So did wilders; still no emergency law. Entire opposition went bonkers; never seen anything like that. Not sure if Im pleased with what we got back. But given the incompetence of our govt I am counting my blessings; if they cant fake a fake crisis Im saying halleluia.
In normal times, only Congress can create new government agencies & decide their powers.
Right now, DOGE is not a part of our government & they have no power.
The recent past suggests Republicans will let DT bypass Congress, but Congress still controls money appropriations. DOGE may be “toothless”.🤞
So we are a bit safe
The right thing would be zero budget for that DOGE from senate
Next would be to find a few good republicans who can support the idea of not supporting DOGE
Right after I replied to you I saw the news that Marjorie Taylor Greene will be the chair of the newly created DOGE subcommittee providing oversight& helping them slash government spending!😵💫
She’s my House Representative!🤦♀️
I was told by another person from this area that people like her because she “stirs up controversy & pisses off the libs”. What a pathetic reason to vote for someone!
‘The bad news is that there’s no consensus among democracy advocates on the best way to fight illiberal, right-wing populism.’ Democrats had 8y to create a strategy & slept walked into the disaster unfolding. Inexcusably complacent. DoJ tardiness with Trump cases is unforgivable, spineless.
Yes. Biden and the democrats were justified in using the courts to attack Trump because he is evil and wants to be a dictator. What if Trump makes himself emperor for life? Democracy is dead.
I found this interesting, but already see a major problem. This idea that democrats aren’t for the working class ignores the message black voters, who are also working class, already sent. Maybe the democrats should listen to their black voters instead of chasing the approval of white ones.
I agree with not catering to a specific group. I fear that America has forgotten that it made two systems, based on race, and we are still living with it. That’s why I say black voters need to be listened to. If anyone knows what’s it’s like to live in a fascist America, it’s black folks over 60.
We need both. Not time for division. We know black voters are mostly Democrats. We don’t take them for granted. We need to educate white working class voters to what black working class voters already know. We can’t have groups needing to be catered. We need coordinated efforts for one cause!
I agree. I think the author needs to understand that when trying to apply the lessons of Hungary to the US, a big, relevant difference is the way racism works in the US. I think it's way more significant in US history and politics than in Hungary's. And I didn't see the author addressing that.
I think he’s absolutely right about this, but I also thought we had an excellent opportunity to do this after Biden dropped out. I thought we sent a clear signal that’s what we wanted on the day Biden dropped out. And they still kept listening to the big donors and their consultants.
An important piece that needs wide dissemination. A new class of leaders must emerge for the Democrats to successfully address the populist-right. These leaders will come from millennials and Zs presently working at the state and municipal levels. They must be groomed and supported in their ascent.
And you know Trump wishes he was at least 20 years younger so he could personally capitalize on his potential autocracy for a longer period of time. The brains behind Project 2025 are thrilled that 40 year old JD Vance is in place as the runner up. I’m sad for my children, grandchildren + future.
Excellent! “Hungary’s key lesson is you don’t protect democracy by talking about democracy — you protect democracy by protecting people. Only a democracy that works for the people is sustainable.”
Depressing, the fascists have already captured most of the courts and the media and labor unions (outside of public workers, who are uniquely vulnerable to executive action) are only a small fraction of workers. The Republicans can afford to co-opt them. Where do the democrats turn for growth?
Excellent article, take heed USA; we seem doomed to repeat history otherwise. Here's the good news (OR NOT). We also have to factor in MOTHER NATURE who may teach us all a humble lesson in human folly. Remember COVID? Watching our planet lately?That may overtake any authoritarian desires globally.
"The price of democracy is eternal vigilance". An old saying more pertinent than ever! The path that the mega rich RW are pushing Dutton onto. He's very willing to go down it too.
Went to Hungary a few years ago. My wife being a nurse we went to this underground hospital. In or around 1956 Hungary fought a bloody war and pushed the Soviet Union out of their home land. Now he welcomes Putin.
We need to continue our discussions and clarify our desires for the future. We need to get involved with our communities. We need to band with our neighbors. Help others to identify what is still good that we can build on. If you can't do this in person, invite others to this online discussion.
I would add, that before Orbán there was Milosevic & gangsterism of hardline Serbian nationalists, that rehabilitated WWII nazi collaborators as nationalist heroes, full control of national media etc
I don’t think that the American public is all that sophisticated to understand the danger. As long as immigrants, blacks, and trans people are being fucked over they will put democracy on hold.
How do Americans still not realise that this is how you fall: Externally instigated civil war. There is no need for foreign boots on your soil. Your minds have already been invaded. You will exterminate yourselves.
No more revolutions will be fought with guns. We are in the era of drones, super body armor, insane surveillance, etc etc. winning the hearts and minds of the marginalized is the best hope.
I fear that not enough people understand just how serious the situation is. If they think it's just going to be a difficult 4 years under Donald Trump before common sense returns they could be seriously mistaken and US democracy could pay the price.
I moved there in 2001. I am back in the States now, but it’s sad to see the optimism and excitement 20 years ago versus now. And Orban was only just coming on the scene then.
I'm going to probably sit back and get that book also by that Philippine journalist who talked about duarte and I would advise you to have Ruth ben Ghiat. Over the next 4 years I think I'm going to have to read a lot of these books and catch up
Hungary’s democracy was 20 years old when Orban came to power with no constitution. I’m not going to compare our democracy and 235 year old Constitution to Hungary.
Don’t believe your lying eyes. Trump’s mask is off and his dystopian fascist reality is taking shape. There are disaffected Magalites getting disillusioned every passing day. Help them onward to join the pro-Democracy coalition and turn it into a supermajority-this is how you turn the tides blue. 💙🌊
Ask not what your country can do for you -ask what you can do for your country. When “We the People” stand United, under the hallowed banners of liberty, equality and justice for all and fight “BIGLY”, we will not only prevail, but we will WIN to let freedom ring loud, clear and blue. LFG! 💙💙🌊🌊
It’s FAFO time for them- they are starting to feel distraught, insecure and panicked-this is the opportune time to “demagafy.” This way when Mango Mussolini tries to sing his pied-piper song again,(he will) they will not only be immune/but will vociferously reject his mesmerizing beckoning call.
Just roll up the “truth” newspapers NOW and smack them around mercilessly and we won’t go back!! We have until 1/20/2025” where “We the People” have immense power to change the course of our collective manifest destinies. When we fight “BIGLY” we will not only prevail, but we will win!
“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself“ - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Strong 🦻HEARtS💙💙 Clear eyes👀. It ain’t over until the fat Orange convict singsings on 1/20/2025! We are not going back! Divide-conquer and convert the MA.GA.
The constant comparisons with Hungary do a disservice to democracy making it seem brittle. Orban's strategy relied on constitutional changes that would be impossible to pass in the the US. not to say Trump is not dangerous, but overestimating his danger or misplacing our fears doesn't help IMO.
actually, sorry, this is dreck "Fourth, learn symbolic class politics. In their free time, most Americans go to McDonald’s and not to the opera. Democrats must learn to avoid coming across as condescending intellectuals and learn to valorize the working class." Puh-leeze.
IDK man, "That’s why labeling Trump and Orbán and their supporters as moral degenerates, or even Nazis, is tactically dysfunctional." Tactics are for politicians. For citizens, or even for human beings, honesty is a virtue.
This is a good article, worth the read. Solidarity through consensus on sites like Bluesky, Threads, and X is not going to be enough to reclaim our democracy.
Thank you for sharing this. I was really hoping more people would see the danger in him being back in office and giving him all the power he craves. It’s so disappointing and actually very scary.
Trump's end goal is to transform our entire government into an oligarchy working for HIM, *not* the American people. He gets there by hiring loyalists and sowing chaos, doubt, fear, and hate. Trump is doing Putin's work FOR him.
Both parties have left the working class to the ravages of wild capitalism for the last 50 years. That’s why we’re split 50/50. Workers have no real choice. Flip a coin. It doesn’t matter. Maybe that’s why 10 million Dem voters didn’t vote.
Useful insights. Probably the single largest challenge on his laundry list is ... how to separate the Democratic Party from their oligarch donors. Where to begin? Or do we begin with an Independent candidate running with zero oligarch donations, small donors only?
I get the challenge that’s been laid down, but are people perhaps overestimating the ability of the Republicans to maintain the momentum when Trump is finished? Love him or hate him, he’s unique in politics. The rest of the Republicans aren’t a patch on him (and believe me I’m not praising him)
Putin took out a America without a single bullet shot ! Its truly pathetic that white racist privilege is ending American democracy! Trump is ending NATO, ending Ukraine and Palestine in one sweep ! American media GOP owners Fox news,MSNBC,CNN andothers normalized a criminal insurrectionist rapist!
If the majority of people love autocrats, no one can save this country. Democrats should stop their elite-style way and turn to educate the people. You cannot only fight in the institution. It's time to fight at every corner in this country.
A call to arms. +1 (302) 404-0880 this is the number to text the whitehouse. There's a campaign to get POTUS to pass the ERA. If you're interested please text and also email https://whitehouse.gov/contact
Not that the left is ideologically opposed to economic nationalism but has been there and bought the t-shirt. Results were unspectacular at best. For the populist right it's a bright shiny new idea.
Those of us who want our democracy back, should come up with a Project 30 undoing all the corruption that Project 25 implemented. Also, we should go stealth incognito- pretend we’re maga loyalists, and get into their new Nazi-form of linked in. After we’re hired -throw a wrench into their plan.
only one issue with this prescription for fighting back. It’s too late to prevent capture of the democratic party by the elites. that happened decades ago. it’s why trump was elected twice. change will have to come from outside the party.
With all due respect to the author, the Democratic Party is not likely going to be the way forward. They have been 1) extraordinarily demonized by the right, making it difficult to overcome stigma and 2) proven time and time again to be the elitists they're seen as, blaming progressives for losses.
The only way forward is to forge a new party - free of stigma and takes the working class and their concerns seriously and at the same time shows them in practical terms what the powers in control are doing to them. In essence, forging a new populist party for everyone.
"Hungary’s key lesson is you don’t protect democracy by talking about democracy — you protect democracy by protecting people. Only a democracy that works for the people is sustainable."
“Before Eastern Europe became a laboratory for illiberalism…Western economists used it as a laboratory for neoliberalism… This shock therapy experiment alienated masses of lower-middle- and working-class citizens from the parties of the center-left, who often championed these policies.”
This is really good.
Seems to me that people in the UK could also act on a lot of this before the next election, to prevent another government by extremist Tories (or worse).
Occasionally I see a massage therapist for chronic pain. He’s from Hungary. He said when there are criminals above, look out for them below too. Lots of petty scammers running their game on their fellow citizens. Lawlessness will abound on all levels.
I have always believed that orban (and probably Putin by extension) developed a Mentorship Program for Aspiring Dictators with trump being the mentee. Do not expect democracy as we know it to come back to the US any time soon.
The solutions are interesting because:
SCOTUS has already been taken over by the radical right and they gave Trump immunity.
There are already MAGA judges that are shopped, look at TX and Canon.
Biden took on Big Pharma, supported unions and focused on the working class and we still lost.
The frustrating part is that party Democrats hear "working class" and pigeonhole us all as hateful bigoted morons even though so many of us are college educated queers. :/
In order for us to be able to do what this article says, centrist libs are going to have to do a drastic shift. They’ve been in bed with all of the issues here.
Taking care of people isn't enough. It's taking hold of the narrative and promising salvation. People have a narrative and they fit reality to their narrative. Especially when life becomes confusing or a bit hard. The middle can't offer simple salvation or a scapegoat because it's complicated.
Tax cuts that started in the 1980’s have now concentrated wealth at the top, billionaire buffoons like Musk in the White House, take back our country and make Musk Oligarchs illegal they don’t care about working class America! It’s us against the big money owned media now, Murdoch, Bezos and Musk!
The resistance must begin at the state level to once again speak to the white rural Americans we lost! “With Liberty and justice for all” except the ignorant orange man is not democracy! Midterm primaries March 2026!
The leaders of the Democratic Party ceded our republic to neofascists even *before* the 2024 election. "Resistance" would have entailed refusing to continue on as normal when an illegitimate SCOTUS ruled that this doesn't mean what any reasonable small-d democrat can see it means.
Dear Mehdi….keep up this great work!
All you follower influenced heavy hitters….I ask that you take a long hard look at your social media motives and really influence. We are all guilty, but the big accounts have the power.
…A populist backlash by the working class to the systemic inequalities inherent to neoliberalism/globalism. The trickle UP of wealth has left ppl bereft of simple opportunities to flourish. Now, they’re being manipulated into buying Democracy’s suicide by a sociopathic class of Kleptocrats.
"...Democrats must pay more attention to the lived experience of economic change. Embrace the mundane and be down to earth; it will not compromise but will enliven your transformative vision of justice and democracy."
Comments
Crimes have been committed. 75 Million voters know this…something does not feel right.
Right now, DOGE is not a part of our government & they have no power.
The recent past suggests Republicans will let DT bypass Congress, but Congress still controls money appropriations. DOGE may be “toothless”.🤞
The right thing would be zero budget for that DOGE from senate
Next would be to find a few good republicans who can support the idea of not supporting DOGE
To channel resources else and not to a political organ of the creation of MAGA
She’s my House Representative!🤦♀️
She is a no gooder
I wonder what voters see in her to give her the mandate to represent them
IDK man, more and more, it feels like the US gov is held together by bubblegum, duct tape, and prayer.
You morons are advising to talk down american taliban.
Cheaper warfare makes armed people more capable not less. Half of ukraines defense is off the back of consumer electronics.
This isnt a movie. A giant embedded armed mass is an impossibility
I quickly discovered that citizens were scared of their government.
One of my guides even explained how he was so afraid for the future so he’d sent his children out of the country.
America can spend whatever our government wants to. Because we own The Fed.
So we must not talk as though defunding public schools is necessary at all. It never is
Sorry, can't figure out how to send it to you directly... interested on your opinion.
Prepare. Commit. Resist.
#WeThePeople
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/in-venezuela-we-couldnt-stop-chavez-dont-make-the-same-mistakes-we-did/
"Hungary’s key lesson is you don’t protect democracy by talking about democracy — you protect democracy by protecting people. Only a democracy that works for the people is sustainable."
👀
“Before Eastern Europe became a laboratory for illiberalism…Western economists used it as a laboratory for neoliberalism… This shock therapy experiment alienated masses of lower-middle- and working-class citizens from the parties of the center-left, who often championed these policies.”
or RESIGN so @VP can #MakeTheCall to Archivist 2 enforce 1USC§106b
URGENT 4 wks left
#KamalaLopez https://EqualMeansEqual.org
#AlicePaul Sent Us!
LAW👇🏽
https://arlainerockey.com/equal-rights-for-women
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/26/2288918/-Biden-Publish-the-ERA-NOW-or-RESIGN-so-VP-Harris-can-do-it-to-protect-Repro-LGBT-Rights
Seems to me that people in the UK could also act on a lot of this before the next election, to prevent another government by extremist Tories (or worse).
https://youtu.be/ORRoAI4M6GY?feature=shared
@gatorgum.bsky.social
@davidmoscrop.com
SCOTUS has already been taken over by the radical right and they gave Trump immunity.
There are already MAGA judges that are shopped, look at TX and Canon.
Biden took on Big Pharma, supported unions and focused on the working class and we still lost.
All you follower influenced heavy hitters….I ask that you take a long hard look at your social media motives and really influence. We are all guilty, but the big accounts have the power.
This is that plan:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/21/2287839/-We-Can-Stop-Trump?_=2024-11-21T11:19:50.000-08:00
I am not American, nor live there; but Australia faces some similar challenges as most other Western Democracies seem to be facing 1/2
"...Democrats must pay more attention to the lived experience of economic change. Embrace the mundane and be down to earth; it will not compromise but will enliven your transformative vision of justice and democracy."