate government in which “real” Americans have been forgotten. I alone can restore America to greatness. To do so, I will need to bend and break a few rules and norms along the way. I alone can do it.
The Deep State is an illegitimate government in which “real” Americans have been forgotten. I alone can restore America to greatness. To do so, I will need to bend and break a few rules and norms along the way. I alone can do it.
6/ I’ve argued that MAGA means return America to the 1920s, or at least the nation as it was before Brown v. Board of Education (the case that desegregated schools) ushered in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements.
See:
See:
7/ Of course Trump talks like he’s from the 1950s.
To us it sounds phony.
To people pining for the good old days when white men ruled and others knew their places in the hierarchy, he sounds like a prophet.
To us it sounds phony.
To people pining for the good old days when white men ruled and others knew their places in the hierarchy, he sounds like a prophet.
8/ If this is the myth, it seems to me that exposing Trump’s rule breaking will not shatter the myth. Exposing him as a liar will not shatter the myth, because his followers understand that his lies are destructive, and they want him to be destructive.
9/ See my Slate article: slate.com/news-and-polit…
Jailing him will not shatter the myth. If your hero is jailed, you don't abandon your hero. You blame the system. HIs followers will host think his (and their) enemies are powerful and dangerous.
So how do we shatter the myth?
Jailing him will not shatter the myth. If your hero is jailed, you don't abandon your hero. You blame the system. HIs followers will host think his (and their) enemies are powerful and dangerous.
So how do we shatter the myth?
10/ If the myth is “I alone can fix it,” when it’s clear he can’t “fix” it, it seems to me he’ll lose some support.
What else? How about if:
💠Trump is ineffective in stopping the forces of democracy and the rise of diversity . . .
What else? How about if:
💠Trump is ineffective in stopping the forces of democracy and the rise of diversity . . .
11/
💠Trump is unable, through force of personality, to return America to the age of white supremacy and robber barons,
💠his bullying tactics don’t work (imagine the Democratic candidate laughing at him instead of showing alarm or outrage), or. . .
💠Trump is unable, through force of personality, to return America to the age of white supremacy and robber barons,
💠his bullying tactics don’t work (imagine the Democratic candidate laughing at him instead of showing alarm or outrage), or. . .
12/
💠if his followers find themselves an insignificant minority, overwhelmed by the majority who don't mock them but refuse to buy into the myth.
Remember that study that showed Trump lost support when people realized he wasn’t self-made?
politico.com/magazine/story…
💠if his followers find themselves an insignificant minority, overwhelmed by the majority who don't mock them but refuse to buy into the myth.
Remember that study that showed Trump lost support when people realized he wasn’t self-made?
politico.com/magazine/story…
13/ His supporters don’t seem to mind if he got rich by breaking a few rules. They LIKE strongmen and rule breakers.
But they don’t like the idea that he was born into wealth and got it all from Daddy.
It's contrary to the image of himself he created and sold to his fans.
But they don’t like the idea that he was born into wealth and got it all from Daddy.
It's contrary to the image of himself he created and sold to his fans.
14/ There will always be people who prefer the myth. Myth has a lot of appeal.
Rule of Law has its flaws. I had people tell me that if Rule of Law doesn't work perfectly, they'll lose faith and abandon it.
Newsflash: No system is perfect. But every system can be improved.
Rule of Law has its flaws. I had people tell me that if Rule of Law doesn't work perfectly, they'll lose faith and abandon it.
Newsflash: No system is perfect. But every system can be improved.
15/ Trump will not be the last person in the U.S. to figure out how to rise to power by evoking myth.
It’s a continuing fight for each generation.
Dear current generation: You've been handed your challenge.
End/
It’s a continuing fight for each generation.
Dear current generation: You've been handed your challenge.
End/
*Tweet #9: "Hos" should be "just"
Autocorrect hates me.
Autocorrect hates me.
I always thought that showing that he's broke and propped up by Russian money would pierce the myth.
Propped up by Russian Money is similar to Spoiled by Daddy.
Propped up by Russian Money is similar to Spoiled by Daddy.
Perhaps my views are perverse.
For 15 years I had a private criminal appellate practice.
All my clients were indigent. I've never represented anyone who could afford to pay.
I've given a great deal of thought to crime, punishment and justice . . .
. . . I believe America over incarcerates. Did you know we have the world's highest incarceration rate?
People who want to see the law "enforced" are generally hoping to see punishment meted out.
I've spent years working in criminal justice. . .
People who want to see the law "enforced" are generally hoping to see punishment meted out.
I've spent years working in criminal justice. . .
. . . and I am skeptical about the efficacy of punishment.
For a few reasons, see:
When I was in law school, it was the liberals who were opposed to prisons and incarceration. I'm having a hard time getting used to liberals saying "Lock them all up."
For a few reasons, see:
When I was in law school, it was the liberals who were opposed to prisons and incarceration. I'm having a hard time getting used to liberals saying "Lock them all up."
Rule of Law as a system of authority ideally relies on a social contract. We know this isn't really true because lots of people reject the social contract.
iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/
The problem of what to do with the people who reject Rule of Law is not easily solved.
iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/
The problem of what to do with the people who reject Rule of Law is not easily solved.
Maybe we should stop imprisoning poor people and working class people?
That said, I'm glad Manafort is in jail. I am not opposed to ALL punishment. 😉
I don't like calling for punishment before there's been a trial. You know. Due process.
That said, I'm glad Manafort is in jail. I am not opposed to ALL punishment. 😉
I don't like calling for punishment before there's been a trial. You know. Due process.
All my threads are also blog posts. You can read this one here:
terikanefield-blog.com/how-to-take-do…
terikanefield-blog.com/how-to-take-do…
