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@js357 saidHistory says yes we do and in certain circumstances it is functional as a lesser evil choice. The problem for democracy is when the potential autocracy creates the crises in order to justify itself.
Cincinnati’s namesake went back to the plow (actually a wealthy ‘farmer’ ).
Others manufacture or opportunistically catch the wave.
Is this about to happen...again?
Some end upside down on a rope.
Others, immortalized in marble. Until tipped.
If you mean the possibility of a Trump Autocracy then yes he’s giving it a go but not sure he’ll succeed 🤞
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@kevcvs57 saidHowever this seems separate from what the US has always done -- look to leaders for calm, competent leadership. FDR's fireside chats, for example. I wouldn't call that 'autocracy'.
History says yes we do and in certain circumstances it is functional as a lesser evil choice. The problem for democracy is when the potential autocracy creates the crises in order to justify itself.
If you mean the possibility of a Trump Autocracy then yes he’s giving it a go but not sure he’ll succeed 🤞
@suzianne saidVery separate but we are all prepared to invest our leaders with at least temporary autocratic powers in the face of a serious existential threat.
However this seems separate from what the US has always done -- look to leaders for calm, competent leadership. FDR's fireside chats, for example. I wouldn't call that 'autocracy'.
I’m not sure how many of those the US has had but this most recent one is a good example of a potential autocrat trying to ferment / fabricate an internal crises in the hope of gaining extra powers or at least holding onto the powers that he has.
He got elected partly by claiming that the rest of the world was taking advantage of the US and don’t forget the false claims concerning the hostile invasion of your southern Border.
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@js357 saidI like your style JS.
Cincinnati’s namesake went back to the plow (actually a wealthy ‘farmer’ ).
Others manufacture or opportunistically catch the wave.
Is this about to happen...again?
Some end upside down on a rope.
Others, immortalized in marble. Until tipped.
Hanging upside-down on a rope, the aspiring marble-heads will eventually fatigue; let go, crash to the tarmac and crumble into a heap of shards.
But there'll still be ample opportunity for the opportunists to manufacture... brooms.
@kevcvs57 saidYou are right. I'm just trying to make sure the distinction is clear.
Very separate but we are all prepared to invest our leaders with at least temporary autocratic powers in the face of a serious existential threat.
I’m not sure how many of those the US has had but this most recent one is a good example of a potential autocrat trying to ferment / fabricate an internal crises in the hope of gaining extra powers or at least holding onto the p ...[text shortened]... of the US and don’t forget the false claims concerning the hostile invasion of your southern Border.
@wolfgang59 saidYes as long as those powers are invested in a truly democratic body who aren’t trying to use the perception of crisis in order to circumvent the democratic process.
Surely one of the purposes of democracy is to empower a
government with autocratic powers in times of emergency?
Dithering over Brexit for years maybe sensible but it is not
a good strategy for dealing with a pandemic.
It could be argued Trump is doing that with his verbal and administrative attacks on the postal vote during the pandemic.
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@suzianne saidYes but FDR died in his third term.
However this seems separate from what the US has always done -- look to leaders for calm, competent leadership. FDR's fireside chats, for example. I wouldn't call that 'autocracy'.
And the GOP has been trying to repeal the New Deal since Reagan.
I’d nominate Eisenhower as the president who had the opportunity to become a dictator and held back. But he had the examples of Il Duce and Der Fuhrer to contemplate.