The norm of accepting defeat and peacefully relinquishing power is the foundation of modern democracy. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt Something is very wrong with America. Donald Dodo’s* BIG LIE about the 2020 election continues to have a dangerous, corrupting, and corrosive influence on our people and on our democratic institutions. It is absolutely astonishing … Read more
Christopher Browning, an historian of Nazi Germany, has heretofore resisted calling Donald Trump a fascist because he felt it was an imprecise use of the term. However, he is worried about the future. I still deny that Trump’s presidency was fascist; but I’m concerned that if he wins another trip to the White House, he could … Read more
Many Americans will be basing their voting decisions this year on strongly held beliefs that are complete nonsense. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that voters are stupid. I am saying that they often don’t do their homework thoroughly and are therefore easily deceived by simplistic slogans, false conspiracies, and fake outrage. Even worse, … Read more
In the election of 2020, nearly 73 million Americans voted for autocracy over democracy. Most of these people are under the brain-numbing influence of lies, manipulation, and conspiracy-thinking. The frightening thing is that even without Trump in the White House, they could still be a potent and dangerous political force. Currently, the most obvious effect … Read more