So you’re just all-in on autocratic rule then? Fight fire with fire, even though the forest is a mostly-dead tinderbox?
Yes, Biden will not assassinate Supreme Court justices. That’s a strength. If the Supreme Court intends to give a president king-like power, then I’m sure as hell going to vote for a president that I don’t believe will exercise that power.
As soon as we have a president that exercises the power of a king, left or right, there will be no going back. That power will corrupt left politicians just as surely as right, institutions will begin to act corruptly causing people to lower their expectations of the rule of law, freeing institutions to be corrupted further, in an endless cycle. Mexico is far down that spiral, despite nominal “left” politics. And if we even seen another “president” in our lifetime they will only slip further down the slope. The only way you can win this game is by not letting it begin.
I despise autocracies but if my foe forces me into an autocratic ruleset, I will be ruthless and lightning quick. Don’t like it? Don’t even think about establishing an autocratic ruleset. Meanwhile while an autocratic ruleset is still in effect I will use it to end it in a spectacularly bloody manner. Once the autocratic ruleset is over and all the relevant individuals thirsty for autocracy have been properly dealt with, I will return to being an institutionalist.
Sorry to be so blunt, but you’re sharing a fantasy. The outcome will be no different from a right-wing autocratic takeover, even if it starts out more in your favor. The institutions of democracy will be destroyed either way.
You use “ruleset” like this is a game, but there’s no change-back in “ruleset” without a bloody revolution, after probably decades of suffering, and decades of reconstruction, if that - I expect we won’t see a return to pre-autocratic democracy in our lifetimes. Modern autocratic rule is too savvy, they will maintain the facades of our institutions while hollowing them out and making them meaningless, leading to efficient, soul-draining, Orwellian oppression like in Russia.
What you’re describing is a technical victory when you’ve also conceded that the playing board will be destroyed. And it won’t work as a deterrent. The opponent is irrational.
No, we agree that we’re electing a person with the power to be a king. That’s already objectively awful. The way it could get worse is if we elect someone who will actually use the power of a king. Because that moment is the end of the game, not merely an escalation.
Right now we have a candidate that I think we both agree will not use that power. Holding the presidency and keeping it away from those who would use that power is the best outcome, until enough Supreme Court justices turn over (which could even be a single 4-year term, though it’s not likely).
If you are playing hockey and suddenly a referee with real authority over the game starts using the rules of basketball, hockey is OVER no matter what the players do. It doesn’t matter what the players do.
How do you not let it begin? That supreme court ruling isn’t going anywhere. Even if Biden wins this time, what about the next election, or the one after that? Right wing politicians have said they want to kill their enemies and the loaded gun is staying on the table for a very long time.
So you’re just all-in on autocratic rule then? Fight fire with fire, even though the forest is a mostly-dead tinderbox?
Yes, Biden will not assassinate Supreme Court justices. That’s a strength. If the Supreme Court intends to give a president king-like power, then I’m sure as hell going to vote for a president that I don’t believe will exercise that power.
As soon as we have a president that exercises the power of a king, left or right, there will be no going back. That power will corrupt left politicians just as surely as right, institutions will begin to act corruptly causing people to lower their expectations of the rule of law, freeing institutions to be corrupted further, in an endless cycle. Mexico is far down that spiral, despite nominal “left” politics. And if we even seen another “president” in our lifetime they will only slip further down the slope. The only way you can win this game is by not letting it begin.
I despise autocracies but if my foe forces me into an autocratic ruleset, I will be ruthless and lightning quick. Don’t like it? Don’t even think about establishing an autocratic ruleset. Meanwhile while an autocratic ruleset is still in effect I will use it to end it in a spectacularly bloody manner. Once the autocratic ruleset is over and all the relevant individuals thirsty for autocracy have been properly dealt with, I will return to being an institutionalist.
Sorry to be so blunt, but you’re sharing a fantasy. The outcome will be no different from a right-wing autocratic takeover, even if it starts out more in your favor. The institutions of democracy will be destroyed either way.
You use “ruleset” like this is a game, but there’s no change-back in “ruleset” without a bloody revolution, after probably decades of suffering, and decades of reconstruction, if that - I expect we won’t see a return to pre-autocratic democracy in our lifetimes. Modern autocratic rule is too savvy, they will maintain the facades of our institutions while hollowing them out and making them meaningless, leading to efficient, soul-draining, Orwellian oppression like in Russia.
What you’re describing is a technical victory when you’ve also conceded that the playing board will be destroyed. And it won’t work as a deterrent. The opponent is irrational.
SCOTUS has changed the rules.
If you can’t come to terms with what has happened, the one living in a fantasy land is you.
Any American who does not think we are electing a King this November is a dangerously ignorant citizen.
No, we agree that we’re electing a person with the power to be a king. That’s already objectively awful. The way it could get worse is if we elect someone who will actually use the power of a king. Because that moment is the end of the game, not merely an escalation.
Right now we have a candidate that I think we both agree will not use that power. Holding the presidency and keeping it away from those who would use that power is the best outcome, until enough Supreme Court justices turn over (which could even be a single 4-year term, though it’s not likely).
No the game is over when the rules change.
If you are playing hockey and suddenly a referee with real authority over the game starts using the rules of basketball, hockey is OVER no matter what the players do. It doesn’t matter what the players do.
Pretty sure, after the debate, we’re playing golf /s
The participation trophy is no longer just an “I voted” sticker, it comes with a bullet of you don’t like the results: https://youtu.be/-OdM4_WO2wk
Yeah, expecting any Democrat to wield power they’ve been handed is ridiculous.
They don’t realize we’ve already lost, and we’re never going back to normal.
How do you not let it begin? That supreme court ruling isn’t going anywhere. Even if Biden wins this time, what about the next election, or the one after that? Right wing politicians have said they want to kill their enemies and the loaded gun is staying on the table for a very long time.