I can no longer tell the difference between the US Republicans and a doomsday cult.
Evangelicals have been talking about the ‘End Times’ since the 1980s.
I can’t remember the TV preacher’s name, but I’d see him on the TV talking about the Book Of Revelation every week, and every week he told us that Russia was the Kingdom of the North the Bible spoke of. Then The Berlin Wall came down and suddenly it was Iran who was the Kingdom of the North.
Yes, these tricks are old and familiar. Nevertheless, US (right wing) politics seems to be adopting a lot of the workings of cults these days. I’m just surprised that US civil society is allowing this to happen. I’m from Germany and here, too, there are openly fascist parties that are gaining strength again and using the same ol’ strategies. But we don’t just put up with it, we take to the streets. Why are there no massive protests in the USA against Trump, against his fascist ideas and the fact that he is still at large after an anti-democratic coup attempt and countless criminal activities? He is even a presidential candidate. You can’t be serious.
Why are there no massive protests in the USA against Trump, against his fascist ideas and the fact that he is still at large after an anti-democratic coup attempt and countless criminal activities?
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A full third of our country want his coup to succeed. Another third just doesn’t care.
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We have plenty of food and cheap entertainment. Life is too good for most Americans to want to protest, and for the rest they either belong in the previously mentioned group above, or they’re working too much just trying to survive that they can’t protest (which is by design, obviously).
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We have guns and we have right-wing militarized police forces.
That’s clear. But it doesn’t help much, does it? I don’t think you have to be a prophet of doom to foresee that another Trump presidency would very likely have catastrophic consequences for America and subsequently for the whole “democratic world”. I just think that you obviously can’t rely on your institutions. I’m just an observer without much interest in US politics. But even I can see from the news about your constitutional court, for example, that a lot of things are seriously wrong here. Nevertheless, I don’t have the impression that US civil society has too many objections. That surprises me, given that so much is at stake. Maybe I’m not well informed, but that’s how it seems to me anyway. I just think that the time for cynicism is over and it’s high time to actually do something about all this.
I don’t have the impression that US civil society has too many objections.
A lot of us do have major objections! I could talk about what we should or shouldn’t do but I have a far more crucial point to make.
I hope that people like you around the world will spend the time to thoroughly understand the complex story of how the US got to this point. Or you will be here sooner than you realize.
Though our culture has been inundated with cautionary tales about fascism and authoritarianism since WWII ended, those stories all occur in the end game, right before the baddies win. When it is almost certainly too late.
You see, the best time to do something about all this was thousands of times over the last half century that the Republicans have been plotting and subverting little by little. They’ve been slowly and methodically preparing the way for total control this whole time.
They eroded and twisted education, formed propaganda outlets (Fox “News”, Rush Limbaugh), decimated corporate regulations, legalized political corruption, appointed judge after judge, gerrymandered their way to power, cut taxes for the rich, kneecapped anti-trust, allied with right wing religion, and so on. They have think-tanks and foundations to strategize and prepare right wing leaders, like Kavanaugh, and draft plans like Project 2025.
And pro-corporate Democrats probably helped this glacial takeover through action and inaction as much or more than they actively hindered it, because what’s good for corporations tends to be terrible for democracy.
So beware the plodding, insidious, small, multitudinous power grabs and fight every one of them tooth and nail, if you don’t want to see right wing extremism rise to power again in your own country.
As I said, I’m from Germany. In this country, unfortunately, we know from painful experience how fascists take power. Please be smarter than the Germans in 1933 - the circumstances are shockingly similar to those back then; not only in America. The Nazis were able to seize power in the Weimar Republic because the economy, conservatives and other opportunists played along with their game. Perhaps they thought they would be able to put a stop to them later if things got too bad. This plan did not work out and millions fell victim to an inhuman idology. I simply mean, take the opportunity to defend what is left of your democracy - if necessary, even together with those who are seemingly in the wrong camp. It is perhaps the last chance before you are no longer allowed to express your opinion freely.
I wished more of my fellow citizens recognized what Trump was in 2015 when I did. And recognized the parallels with history.
Even though it was obvious to some of us in 2015, even now, some young voters don’t seem to get how precarious the political situation is.
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a dubious timeline at best
Much longer than the 1980s, or even the 1880s. It just became prevalent again relatively recently because the post-war boom made “The world is ending!” sound absolutely ridiculous, until austerity kicked in.
Organized religion is such an effective political tool and con.
I wonder if it was ol’ psycho-eyes Copeland. He did some fire and brimstone as I recall. Maybe Pat Robertson. He was big stuff back then.
Same picture.
The difference is one is capable of self fulfilling prophecy.
I think Shrub called it “some weird shit” seven years ago this past January 20th. But, really what he’s doing is working with US cynicism to deride the country which only he can save.
And the dems messaging is the exact same, “Biden is the only person who can beat trump and save America!”
Dems are not trashing America to do it. Or telling flat out lies. Who is the only politician to beat Trump?
I think trump being so popular is a symptom of your sick country.
Well, yes, but I don’t think most people want Biden to be president. Most people are voting for Biden because our election system is shit and he’s the only one likely to beat Trump. If we had ranked choice voting or approval voting (whatever it is called when you choose every candidate you support), we could vote how we want and get someone else we actually liked. Biden ain’t great, he’s just not a dictator wannabe. I don’t know of anyone voting for Biden because that’s who they want. I think a lot of us have the sense that Biden is only running because Trump needs to lose to potentially save us from a dictatorship.
If we did ranked choice we would probably end up with Biden as the milquetoast compromise candidate between Trump and someone who is actually progressive.
So basically the exact same results we have now but with significantly better odds of it improving the impact of our votes?
Sounds like too much effort better not try anything
We should have ranked choice voting, I just don’t expect different results.
Good luck with all that.
If the US goes full fascist, the world will feel it. So you’ll need the luck as well.
Absolutely.
Don’t forget to take your (butsoisbiden™) every day!
You need medication to be able to understand comparison?
Just those with ludicrous false equivalency that require either mental instability or drugs to seem viable.
Biden shit the bed voluntarily over the Gaza situation. That’s on him. But had it not been for that. He’s been far better than everyone gives him credit for or that people thought he would be.
I can absolutely understand people not being excited for him. No one was excited for him in 2020 either. But he has and can beat Trump. If we don’t let a lot of nihilists without skin in the game have their way. Sadly, not having him again means that we probably won’t have actual elections again. And there’s a lot to look forward to in possible upcoming elections. If we have elections in 2028 I hope to see perhaps ocasio-cortez and a number of others ready to run. But we only get there if we still have elections which we likely won’t it with Republicans. And a bunch of four nihilists working hard to demotivate the actual people involved.
I think if my country was aiding in a genocide I’d be more upset than angrily voting for more. But I guess I’m not in that boat so I don’t know.
No, you know. You are just being purposefully obtuse and disingenuous. Which is worse.
How do I know? Let’s start with your initial claim. That somehow Biden or Democratic party had said or implied that only he could defeat Trump. Something that neither of them have ever said. It is a false claim and a false implication. And you know it’s false. Though if you can prove otherwise. Go ahead and Link where Biden claim such. Or where the leadership in the DNC said anything resembling that. You can’t but I do invite you to try.
Now let’s address your next absurd assertion. When it comes to the primaries, people are free to vote their conscience. That’s fine. But we don’t need to make up bullshit about Biden or the Democrats. There’s plenty of factual things to criticize them on.
When it comes to the general election. Statistically speaking. The only ones with a chance of winning are Trump and Biden. Even if a significant portion of us virtue signaled in the general election and didn’t vote for either one. The best outcome we could hope for is that Biden would still get elected. That we were simply superfluous to the process. But there is also a very significant chance that we could have been impactful. And that fascism will be the reward for our virtue signaling. Sometimes there are no good choices or reality. And you simply have to behave like an adult and make hard decisions. There is no “better” to realistically vote for, that will be better than them in the end.
Let me be perfectly clear. Despite Biden being a mush brained liberal. Mush brained because he’s a liberal, not because of his age. Taking far too long, doing still too little to course correct his mistakes. He does still do that, because he’s a generally reasonable person. Trump yesterday basically called for the extermination of Palestinians by Israel. They aren’t even remotely close. No matter how much disdain I have always had for liberals and Biden specifically. He’s someone who is at least sincere and can eventually do better. It isn’t sexy or exciting. But it is better than the alternative. And that’s just facts.
Trump yesterday basically called for the extermination of Palestinians by Israel. They aren’t even remotely close.
This is the part I can’t wrap my brain around with the bloc saying they can’t vote for Biden due to his handling of Israel/Palestine. If that is their single-issue to base their vote on, it’s clear which one of the only two candidates who will win the presidency is better for the Palestinians, and not voting for the better of the two is just enabling the success of the worst of them.
Biden or Democratic party had said or implied that only he could defeat Trump. Something that neither of them have ever said.
Sorry you’re right, I misspoke, this is what I was thinking of:
Yeah man the lesser of two evils is still extremely evil though and falling over itself to supply a country with weapons to engage in a genocide.
You need to employ whataboutism in a weak attempt to feel relevant in a conversation about an awful person?
Trump is awful. Do you want a cookie every time you hear it? Biden is the current president, do you not think it’s a relevant topic?
How is it relevant here?
Are you a person that says "Breaking a bone hurts too!” if someone complains about a sprained ankle?
…asking me if I want a cookie. Smh, dude. You’re the one in a post about Trump whatabouting someone else.
It sounds like you guys just want a trump is bad circle jerk and don’t want to discuss how the current administration is engaging in similar tactics.
Do you understand how the elections work here in the USA?
The election is only a few months away. Organizing a campaign now would require billions of dollars and a full time staff of thousands.
Bernie Sanders and his people had four years to organize and they got less than 10 million votes in the primaries.
The ‘most popular’ 3rd choice is Kennedy, and he’s polling around 0.9%
Oh I’m well aware of how it works. I think we’re watching the fall of Rome in real time. If these two octagenarians are the best America has to offer, your country is doomed.
Just because people are old doesn’t mean they are incapable.
Try not to be ageist.
It’s not ageism when someone says that two people clearly showing cognitive decline who are well past the age for retirement shouldn’t hold the highest office in the nation.
In the waning days of the Soviet Union, American propaganda made a point of mocking their “gerontocracy” for being so utterly detached from the needs and wills of the common citizen. We’re seeing the same thing happen in the USA today.
Neither candidate is fit to lead and it’s an utter embarrassment that these are who we are supposed to choose between to lead the nation.
LOL. Why is there an age minimum to be president?
If Biden is the only person, then they’re absolutely screwed.
Not even Biden is saying that he’s the only person who beat Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/us/politics/biden-trump-democrats-election.html https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4345547-biden-says-hes-not-the-only-democrat-who-could-beat-trump-but-will-defeat-him/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/us/politics/biden-trump-democrats-election.html https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-06/biden-says-he-s-not-the-only-democrat-who-could-beat-trump
There are other candidates on the Democratic primary ballots and the majority of primary voters are choosing Biden.
Lol. This guy getting downvoted proves his point
Check this one out lmao:
Abba’s Dancing Queen, Elton John’s Rocket Man, Queen’s We Are the Champions
New rule: Republicans are only allowed to play Wagner, Stadium Country and 1940s polka.
Can’t have the music of people with deep roots in LGBTQ+ culture until they stop vilifying everyone who’s not a far right cishet white Christian.
TL;DR: I got really angry writing this. Anyone not in the US: please send help.
I get the mixed messaging this sends, but it actually fits in with their whole social philosophy.
This mob is all about hierarchy. A deep, entrenched, white rich guys at the top, caste system complete with a robust underclass with a palatable amount of slavery thrown in.
In this scheme, “Undesirables” are allowed to have their place as long as they maintain a low station in society. Black musicians, gay comedians, non-binary authors, all great as long as they don’t disrupt the status quo, sway the masses, attempt to run anything, or otherwise fail at being a good punching bag. The key takeaway here is that everyone has a predestined station in this disgusting hierarchy they’ve dreamed up, and everything is fair game for those on top.
There’s also a subtext of “thinking is for those in charge”, so reading into things when consuming media is just not how this works.
So within this framework, co-opting music written by people of a lower station is fine, including re-contextualizing the message to line up with the performance and not the author. And like the people that produce such media, the media itself is disposable and will be replaced when it is convenient since this group also doesn’t value personal integrity or consistency over time.
Evangelicals are all for the apocalypse but isn’t the anti-Christ the one who ushers it in?
And Trump is the antichrist. They know what horse they’re backing, and they’d all go to hell with their false prophet if any of those fairytales were reality… But, in reality, we’re greedy, selfish, talking chimps who are parasitically destroying our host, while killing each other over dumb shit.
It wasn’t that surprising. The right wing base supports him so much.
