(Thread) It's never too late
Exactly right⤵️
The question is how much pain must be suffered along the way—until people come together to do what needs to be done.
What's needs to be done, you ask?
Looking at how countries fought off authoritarianism offers lessons.
Exactly right⤵️
The question is how much pain must be suffered along the way—until people come together to do what needs to be done.
What's needs to be done, you ask?
Looking at how countries fought off authoritarianism offers lessons.
1/ Ziblatt and Levitsky point out that Trump could have (and should have) been stopped in 2016 if key GOP leaders had refused to endorse him and instead backed Clinton.
“There is a precedent for such behavior.” See⤵️
Now we know: GOP leadership has no spine and no principles.
“There is a precedent for such behavior.” See⤵️
Now we know: GOP leadership has no spine and no principles.
2/ All that matters to almost all GOP elected officials keeping power.
Please don’t underestimate the value of @walshfreedom saying he’d endorse the democratic nominee—whoever that is—and @BillKristol saying this ⤵️
Please don’t underestimate the value of @walshfreedom saying he’d endorse the democratic nominee—whoever that is—and @BillKristol saying this ⤵️
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 3/ If enough GOP elected leaders had the integrity to do the same, we'd be out of this mess now.
(But I say "no" when former GOP operators tell Democrats to fight like Republicans. Fighting fire with fire burns the place down. Listen to Prof. Levitsky:
)
(But I say "no" when former GOP operators tell Democrats to fight like Republicans. Fighting fire with fire burns the place down. Listen to Prof. Levitsky:
)
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 4/ As we saw in the impeachment trial, GOP elected leaders are afraid of Trump and will do anything to stay in power.
The only thing that will change them is if they see a blue wave coming and want to save their own hides.
The only thing that will change them is if they see a blue wave coming and want to save their own hides.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 5/ One way they can see that is through massive voter registration drives.
Those stats are available. Elected officials know how to read those numbers.
See my list for ways to get started: terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
Those stats are available. Elected officials know how to read those numbers.
See my list for ways to get started: terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 6/ It took the Chileans too long to learn that defeating a dictator requires putting aside partisan differences.
Pinochet came to power the 20th century way, through a military coup. Info from⤵️. My husband experienced the Pinochet dictatorship, so I have firsthand accounts too.
Pinochet came to power the 20th century way, through a military coup. Info from⤵️. My husband experienced the Pinochet dictatorship, so I have firsthand accounts too.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 7/ Pinochet’s coup was made possible partly because of a complete breakdown in trust between Chile’s major political parties. (Yeah, I know about the US involvement)
Chile was bitterly divided and the parties hated each other.
Chile was bitterly divided and the parties hated each other.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 8/ Even after Pinochet installed himself as a dictator, the “distrust persisted, eclipsing their shared revulsion toward Pinochet’s dictatorship.”
Political leaders from opposing parties couldn’t even bear to speak to each others.
Political leaders from opposing parties couldn’t even bear to speak to each others.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 9/ After 5 years of an oppressive dictator, the opposing parties started talking.
Eventually they rebuilt trust.
By 1985, the anti-Pinochet forces came together and signed a National Accord for a Transition to a Full Democracy.
Eventually they rebuilt trust.
By 1985, the anti-Pinochet forces came together and signed a National Accord for a Transition to a Full Democracy.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 10/ These talks staved off “potentially destabilizing conflicts.” (Source ⤵️)
Staring into the abyss of a brutal dictatorship taught the Chileans a lesson.
We need to learn from their experiences.
Staring into the abyss of a brutal dictatorship taught the Chileans a lesson.
We need to learn from their experiences.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 11/ Fearful that another Pinochet would arise, the elected leaders developed a practice of informal cooperation that they called, “democracy of agreements.”
Thus, when enough of Pinochet’s critics figured out how to negotiate with each other, Chileans were able oust Pinochet.
Thus, when enough of Pinochet’s critics figured out how to negotiate with each other, Chileans were able oust Pinochet.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 12/ Remember: Pinochet never lost all of his support, but a large enough majority came together against him.
Extremists will always be with us. A long term problem is figuring out better ways of dealing with those who are inclined toward authoritarianism.
Extremists will always be with us. A long term problem is figuring out better ways of dealing with those who are inclined toward authoritarianism.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol 13/ If this sounds hard, the Profs. Ziblatt and Levitsky remind us that democracy is difficult, grinding work requiring compromise.
It also means everyone has to get involved.
Which brings me to another opportunity to tweet this song by @YelloPain
It also means everyone has to get involved.
Which brings me to another opportunity to tweet this song by @YelloPain
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 14/ I'm not sure what to do with comments like this⤵️
If anyone here thinks that we we'll turn a corner reach a Rose Garden of Perfect Democracy and never have any more problems, well, wake up to reality.
Chile had a long period of model democracy. . .
If anyone here thinks that we we'll turn a corner reach a Rose Garden of Perfect Democracy and never have any more problems, well, wake up to reality.
Chile had a long period of model democracy. . .
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 15/ . . . Each generation has to fight the same battles against the same enemies.
It's never over.
Unless enough people say, "Democracy is too much work. Autocracy is easier." Then it's over.
It's never over.
Unless enough people say, "Democracy is too much work. Autocracy is easier." Then it's over.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 16/ This is right.
21st century fascism differs in marked ways from the 20th century (even though there is a lot of overlap.)
Snyder explains this, too. Hitler and Mussolini were interested in power. They were not also looking for personal wealth. . .
21st century fascism differs in marked ways from the 20th century (even though there is a lot of overlap.)
Snyder explains this, too. Hitler and Mussolini were interested in power. They were not also looking for personal wealth. . .
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 17/ Hitler actually made life better for ordinary (ethnic) Germans by (for example) letting them have the spoils from the victims. Mussolini wore plain workman's clothing.
21st century fascists want both wealth and power. This makes "governing" trickier. . .
21st century fascists want both wealth and power. This makes "governing" trickier. . .
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 18/ . . . because they actually hurt their own supporters. See Trump's health plan. He also lies about it.
It appears the long range plan is either:
🔹Trump's lies mask what he's doing until it's too late for his supporters to catch on, or
🔹there is no long range plan.
It appears the long range plan is either:
🔹Trump's lies mask what he's doing until it's too late for his supporters to catch on, or
🔹there is no long range plan.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 19/ Once we defeat this wave of fascism (and we will) democracy still won't be safe because the next generation will bring its own form of evil.
This is our second wave of fascism. Hopefully we learn better next time how to anticipate it rising again.
This is our second wave of fascism. Hopefully we learn better next time how to anticipate it rising again.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 20/ Paxton makes an interesting observation ⤵️
He says fascism is a popular uprising and thus can only arise in a democracy with widespread voting—which is why it didn’t appear until the 20th century.
That means it's new. We're on a steep learning curve.
He says fascism is a popular uprising and thus can only arise in a democracy with widespread voting—which is why it didn’t appear until the 20th century.
That means it's new. We're on a steep learning curve.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 21/ It also means democracy is in continual danger of a fascist uprising.
Haidt and Stenner, in “Authoritarianism Is Not a Momentary Madness, But an Eternal Dynamic Within Liberal Democracies,” (in ⤵️) argue that some people will never live comfortably in a liberal democracy.
Haidt and Stenner, in “Authoritarianism Is Not a Momentary Madness, But an Eternal Dynamic Within Liberal Democracies,” (in ⤵️) argue that some people will never live comfortably in a liberal democracy.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 22/ As liberal democracy expands and grows more inclusive, those inclined to authoritarianism (political psychologists say that's about 1/3 of the population, across cultures) will have a tendency to push back.
Notice I said "tendency." There are steps we can take . . .
Notice I said "tendency." There are steps we can take . . .
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain 23/ But before we get to that and start figuring out a better way to deal with the authoritarians in our midsts, we have to get past this crisis, which means turning out to vote in large numbers in November.
@WalshFreedom @BillKristol @YelloPain I was a little delayed in putting this thread onto my blog. It's here: terikanefield-blog.com/its-never-too-…
