355
Americans voted for Trump, but don't support his agenda (abcnews.go.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/news@lemmy.world
101 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

That's an extremely simplistic model, when in reality the way to fascism, is that the democracy fails to protect itself against it.
This happens easiest in new or flawed democracies, and USA is very much a flawed democracy. Where all the checks and balances don't work, when the executive branch is filled with corrupt traitors that don't give a shit about decency or democracy.

In a democracy the parlament can overthrow the government, and end its control with the equivalent of the executive branch.
AFAIK congress cannot overthrow a president for being unworthy or acting illegally.

Americans probably thought they were safe, because they have about 200 years of tradition for democracy, so they thought it was so ingrained that it couldn't fail, because the country is built on it, and the institutions would protect it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    in reality the way to fascism, is that the democracy fails to protect itself against it.

    Yeah, uninspiring centrists don't like to do the whole protecting democracy thing because it might be controversial, so not really seeing your disagreement with this (admittedly simple and meme-ified) model

    USA is very much a flawed democracy. Where all the checks and balances don't work, when the executive branch is filled with corrupt traitors that don't give a shit about decency or democracy.

    Couldn't agree more

    AFAIK congress cannot overthrow a president for being unworthy or acting illegally.

    It's called impeachment under our system, but I think that's a lot higher vote threshold than a general no confidence vote like what I think you're suggesting would be

    And yeah, our legislature being filled with the same kind of corrupt traitors that don't give a shit about decency or democracy as our executive makes this essentially impossible

    Americans probably thought they were safe, because they have about 200 years of tradition for democracy, so they thought it was so ingrained that it couldn't fail, because the country is built on it, and the institutions would protect it.

    I would also blame the uninspiring centrists who didn't want to upset their potential voters by telling them the truth about the dire situation we were/are in. Everytime they brag about some bipartisan legislation like bipartisanship with fascists is a good thing the picture gets muddier for the average voter.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago*

    It’s called impeachment

    But can an impeachment REMOVE the president? And if so, is it then just the vice president that takes over, making it essentially the same administration.
    In a parliamentary system, you can remove the entire government with just a simple majority. That's equivalent to removing the ENTIRE administration.

    I would also blame the uninspiring centrists

    Absolutely, there's a reason politicians like Bernie and AOC are popular.

    Everytime they brag about some bipartisan legislation like bipartisanship with fascists is a good thing the picture gets muddier for the average voter.

    Excellent point.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    AFAIK congress cannot overthrow a president for being unworthy or acting illegally.

    Yes it can- this is literally what the impeachment process is. The problem is what happens when you have a political party that is every bit as guilty and refuses to charge or convict an obviously criminal president.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    I confused myself a bit there, because the systems are so different. Here with a parliamentary system, if the PM is no longer trusted, parliament would usually make a no confidence vote for the entire government.
    The real problem is that even if the President is removed, the administration remains mostly the same, I assume that makes the vice president the new president. And the administration can continue the corrupt dealing.
    So the whole administration needs to be impeached, so the new President becomes the majority leader of the senate, (I think is the person next in line after VP.) Who is then free to build a new administration, independent of the one the corrupt president had built.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent