This isn’t an argument, but a request for your opinion. You say, “… the United States is too large, too diverse, too decentralized, and too democratic to support the emergence of an authoritarian strongman.” Your lips to God’s ear. But the Iron law of Oligarchy (Robert Michels) says that “in a large, complex society, representative democracy will always bend toward control by a few powerful people.” (quote from WSJ article). What is the reality of how to govern a large, diverse, divided country, half of whose citizens pay no taxes, and whose Congress cannot even pass a budget?
There is no Iron Law of Oligarchy; history is our only guide. But think of it this way: In the United States, political power is in no way centralized. There are no commanding heights to be seized. Let’s say, for example that the January 6 rioters had managed to occupy the Capitol. So what? They’d have had control of nothing but a building. Or let’s say that Trump had in fact proclaimed himself a dictator on Day One. So what? How many military officers and government officials would have obeyed his orders? Few if any. The presidency is a powerful office, but only within the confines of the Constitution and the law. In this country, political power is everywhere and nowhere. No individual or group can seize it in total.
Why do the people who see illusory Hitlers everywhere never see the real Stalins setting up shop in their midst?
I agree that Applebaum's derangement is a tragedy -one of her books was the first one I ever downloaded- but her more recent rants eclipse her earlier intellectual acuity, and her penchant for petty backstabbing bespeaks a moral collapse as well.
The reason, I think, is that ideology, whatever its source, is a theory of everything and therefore a mind virus. Supposedly revealing universal truth, it blinds its devotees to reality.
Bureaucracy is oligarchy.
When you understand that, you understand the absurdity of left-wing people complaining about oligarchy.
Amen JD. From an oligarchy of ‘coastal elites’ to an oligarchy of ‘tech bros’. Nothing to make noise about.
This isn’t an argument, but a request for your opinion. You say, “… the United States is too large, too diverse, too decentralized, and too democratic to support the emergence of an authoritarian strongman.” Your lips to God’s ear. But the Iron law of Oligarchy (Robert Michels) says that “in a large, complex society, representative democracy will always bend toward control by a few powerful people.” (quote from WSJ article). What is the reality of how to govern a large, diverse, divided country, half of whose citizens pay no taxes, and whose Congress cannot even pass a budget?
There is no Iron Law of Oligarchy; history is our only guide. But think of it this way: In the United States, political power is in no way centralized. There are no commanding heights to be seized. Let’s say, for example that the January 6 rioters had managed to occupy the Capitol. So what? They’d have had control of nothing but a building. Or let’s say that Trump had in fact proclaimed himself a dictator on Day One. So what? How many military officers and government officials would have obeyed his orders? Few if any. The presidency is a powerful office, but only within the confines of the Constitution and the law. In this country, political power is everywhere and nowhere. No individual or group can seize it in total.
> Let’s say, for example that the January 6 rioters had managed to occupy the Capitol. So what? They’d have had control of nothing but a building.
What do you suppose would have happened had their been no secret tunnel for Congress to escape through?
It could have been ugly, yes, but in the long run it wouldn’t have mattered.
Thanks for responding.
We have seen the arc of opposition to Trump move from dislike/contempt, to TDS, to plain batshit crazy.
(Shocking how many of them are women of a certain age.)
I used to want to debate the issues with the opposition.
No longer.
No point in talking with someone who embraces lunacy.
They are like Squeaky Fromms who haven't reached for the gun yet.
Why do the people who see illusory Hitlers everywhere never see the real Stalins setting up shop in their midst?
I agree that Applebaum's derangement is a tragedy -one of her books was the first one I ever downloaded- but her more recent rants eclipse her earlier intellectual acuity, and her penchant for petty backstabbing bespeaks a moral collapse as well.
The reason, I think, is that ideology, whatever its source, is a theory of everything and therefore a mind virus. Supposedly revealing universal truth, it blinds its devotees to reality.