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This is just the start of American authoritarianism
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/448264-this-is-just-the-start-of-american-authoritarianism
BY KRYSTAL BALL, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 06/14/19 09:30 AM EDT
If you despise President Trump’s words, tactics and policies, buckle your seat belts. Things are likely to get worse. It has become commonplace to claim the Republican Party now is the “Trump party.” Republican leaders certainly have devoted themselves to doing his bidding and have performed remarkable feats of mental gymnastics to reconcile their previously articulated values with those of his administration.
But viewing the GOP as the “Trump party” is far too simplistic. This implies that once he is gone from the White House, things will return to “normal.” In fact, the GOP is far more likely to continue its radicalization, post-Trump, than it is to moderate.
Trump is just the beginning. The social trends that propelled him into office will only accelerate. Researchers have identified a strong correlation between those with authoritarian tendencies and support for Trump. In fact, authoritarianism appears to predict support for Trump better than any other factor. Scholars on authoritarianism also believe that latent authoritarian tendencies are triggered by external threats (such as from China, Russia, ISIS or Iran) and by rapid societal change.
The U.S. population continues to moves toward majority-minority status. As it does, a large bloc of voters — once the majority — will continue to search out a strongman leader, to reclaim their power.
Not only is organic demographic change fueling pro-strongman sentiment but famine, drought and conflict, exacerbated by climate change, will continue bringing scores of migrants to our borders and to Europe. Those willing to scare-monger about “migrant caravans” and “invasions” of “criminals and rapists” will have more fodder for their demagoguing, not less. Abjectly racist language could become normalized. Pseudoscience about racial superiority might proliferate. White supremacy and border militias will continue to increase.
</snip>
BY KRYSTAL BALL, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 06/14/19 09:30 AM EDT
If you despise President Trump’s words, tactics and policies, buckle your seat belts. Things are likely to get worse. It has become commonplace to claim the Republican Party now is the “Trump party.” Republican leaders certainly have devoted themselves to doing his bidding and have performed remarkable feats of mental gymnastics to reconcile their previously articulated values with those of his administration.
But viewing the GOP as the “Trump party” is far too simplistic. This implies that once he is gone from the White House, things will return to “normal.” In fact, the GOP is far more likely to continue its radicalization, post-Trump, than it is to moderate.
Trump is just the beginning. The social trends that propelled him into office will only accelerate. Researchers have identified a strong correlation between those with authoritarian tendencies and support for Trump. In fact, authoritarianism appears to predict support for Trump better than any other factor. Scholars on authoritarianism also believe that latent authoritarian tendencies are triggered by external threats (such as from China, Russia, ISIS or Iran) and by rapid societal change.
The U.S. population continues to moves toward majority-minority status. As it does, a large bloc of voters — once the majority — will continue to search out a strongman leader, to reclaim their power.
Not only is organic demographic change fueling pro-strongman sentiment but famine, drought and conflict, exacerbated by climate change, will continue bringing scores of migrants to our borders and to Europe. Those willing to scare-monger about “migrant caravans” and “invasions” of “criminals and rapists” will have more fodder for their demagoguing, not less. Abjectly racist language could become normalized. Pseudoscience about racial superiority might proliferate. White supremacy and border militias will continue to increase.
</snip>
Ya think?
4 replies
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