It's been a few weeks since I wrote this, but still apropos. Fascism is undoubtedly on the rise in the modern world. Here's why, and here's why it's so difficult to stop. Voting won't stop them. Courts and the legal system probably won't either. It's not pretty, but this is what the historical record shows us. #histodons #fascism
https://www.gardenofmemory.net/why-fascism-is-on-the-rise-again-and-why-we-wont-stop-it/
I reject that voting won't stop them.
@ScottSoCal I reject wishful thinking, but I'm only looking at the historical track record, so what do I know.
You dump an empirical statement out there, without supporting evidence (we have moved beyond the point where normal means are sufficient because...) and I'm engaging in wishful thinking because I don't accept it.
Sure.
@ScottSoCal Sounds like you didn't read the article. In it I clearly identify my reasons for concluding that democratic societies have a very poor track record of stopping fascism with elections or legal procedures. Didn't work in Italy. Didn't work in Germany. Given the crisis of democracy that's gotten steadily worse in the US in the last 40 years, it doesn't seem to be working too well here either.
You had a paragraph talking about what happened in Weimar Germany in the 1930s. Different country, different government, different set of rules, different economic climate, different populace, entirely different set of possibilities.
If you're going to pop out "voting won't stop it" - yeah, you need some evidence. Solid evidence, with a thorough analysis, and covering why those deltas are irrelevant.
FWIW, I don't think they are. We aren't recovering from nationwide destruction after a war. We aren't facing ruinous inflation rates. We do have a Constitution that they have to at least pay lip service to. Very different circumstances. Vote like your life depends on it.
@ScottSoCal Well, forgive me for drawing conclusions based on historical evidence and imperfect alignments of circumstances (there are no other kinds in history), which is, after all, my job.