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Could American populism turn into authoritarian rule

A few months ago, a poll showed that most Republicans though it was a good idea to delay the next presidential election until the electoral rolls were cleaned up and the "millions of fake voters" were purged.  A recent study by Oxford professor equate a substantial level of support by Republican state ("Red States") for autocratic rule -- in a sense, it's an extension of the vision of an orderly society (very homogenous that is often found in the Republican states -- either because most resident are white or via social and economic segregation  -- what percentage of white Texans live in gated community?).

Listening to Trump's "fight" with the NFL -- where the whole flag thing is a 2009 tradition -- and a tradition adopted by the NFL only once they got paid by the US government (seriously, the US government paid the NFL so that players would stand at attention during the signing of the national anthem).  Joking aside -- its only a tradition when its lasted more than a decade -- we're not even close.

However, that's not the point -- the reality is that Trump is fighting a war that he's winning; he's winning because the other side (whoever they may be) are engaging him.  What a cultural warrior wants is reaction:  In the 1960s,Abbie Hoffman didn't need to win, he just needed for the establishment to start asking question and doubting itself!  That was the win.  However, there is a cost from the Today Show that asked a super fan of Will & Grace (an American TV show about two gay guys) if his love for the show had made him gay -- no joking its ok on America's prime time TV (not cable) to say/think that being gay is socially driven -- and therefore could, notionally, be "engineered out".  That's now an OK conversation.

The same way that questioning the right of (black) millionaires to protest police brutality against their race!  Trump said it a few weeks ago, Police brutality is ok...considering he was talking in Alabama -- at a GOP rally his audience understood the reference.  As on cop said to a stopped driver recently "We only shoot black people"

Now, Trump like all populists is looking for the love, he's found it in identity politics and its paid off in spade!  Most amusing was Nascar that said that any driver that "protests the national anthem will be fired" was complete bullshit -- Nascar is all about southern pride and the wide use of confederate flags at these events -- and the 99.9999% audience being white, talks more about publicity than any real threat by the drivers or pit crew to do or say anything.  In Argentina, populism easily switched to autocratic police state -- a very very easy process.  Even more so today with the militarization of the local (and even college) police force.


  • Via cable TV that the strength of the populist message is growing -- the use of either false or out of context comments is driven by a thirst for advertising dollars -- the real winners here (Sara Palin and many others) was their ability to transform a bigoted message into cash dollars.  However, to the average red state voter, who craves conformity the idea of postponing election (until these unwanted usurpers can be removed from the electoral rolls) is a good idea.
  • That the police can enforce aggressive tactics and intimidation of all non-white population is really a feature and not a bug of their thirst for autocratic rule.  the police has been militarize since 2001, and often out in force when demonstration occur that engaged the status quo! 
  • On Monday the US government announced that it would monitor all internet activity for foreign residents.  The objective is obviously to stop crime and terrorist activity, but can be used for other means.  
  • Many new judges that have been nominated hold far right views


Watch out America -- your democratic institutions (including your constitution) can easily be transformed into something else.  The hegemony of the US liberal system my be coming to an end, unless Americans begin to care about their system of checks and balances.



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