The interesting thing is how easily a democracy can be abused. In some ways, though in a more limited manner, it reminds us of Germany in 1933 or 1930s. Now the orange mafia in charge is, of course, not 1:1 comparable; ICE kills citizens willy-nilly style but they are not as systematic in their overthrow of the US democracy as the N people were in the 1930s. But many elements are very much comparable, such as the orange mafia trying to stifle critical journalism. That's a transition to a more authoritarian system.

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halJordan 4 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

It much more like (imho) the period of time around the Gracchi brothers in the Roman Republic. Lots of corruption, where the corruption is "tolerable" by the masses and elites. One or two people pushing the corruption as far as possible and being reprimanded but not punished. The masses groaning but not buckling. It tracks even the politics of the time. Trump is a populist in his political platform. His supporters do believe he is draining the swamp. The same way the Gracchi brothers rode on a tide of populism while not being populists.

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RobRivera an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

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	▲	FrustratedMonky 36 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Of course, have to be careful. You might get targeted. People posting online are being targeted by official gov agencies now. Freedom of speech is kind of gone now.
	▲	SpicyLemonZest an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		The US Gestapo publicly broke a man’s legs yesterday. I understand why it might be comforting to have more nuance, but there really isn’t any to be found.
	▲	hirako2000 36 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		The Nazi state started by funding a certain police, granting it quasi immunity on the pretext of protecting the nation. It may not turn into totalitarian, but if walks like a duck, sound like a duck, it's wise to wonder as it may very well be some poultry.