US-based academics will be increasingly asked to participate in activities that normalize the far right. The normalization will be enforced by university administrators, who themselves will be surveilled and intimidated by the far right. 🧵
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
1. There are many ways in which this normalization is justified. One is by the argument that there is a relevant difference between "normal Republicans" and "MAGA Republicans" - i.e. "good/democratic" and "bad/undemocratic" Republicans.
2. While this distinction is not without merit at the individual level, it is largely irrelevant at the political level. The GOP is Trump's Party. It has run the last two presidential elections without a program! The party, including the majority of its leaders and supporters, have chosen this.
3. Even if some Republicans continue to present themselves as liberal democrats, and might even genuinely believe in it, their support for Trump means that, in essence and practice, they support an agenda and leader who is against (liberal) democracy.
5. As Trump consolidates his political power, and attack or threaten individuals, institutions, and sectors, there will be an increasing call to "protect the institution". I've already seen them here and in other media.
Was awake at 4am thinking about how craven our elites were in pre-surrendering to fascism when the big Ivies had their presidents publicly wrecked over nonsense.
That was when I knew our institutions as currently conceived cannot save us.
Once the GOP controls the research grant, it is over. Our universities are going to be some Soviet propaganda shit show that incidentally does some job training. Deplorable GOP students are going to rat out any professor who doesn't pledge loyalty to Trump and join his cult.
Comments
Don't provoke the far right!
The far right in general, but Trump in particular, demands absolute loyalty! It is never enough.
That was when I knew our institutions as currently conceived cannot save us.