An interview with political scientist Julia Azari, who argues that new polls showing public backlash to Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s authoritarian overreach give Democrats an opening
Democracy is just a managed, fairly agreed upon process for a governed people to exercise their will. But a governed people always have the ability to exercise their will. Authoritarian tactics can make that more difficult, but they cannot ever prevent it.
Remember, if there was nothing people could do to stop them, their propaganda would not be necessary. The fact that they are engaged in information control demonstrates that they do very much care about approval - or, at least, acceptance.
What did the German Citizenship do in 1934? Because they voted in 1932 to make the Nazi party the largest single party in the Reichstag and for the next 2 years they had no input on the machinations of Hitler to become a dictator. Any of that sound familiar?
The speed at which the German government was dismantled was extreme. In less than 45 days after Hindenburg died, Hitler was a dictator. DOGE and Trump are making much of the same changes to our government. Fascist or Monarchist or Oligarchy or Kleptocracy, it doesn’t matter. Our government is currently being dismantled at a rate at which our institutions have never seen before.
Polls don’t matter once they’re in power. The only thing that’s going to stop this is large unified action at the local level and probably a general strike. Both of which take time to organize and to do so in an encrypted and secure way. That takes time. We’re years away.
If you’d like to join an open unencrypted movement you can start at the below links.
You’re think you’re disagreeing with me, but I want to be clear that you’re advocating for exactly the same things I am.
Polls don’t matter, but public opinion absolutely does. You can’t organize a mass movement of resistance without a mass of people to organize. The fact that Trump’s agenda is becoming increasingly unpopular is an opportunity for those organizing resistance to bring in more support.
Approval always matters, even without democracy.
Democracy is just a managed, fairly agreed upon process for a governed people to exercise their will. But a governed people always have the ability to exercise their will. Authoritarian tactics can make that more difficult, but they cannot ever prevent it.
Remember, if there was nothing people could do to stop them, their propaganda would not be necessary. The fact that they are engaged in information control demonstrates that they do very much care about approval - or, at least, acceptance.
What did the German Citizenship do in 1934? Because they voted in 1932 to make the Nazi party the largest single party in the Reichstag and for the next 2 years they had no input on the machinations of Hitler to become a dictator. Any of that sound familiar?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler's_rise_to_power
The speed at which the German government was dismantled was extreme. In less than 45 days after Hindenburg died, Hitler was a dictator. DOGE and Trump are making much of the same changes to our government. Fascist or Monarchist or Oligarchy or Kleptocracy, it doesn’t matter. Our government is currently being dismantled at a rate at which our institutions have never seen before.
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/democracy-governance/analyzing-doge-actions-one-month-trumps-second
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/21/trump-wild-first-month-doge-musk/78657028007/
Polls don’t matter once they’re in power. The only thing that’s going to stop this is large unified action at the local level and probably a general strike. Both of which take time to organize and to do so in an encrypted and secure way. That takes time. We’re years away.
If you’d like to join an open unencrypted movement you can start at the below links.
https://generalstrikeus.com/aboutus
https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
If you’re interesting in organizing locally you could follow the suggestions in this comment.
https://lemmy.world/comment/14983176
or check out https://lemmy.world/c/Resist@fedia.io
You’re think you’re disagreeing with me, but I want to be clear that you’re advocating for exactly the same things I am.
Polls don’t matter, but public opinion absolutely does. You can’t organize a mass movement of resistance without a mass of people to organize. The fact that Trump’s agenda is becoming increasingly unpopular is an opportunity for those organizing resistance to bring in more support.
I didn’t say we’re in disagreement, I’m highlighting the nature of our situation.
Americans are still too comfortable to revolt.