Yes, because Republican policies are unpopular. If the discussion is fact or policy based Republicans
will lose, so they need to keep everyone riled up.
will lose, so they need to keep everyone riled up.
https://twitter.com/mysticrose29/status/1414931008894423042
The right-wing is only part of the reason you're exhausted.
Stick with me here.
The right-wing has to create an endless cycle of crises because they have no other way to 'govern.' They have to keep their supporters scared and you outraged . . .
Stick with me here.
The right-wing has to create an endless cycle of crises because they have no other way to 'govern.' They have to keep their supporters scared and you outraged . . .
https://twitter.com/sueellendarling/status/1414950613784449033
. . . which creates a feedback loop of sorts. When the left is outraged, the right gets stoked.
The other problem is social media algorithsm.
If I tweet: "Democracy is hanging by a thread! We don't have much time! This is a crisis!" I will get lots of clicks.
The other problem is social media algorithsm.
If I tweet: "Democracy is hanging by a thread! We don't have much time! This is a crisis!" I will get lots of clicks.
I have been thinking about how to answer this question ⤵️
These things are true:
🔹Yes, we're at a crucial time. Later historians will look back on this moment as crucial.
🔹Panic doesn't help. Panic never helps.
🔹There is a tendency on Twitter to panic.
These things are true:
🔹Yes, we're at a crucial time. Later historians will look back on this moment as crucial.
🔹Panic doesn't help. Panic never helps.
🔹There is a tendency on Twitter to panic.
https://twitter.com/nanceecisme/status/1413862554401746946
Exhaustion doesn't help.
If everyone is frazzled, we can't stay focused and do the work we need to do.
I suggest that the question: "Is it too late to save democracy?" makes no sense. It miscasts the problem and ignores history.
It also comes from panic and exhaustion.
If everyone is frazzled, we can't stay focused and do the work we need to do.
I suggest that the question: "Is it too late to save democracy?" makes no sense. It miscasts the problem and ignores history.
It also comes from panic and exhaustion.
The first problem with, "Is it too late to save democracy," is that democracy is fluid.
Chile had a high-functioning democracy. Then they had a dictator. They got rid of the dictator using democratic means. Then they had a somewhat high-functioning democracy.
Chile had a high-functioning democracy. Then they had a dictator. They got rid of the dictator using democratic means. Then they had a somewhat high-functioning democracy.
"Is it too late to save democracy" is the wrong question. The correct question is: "Is it possible for the United States to achieve a functioning multi-racial democracy."
Because we've never actually had one. We've come close in the last 50 years, but the pushback was intense.
Because we've never actually had one. We've come close in the last 50 years, but the pushback was intense.
There is a theory that sort of goes like this: "Over the past 50 years, the corrupt Republicans started trying to create a plutocracy."
It isn't false, but it ignores the rest of our history, which provides context and perspective.
It isn't false, but it ignores the rest of our history, which provides context and perspective.
That statement gives a sense that we had a lovely democracy and the Republicans are trying to undermine it.
In fact, for the past 50 years, we've been trying to create— for the first time in America— a multi-racial democracy, and Republicans are trying to prevent it.
In fact, for the past 50 years, we've been trying to create— for the first time in America— a multi-racial democracy, and Republicans are trying to prevent it.
One of the many themes in @HC_Richardson's books is that American history has been a struggle between the forces trying to create an oligarchy and the forces trying to create a functioning democracy.
The struggle is not new.
People act as if we've never had an oligarchy here.
The struggle is not new.
People act as if we've never had an oligarchy here.
We had our first oligarchy before the Civil War.
Did you know (this is from ⤵️ )that 1% of the population, Southern slaveowners, controlled all three branches of government?
We had our next oligarchy during the age of robber barons . . .
Did you know (this is from ⤵️ )that 1% of the population, Southern slaveowners, controlled all three branches of government?
We had our next oligarchy during the age of robber barons . . .
I have had people tell me, "Things have never been as bad as they are now."
Me: Let me tell you about the 1920s.
Segregation was legal. There was no social security, minimum wage, or worker protections. People couldn't get out of the poverty cycle.
Me: Let me tell you about the 1920s.
Segregation was legal. There was no social security, minimum wage, or worker protections. People couldn't get out of the poverty cycle.
We got out of our second oligarchy (power entirely concentrated in the hands of very few white men) with the New Deal, votes for women, and then the civil rights movement.
We've only had 2 liberal Supreme Courts, was during the 1950s and 1960s. We made lots of progress.
We've only had 2 liberal Supreme Courts, was during the 1950s and 1960s. We made lots of progress.
We're still riding the backlash.
Most of the laws Republicans are breaking weren't in place before the 1920s.
There were no laws against fixing prices, manipulating markets, or preventing blacks from voting. What they're trying to do now used to be legal.
Most of the laws Republicans are breaking weren't in place before the 1920s.
There were no laws against fixing prices, manipulating markets, or preventing blacks from voting. What they're trying to do now used to be legal.
When you see our current moment as slipping into our third oligarchy (the slide was slowed when Biden entered the White House) you can see that "is it too late" doesn't make sense.
The farther we slip into an oligarchy, the harder it is to get out. But we've gotten out before.
The farther we slip into an oligarchy, the harder it is to get out. But we've gotten out before.
Also, a theme from @HC_Richardson's books is that democracy is always in danger of slipping toward oligarchy.
This is because when people accumulate wealth they tend to use their wealth to consolidate power to benefit themselves.
*not all do this, but enough.
This is because when people accumulate wealth they tend to use their wealth to consolidate power to benefit themselves.
*not all do this, but enough.
Slaveowners used their wealth to consolidate their own power and create laws to solidify their position at the top of the hierarchy. Robber barons and business tycoons 120 years ago did the same.
It's happening again.
It's happening again.
Panic comes feeling helpless. "Is it too late," comes from panic.
This brings me back to where I started: Social media, which focuses on headlines and not substance, and is click-driven (and people want to be popular) is a panic-creating machine.
This brings me back to where I started: Social media, which focuses on headlines and not substance, and is click-driven (and people want to be popular) is a panic-creating machine.
https://twitter.com/RosalieStanton/status/1414970887741263874
Yes, the methods of disseminating lies are new and improved, but this has always been a problem. Lies traveled slower back then, but so did information.
Past oligarchies were also based on lies about how some people were more deserving or superior to others.
Past oligarchies were also based on lies about how some people were more deserving or superior to others.
Ha! I never answered the question.
The question: "Can the U.S. create and maintain a multi-racial democracy?"
The answer: "It depends."
The future isn't predetermined. It takes its shape based (mostly) on what people do now.
(I make no absolute predictions about the future.)
The question: "Can the U.S. create and maintain a multi-racial democracy?"
The answer: "It depends."
The future isn't predetermined. It takes its shape based (mostly) on what people do now.
(I make no absolute predictions about the future.)
I said panic comes from helplessness.
When you understand that the future takes its shape based on what happens now, you don't feel so helpless.
From Timothy Snyder: History gives perspective and teaches us possibilities.
When you understand that the future takes its shape based on what happens now, you don't feel so helpless.
From Timothy Snyder: History gives perspective and teaches us possibilities.
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