In recent years, the United States has witnessed a disconcerting drift toward authoritarianism, a development that should deeply unsettle any who cherish democratic ideals. Central to this trend is…

I want to start by saying that this post isn’t meant to bash anyone’s beliefs. I’m genuinely and deeply concerned about the direction our future is headed, and I felt it was important to share my thoughts.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and share this. I also welcome any feedback or criticism—just please, let’s keep it respectful, and ideally, educational and professional.

At the end of the day, we’re all humans sharing this planet, and everyone faces their own struggles and hardships. It’s up to us to shape a future that supports and protects everyone.

  • TheHiddenCatboy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    141·
    8 hours ago

    A couple of points I’d add to this:

    1. Trump is a symptom, not the cause. Put another way, should Trump choke on an overcooked steak tomorrow and die, the threat won’t be ended. The cancer is the entire GQP, not just its leader.

    2. Americans as a whole have a desire for authoritarianism. ‘Make those bad people behave the way I want them to’ is endemic in American culture.

    3. Not only can it happen here, it has, twice, and damn near took our Democracy down with it both times.

    • Nougat@fedia.io
      7·
      8 hours ago

      More than twice. I assume you’re referring to the US Civil War and January 6, 2021.

      • The former colonies after the American Revolution only barely came together under the Articles of Confederation, which themselves were insufficient to hold the nation together.
      • Icky compromises were made in order to form the US Constitution, and those compromises arguably set the long stage for the later Civil War.
      • In the 1940s, there was a push for fascism in the US.
      • McCarthyism in the 1950s and continuing anti-Communist sentiment through the 1960s did a lot of work to silence any opposition
      • In the wake of the 2000 presidential election, there was the Brooks Brothers Riot, that put an end to vote counting in Florida, handing the election to Bush.
      • After 9/11, the PATRIOT Act created a surveillance state that we still labor under.

      I’m sure there are more.

        • Fondots@lemmy.world
          1·
          5 hours ago

          Salem witch trials were almost a century before the revolution, feels like a little bit of a stretch to lump them into other events that have posed a threat to american democracy since it didn’t even exist yet.

          It certainly makes a good point about how certain parts of America have always been primed to go off the deep end since the very beginning, but I think that’s part of a separate but closely related discussion

    • DaddysLittleSlut@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      8 hours ago

      Thank you for pointing that out! Yes, if I’m correct in assuming, Trump serves more as a figurehead, primarily representing ideas gained from the Heritage Foundation. As you mentioned, this reflects the dynamics of the whole party.

      The issue spans both sides, in my experience. While the situation is drastically worse on the Republican side, we must consider that both sides lack true, meaningful political and leadership skills. Leaders today not only need to embrace knowledge of current political ideals but also integrate studies from fields such as psychology, developmental science, and environmental science.

      Furthermore, a leader must possess a level of empathy that is often hard to find. Currently, we tend to vote for candidates who are perceived as the best choices based on their long-standing presence in politics.

      Thank you so much for your insights on this article. It’s crucial to collaborate and raise awareness to build a better future for everyone.