• ExtremeDullard@piefed.socialEnglish
    149·
    2 个月前

    It’s not news. My personal date for the start of dictatorship in the United Stated is March 14, 2025: that’s the first instance of Trump and his henchmen disobeying a court decision.

  • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.netEnglish
    93·
    2 个月前

    They decided to wait and see if Trump won, and if Homan then accepted bribes. It would be a much more airtight case. So the Biden people handed the investigation off to the Trump people, no doubt holding out the vain hope that the career people would persuade the political people that someone taking a bag of cash was something that ought to be investigated.

    The fucking ineptitude of the Liberal elites never ceases to amaze me.

    • MBech@feddit.dk
      16·
      2 个月前

      The reality is that the democrats would much rather have a fascist dictatorship, than work in the interest of the people. The answer to “why?” has always, and will always be “money”. They sold out the american people to fascists, because openly taking bribes is more important than the lives of minorities.

      The democrats have held a trifecta of power twice in the past 15 years, and both times they have managed to do absolutely fuck all. Why? Because they weren’t paid to actually do any of the things they promised their voters. They just used those talking points because people would vote for them.

      • zqps@sh.itjust.works
        12·
        2 个月前

        More specifically, because they need to maintain the capitalist status quo that they sincerely believe in (it works for them!), so they believe fascism to be the lesser evil. And they think they can control fascism, just like last time.

  • pjwestin@lemmy.world
    57·
    2 个月前

    I mean, Princeton released a study over a decade that the U.S. was no longer a democracy but an oligarchy. I understand that the author means where descending into authoritarianism, but this didn’t start with Trump, and we left democracy behind a long time ago.

  • quick_snail@feddit.nl
    46·
    2 个月前

    There was a time when we considered countries where women couldn’t vote as a “democracy”

    The goal posts shifted. As they should.

    In the 21st century, I don’t think we can call a system without rank choice voting a democracy. The US has never met modern standards of a Democracy

    • Obi@sopuli.xyz
      9·
      2 个月前

      That eliminates pretty much the entire commonwealth except Australia, right?

      • Soggy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        2 个月前

        I think clinging on to inherited royalty is another big point against “democracy”, no matter how vestigial.

    • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      6·
      2 个月前

      In the 21st century, I don’t think we can call a system without rank choice voting a democracy. The US has never met modern standards of a Democracy

      While I very much hope the goal posts can be shifted that far, I think we haven’t quite made it there yet

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 个月前

      In the 21st century, I don’t think we can call a system without rank choice voting a democracy

      I’m not sure you can call a country a democracy if parties are fully outlawed.

  • WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org
    33·
    2 个月前

    Maybe none of these 1st world nations aren’t what they say they are. Maybe they are more like farms and they have mastered the psychology to convince people not only to be the workers but also the product. Wealthy people making their product pay for itself to supply their greedy habits.

      • Ruxias@lemmy.world
        25·
        2 个月前

        Kamala “Do Not Come” Harris

        Joe “Nothing Will Fundamentally Change” Biden

        Nancy “Insider Trading is Fine, Actually” Pelosi

        They both serve capital first, all the rest is rhetoric to keep you frustrated and bewildered - unable to realize it. You’ll spend the rest of eternity focusing on the outrage of the week, blind to the fact that the economics of the day dictate how they steer your thought and energy. When the chips are down, none of them worry about your poor non-capital-having ass.

        • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          3·
          2 个月前

          So you want me and others to vote for a fascist just because dems are bad? It doesn’t stop with voting against fascism. First you vote against it, and then you start trying the grassroots campaigns to kick out the worthless democrats, which is a lot easier when there isn’t a literal fascist.

          Dems give me a lot more trains and bike paths and social services than Republicans ever will.

          • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.mlEnglish
            2·
            2 个月前

            This might just blow your mind, but there is a way to have more then two political parties to participate in elections without a spoiler effect.

            One has to wonder why the self proclaimed democracy advocates in the democratic party haven’t pushed for these critical electoral reforms in states they control.

            Democrats most certainly understand the flaws in First Past the Post voting. Feel free to go to the comments on any news articles on third parties/candidates during the previous election season to see it on full display.

            So why do Democrats howl and scream about 3rd parties, yet do nothing to replace First past the post voting?

            Informative videos below.

            Electoral Reform Videos

            First Past The Post voting (What most states use now)

            Videos on alternative electoral systems

            STAR voting

            Alternative vote

            Ranked Choice voting

            Range Voting

            Single Transferable Vote

            Mixed Member Proportional representation

            • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              1·
              2 个月前

              This might just blow your mind, but there is a way to have more then two political parties to participate in elections without a spoiler effect.

              Yes, ranked choice voting which I’ve repeatedly mentioned in this thread. Read mfer.

              We don’t have that yet. We need to fight for that, and it’s harder to fight for when you’re under a fascist dictatorship.

              One has to wonder why the self proclaimed democracy advocates in the democratic party haven’t pushed for these critical electoral reforms in states they control

              I mean a. Depends on your area. B. Because they fuckin suck. The only reason I vote for them over republicans is because, again, not fascist.

          • Daftydux@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            1·
            2 个月前

            Yeah, sure, but this math is simple enough for anyone with two cents to rub together. If youre interacting with them on a web forum about politics chances are they arent the people who need to hear it.

            So, stay vigilant.

        • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.mlEnglish
          3·
          2 个月前

          Joe “We need a Republican party that is principled and strong” Biden

          Democrats love the republican party. They protect them and keep them safe. thus trump remaining free, and all the previous “looking forward” bullshit that comes after the republicans get busted.

          How else would democrats ever look good if they had to actually compete with a political party that wasn’t a complete clown show?

      • TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca
        4·
        2 个月前

        Being able to choose between slave owners or the only other option is totally a real choice…

        Both parties are not the same, but it is still a uniparty. Worst of all, it is one where the other side of the country has been conditioned for the same: choose what they believe to be the depravity and downfall of their way of life, or the only other option.

        This is why in other countries we have more than two parties, and why the ones that are Heritage Foundation funded influence operations want to change this.

          • TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca
            3·
            2 个月前

            Technically, I can see where you are right, but in practice, you have one single party to choose from all the same, with a heavy cultural divided determining which party that is for you.

            I would focus more criticism as to why there aren’t more than two parties in the US government than fighting over a word definition that just absconds the real problem.

            • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              2·
              2 个月前

              The reason I’m focusing on it in this particular discussion is being it lessons the impact of understanding that it’s quite literally one not fascism, one fascism party. Pretending they’re the same hurts people’s understanding that they need to vote against fascism. My

              The fight doesn’t end with voting in a dem, after you delay facism you push forward with getting read of the worse candidates in the democrats too.

      • F_State@midwest.social
        2·
        2 个月前

        Yes and no. The two parties are different but they’re both politically Right Wing. So cut from the same cloth but made into different outfits. They both believe at their core that a societal elite is best suited to rule but the Democrats believe in a bigger more inclusive elite than Republicans.

        • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          1·
          2 个月前

          Fascism vs not fascism is not cut from the same cloth. Democrats are not from the same cloth as Republicans. They’re still an issue and bad. But saying they’re the same cloth? No.

          They both believe at their core that a societal elite is best suited to rule but the Democrats believe in a bigger more inclusive elite than Republicans

          Dems actually do things for the poors like me even if it just political posturing

          • F_State@midwest.social
            1·
            2 个月前

            Fascism vs not fascism is not cut from the same cloth

            Politics is a spectrum. The farther right you go, the narrower the ruling elite. Absolutely monarchy or dictatorship is the farthest right you can go. Fascism is a flavor of that but distinct from say a monarchy that is equally far-right.

            Dems actually do things for the poors like me even if it just political posturing

            Sure. The parties aren’t identical. But, things like the Rachet Effect are real and destructive to the working class and the country.

      • M0oP0o@mander.xyz
        2·
        2 个月前

        This statement is so american it makes my head hurt. Two parties is the reason you don’t have a democracy, and the instant “if not then you are anti my team” response shows how dead your democracy really is. Without even the ability to have a third option you don’t have a democracy, you have a red vs blue dictatorship.

        • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          0·
          2 个月前

          If someone won’t vote against fascism they are against me, yes. If you think that’s an American take, I’ll accept the inaccurate compliment.

          Without even the ability to have a third option you don’t have a democracy, you have a red vs blue dictatorship.

          I mean, literally what primaries are for, but yes, our democracy is dead. Ranked choice voting is necessary. The senate flies in the face of proper representation.

          you have a red vs blue dictatorship.

          You don’t know what the word dictatorship means.

          • M0oP0o@mander.xyz
            3·
            2 个月前

            If someone won’t vote against fascism they are against me, yes. If you think that’s an American take, I’ll accept the inaccurate compliment.

            See that is the issue, not having a choice other then status quo or fascism is not a real choice and you doubling down on the team bullshit is just sad. Nether of the current parties should exist and in almost every other nation these parties would have been put out to pasture long ago. If you are just voting for the not fascist then you are voting for the ruling party, its not a hard concept.

            I mean, literally what primaries are for, but yes, our democracy is dead. Ranked choice voting is necessary. The senate flies in the face of proper representation.

            Primaries are run by the 2 parties and everyone in the world can see they are not fair and clearly fixed to some degree. We are in agreement that your democracy is dead, but I am stating that it has been dead for a long time and it’s been doing damage world wide (like a really bad weekend at Bernie’s).

            You don’t know what the word dictatorship means.

            A dictatorship is a form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold absolute or near-absolute political power. Just because you have two groups take turns does not change the fact that the us is run by a group of leaders who hold near-absolute power (now with no checks or balances!).

      • TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 个月前

        Chuck Schumer allowed the big beautiful bil, which guts Medicare and social welfare, to pass without resistance; a resistance expected for a fucking opposition. That does not make the Democrats different, don’t you think? In other countries, the opposition are actually, you know, being opposition. I am amazed that Americans are made docile to pick lesser evil that only throw breadcrumbs, instead of holding their politicians accountable more fiercely, as expected in a democracy and which other countries do. What happened to the Americans that ended the Gilded age? I’m sorry but the other person is right that Americans are being frustrated and bewildered without realising it.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      2 个月前

      Okay, but you need to admit that one party was Violently Fascist while the other party was merely Controlled Opposition.

      I definitely prefer the empty vistage of democracy to the vulgar dismemberment of it. So you need to admit Democrats are better. And then you need to say you voted for them. And donated. And campaigned. And proselytized on their behalf.

      Otherwise, I’m going to call you a Russian bot

      • F_State@midwest.social
        6·
        2 个月前

        Democrats lived in denial that they could ride being “the lesser of two evils” forever but eventually as things got worse and worse people started becoming numb to it

  • answersplease77@lemmy.world
    21·
    2 个月前

    This is only news for brain-damaged americans.

    Land of the $2-trillion military budget, and the biggest prison population. and in the last two years, your elected policitians sent $30 billions from your taxes to a genocidal aparthied because they represent and serve the interests of another country

  • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.mlEnglish
    14·
    2 个月前

    Was it a democracy when women and people of color couldn’t vote?

    Was it a democracy when the two party system artificially limited your options in the voting booth?

    I don’t think it was ever a democracy.

    • F_State@midwest.social
      6·
      2 个月前

      Was it a democracy

      Well, yes. Both the ancient forms of governance resembling what we call democracy and the Greek system that gives us the word Democracy typically excluded people to various degrees. Don’t take that as a value judgement, I support anything that enfranchises more people, not less but I won’t try to redefine words

      • Uruanna@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 个月前

        But the actual use of the word is a redefinition from the literal meaning, though. Democracy is power to the people, and states are the ones that keep adding conditions on who has the right to vote, starting with citizenship or criminal records - and deciding who gets to be a citizen as well as inventing new crimes that can lose you that right. This is a legal limitation that is decided by the state and it is always redefining the word. So no, modern and ancient states alike never really had a democracy, they just created a word and then decided that actually some people don’t have that right, beyond the literal definition of that word. Power to the people^not everyone is people^.

        • F_State@midwest.social
          1·
          2 个月前

          People improved on the original concept. When we added seatbelts and airbags to cars, and it didn’t make a model-T not a car anymore.

          • Uruanna@lemmy.world
            1·
            2 个月前

            The Greek trolley was not a car either. We came up with a big idea, we made something very limited and pretended that it was that idea, and we’ve only added a coat of paint since, is the analogy I prefer to make.

    • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
      5·
      2 个月前

      Nearly 1.5 million people can’t vote in Florida because they’ve been to prison.

      Guess how many votes Trump won Florida by in 2024?

  • Xanthrax@lemmy.world
    10·
    2 个月前

    …

    We’re a “republic” with an “electoral” college. We were never a democracy.

    Edit: I don’t want a direct democracy. I’m not a republican. I’d prefer communism. Fucking fascists.

    The electoral college was designed to protect democracy in times when the people’s vote was easily swayed due to misinformation. Gerrymandering compromised that. Now we have an orange figurehead dismantling our agencies. Why are people disagreeing?

    • TheRealKuni@piefed.socialEnglish
      44·
      2 个月前

      We’re a “republic” with an “electoral” college. We were never a democracy.

      Nonsense. That’s the sort of disinformation I see the right trying to spread to defend fascism.

      “Democracy” is simply a form of government where the rule or power (kratos) derives from the people (demos). A form where representatives are elected to make decisions is called “representative democracy.”

      A “republic” is a form of government that isn’t a monarchy.

      We have a representative democratic republic. Our system has its serious flaws, but that doesn’t make it not a democracy.

      • Hegar@fedia.io
        22·
        2 个月前

        We don’t have a representative democracy.

        According to a Princeton study from like a decade ago no major public policy has reflected public opinion since the end of the civil rights era.

        If we were a representative democracy then the will of the demos would be reflected in the government and its decisions. But it’s just not.

        In practice the US has been an oligarchy for at least half a century. I suspect it always has been just with brief interludes when people power breaks through like the civil rights era and the new deal.

        • Doomsider@lemmy.world
          6·
          2 个月前

          It has always been an oligarchy if you study the revolutionary war. The ruling class has thrown a few populist treats to the masses here and there to help maintain the illusion of democracy.

      • Xanthrax@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 个月前

        That’s their definitions. You’re making us look bad. I don’t care about republican talking points. You do.

        • GreenBottles@lemmy.world
          1·
          2 个月前
          racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

          We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate

          Perhaps you should purchase a dictionary.

      • Xanthrax@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 个月前

        A republic is like a direct democracy, but instead, you elect officials to represent you. Wtf is this thread?

        • AmidFuror@fedia.io
          2·
          2 个月前

          If you are not 100% in lockstep with the narrative you will be attacked here and accused of being an agent of the enemy.

            • AmidFuror@fedia.io
              3·
              2 个月前

              republic
              /rĭ-pŭb′lĭk/

              noun

              1. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
              2. A nation that has such a political order.
              3. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.

              Xanthrax is using definition 3 while others are using 1. Should have been easy to resolve without vitriol. But maybe you “know what [he’s] doing” and are “just putting that out there”?

              • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                9·
                2 个月前

                We are a republic and a democracy (the latter is questionable now). Just like many other nations in the world.

                This is not a new piece of disinformation, it’s been around for a long fucking time. So yes, when I see people parroting these easily disproven lies (and then refuse to accept it when someone corrects them), I tend to question their motives.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      17·
      2 个月前

      Ughh…

      Didn’t expect this old chestnut to show up on lemmy. Usually people here are better informed.

      “Democracy” and “republic” are not mutually exclusive. The US is (well was) both.