Yes, the Republican Party is radicalized and will stop at nothing to get power.
I am suggesting that this is not new, and that trying to
achieve a true liberal democracy is a constant battle.
The problem is one of expectations.
1/
I am suggesting that this is not new, and that trying to
achieve a true liberal democracy is a constant battle.
The problem is one of expectations.
1/
People who have been following me for a while will find this threat repetitious, but I have new followers, so here goes.
One way to see the current Republican Party is that they want to return to the 1920s (or earlier!)
But let's take the 1920s.
2/
One way to see the current Republican Party is that they want to return to the 1920s (or earlier!)
But let's take the 1920s.
2/
White men ruled all of our institutions: Universities, governor's mansions, both political parties, labor unions, Congress, the press, etc.
There were no laws against fixing prices, or manipulating markets, or insider trading.
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There were no laws against fixing prices, or manipulating markets, or insider trading.
3/
There were no laws against sexual harassment, and rape laws were designed to protect [White] men from false accusations. Women were expected to "guard the goods" and were blamed if they got into a situation in which they could be raped.
4/
4/
White men could basically grab anything they wanted.
Many of the crimes those in Trump's circle are accused of were not against the law earlier in our history.
The reactionary view is that America was once pure and good and now has become corrupted and defiled.
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Many of the crimes those in Trump's circle are accused of were not against the law earlier in our history.
The reactionary view is that America was once pure and good and now has become corrupted and defiled.
5/
The progressive view of history goes like this:
We started out with some pretty good ideas, but a lot of people were left out.
Initially "we the people" meant White educated mostly land-owning men.
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We started out with some pretty good ideas, but a lot of people were left out.
Initially "we the people" meant White educated mostly land-owning men.
6/
The progressive view is that as we've included more people, the country has come close to its founding ideals.
For progressives, the graph looks like this:
Reactionaries see it pointing down.
7/
For progressives, the graph looks like this:
Reactionaries see it pointing down.
7/
We didn't begin to have a true liberal democracy, by which I mean ⤵️until after 1954, the year the Supreme Court declared racial segregation illegal.
Since the 1950s and 1960s, we've been rapidly expanding who is included in "we the people."
The backlash has been fierce.
8/
Since the 1950s and 1960s, we've been rapidly expanding who is included in "we the people."
The backlash has been fierce.
8/
In fact, the graph is not a smooth upward slope. It looks like this ⤵️
Progressives push forward, reactionaries push back.
For example, civil rights moved forward after the Civil War (in reconstruction) then was pushed back at the end of the 19th century.
9/
Progressives push forward, reactionaries push back.
For example, civil rights moved forward after the Civil War (in reconstruction) then was pushed back at the end of the 19th century.
9/
I said the problem is one of expectations.
People who came of age after the modern civil rights movement inherited (for the first time in our history) an expanding liberal democracy.
Sometimes people who inherit something think they are entitled to it.
10/
People who came of age after the modern civil rights movement inherited (for the first time in our history) an expanding liberal democracy.
Sometimes people who inherit something think they are entitled to it.
10/
I think part of the problem is how the civil rights movement was taught in school. It was taught as if the battle was won.
Thurgood Marshall, MLK, Jr. Susan B. Anthony and lots of others did the work. Now the work is done.
We have a liberal democracy. It's ours.
11/
Thurgood Marshall, MLK, Jr. Susan B. Anthony and lots of others did the work. Now the work is done.
We have a liberal democracy. It's ours.
11/
People thought the slope would continue moving upward.
They thought they were in a boat and they didn't have to paddle.
The current of what was right would continue upward.
Here's the problem . . .
12/
They thought they were in a boat and they didn't have to paddle.
The current of what was right would continue upward.
Here's the problem . . .
12/
The forces that created the confederacy never went away. They were shamed and went underground. But they've been pushing back, harder and harder.
Here I talked about shock is "pre-helpless" ⤵️
Suddenly the arrow started moving backward.
13/
Here I talked about shock is "pre-helpless" ⤵️
Suddenly the arrow started moving backward.
13/
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1464441244180901888
And people are shocked.
When the drafters of the Constitution set up our government, they never thought maintaining a representative government would be easy.
They knew tyrants would arise.
Every generation has to fight the same battle.
14/
When the drafters of the Constitution set up our government, they never thought maintaining a representative government would be easy.
They knew tyrants would arise.
Every generation has to fight the same battle.
14/
The New Deal got us out of what @HC_Richardson calls our second oligarchy (robber barons). The Courts got us out of segregation.
If there's a pattern it's this: The reactionaries push us backward, but never all the way.
There's overall forward motion, but with backslides.
15/
If there's a pattern it's this: The reactionaries push us backward, but never all the way.
There's overall forward motion, but with backslides.
15/
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