Thank you for writing this essay. Sometimes it seems as if very few people will allow themselves to see what’s right in front of them. We are in a dangerous place.
On the Canadian side, the demagoguery of Poilievre is also dangerous. He too could win power in the next election, and I’m not confident he wouldn’t abuse his power in similar authoritarian ways.
Dangerous times await us, and it’s important we don’t acquiesce.
Chances are good that PP will be the next prime minister if history teaches us anything. He’s not as bad as Trump, but he would cause significant damage to Canada. Other than “vote harder”, I’m not sure what we can do to prevent this.
The rise of Donald Trump, in many respects bears remarkable similarities to the rise of Nazism in Germany. I do not record these events in the order they occurred by all have been repeated by Trump and modern day republicans. They have enthusiastically embraced Nazi propagandist Goebbels dictum "If you tell a lie often enough and convincingly enough , people will believe it. They have separated children from the families coming across the Mexican border, without even properly documenting it, much as the Nazis did with Jews and others. They have vilified the legitimate press. They have interfered with the manner in which j justice is rendered. They have tried to overturn the results of a legitimate election. Finally, tell me what difference there is between the January 6, attack on the White House and The Night Of Broken Glass in Germany during the 1930's. There are many others. The people of Germany could not have possibly foreseen where Nazism would lead when it first appeared shortly after WW!. We do, so we have no excuse if we do not stop it.
Accept our civic responsibility and demand more of politicians. The easiest way is to simply vote the bastard out. It is ca disgrace to the very concept of democracy that a man as depraved as Trump could attain the nomination of his party in the first place.
You did it once , you do it again.. If he gets in again you will truly have a Fascist government. Boycott all companies that donate to the Republican Party and let them know you are doing it. Corporations will drop him like a hot potato.
You used the exact sane phrase with regard to another person. You better believe I am serious. I have been a student of history for all my life. The Republican Party controlled by religious fundamentalists is in every sense of the word a Fascist Party. The sooner the voter recognizes that and the better it will be for everyone.
I'm not sure if it's a return of authoritarianism in America as much as an exploitation and inflaming of tendencies that have been evident in recent US state governments and Trump has weaponized this effectively as he's the one megaphone who can tap into this.
While we seek to find examples such as the rise of Nazism in Germany, the reality is that authoritative tendencies are rampant globally and researchers are proving this.
For example many Canadians celebrate the protesters in Hong Kong yet don't realize as they've never met any protesters or spoke to them as I have about their world views to find that they personally possess authoritarian characteristics and imposition of their wills over the masses.
Authoritarianism stems from our world views as how authority, uniformity and obedience should be exercised over others. It just so happens that many Canadians seeing rising crime rates don't focus on the causes but demand jailing and no bail basically and abhor governments merely tweaking the policies.
Today the SOGI protests across Canada are authoritarian in nature no doubt funded by those who want to impose their wills on the masses. It's a challenge to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by the rise of hatred attacks. Sadly, we have to choose sides.
Canada faces our own challenges in authoritarianism as politically these days there's far less civility, everything's a scandal and facts don't matter.
We blame rising inflation and income stagnation on the federal government yet this is nonsensical on its surface. OECD for example tracks many stats and one I've seen is how as union membership declined so did real incomes.
The left got it right. When the global free trade elections of the 1980s and the corresponding freedom of movement of labour and capital were all in place, that coincided with the flatlining of real incomes.
If you are a right leaning, conservative minded person in any country, studies show that you're prone to responding positively to calls for authoritarian actions as for those folks, the ends justifies the means. Canada too is at risk and Pierre Polievre is the right man with the reckless, fact-free views to tap into this.
Just want to add to how the influence of our world views impact the latent tendencies in all people.
Right now in Canada we have the Leader of the Opposition and his adherents putting out videos like Vancouver is Dying. They stoke fear, anger and hatred of institutions.
I follow a number of university friends from the '70s on Facebook. Some now are being influenced by this nonsense. Interestingly among two of those who believed there were more politically aligned further to the left than I was - a middle of the road, liberally minded person - I've witnessed a significant change where they post daily every street crime and increasingly post right wing diatribes to lock them up without bail.
Yet others see the issues as flowing from conditions in society these days and the fix is not more jails but better basic income schemes, affordable housing and access to services.
I'm in my 70s and when I go to the gym were there a mix of students and working people from teens to people in other age groups I see community. When I attend public events I like this past year's BMO Marathon events in Vancouver with over 20,000 participants in three different events plus thousands of spectators I see a community that makes me proud to be a Canadian. I drove a friend to the start line at 5:30 am that Sunday morning and as we drove there there were special buses and lots of vehicles all heading to this event.
If you default strategy is authoritarian ideas you're losing that most vital of sense - community.
If you're mired in these negative thinking in your social circle you need new friends.
Yep. I’ve been thinking that since 2016. The constant attempts by media, pundits, and even longtime politicians, to normalize and minimize the danger,…have been incredibly difficult to comprehend. It’s as if people are more worried about being alarmist, than doing what they can to educate others about current realities.
These are tough times. You say "authoritarianiism" like it's a bad thing. We need to check our assumptions about liberalism, justice and human rights to begin with.
African "democracies" run by family dynasties who hoard wealth while colonial powers steal resources for example. Or the imposition, by whining and badgering, of the use of pronouns in government. To cite only two examples.
Colour me optimistic. We've had four years of old people dying and teenagers getting the vote.
Trump has consolidated his base, but not grown it, so victory is going to be elusive. Every analyst agrees with Mr. Moscrop that he "Can" win; but I don't think they're taking into account the rabid intensity of the forces that would rise up to defeat him once we get past the primaries.
Stop and think what it means to threaten the most-powerful people in the USA, and give them a year to get ready to mitigate the threat. The usual power calculus is that the Left has few or no champions of great wealth and corporate power. Trump's threats really do promise economic devastation, because investors would fear losing a whole project if Trump decided they were an object lesson, or wasn't satisfied with the bribes. The whole DeSantis/Disney fracas indicates that serving their holy Base will even cause them to harm corporate profits.
Meanwhile, the IRA has another year to make a bunch of large projects dependent on continued Green beliefs. Trump would shut them all down.
So, I think there would be massive economic and volunteer support for the Beat Trump project, larger than 2020. I don't see the Republicans doing better than 2020.
Oh, and for dessert, I'll just keep my money on the table, that the legal woes will eventually do Trump more harm than good. They are helpful while he's still fighting - the warrior image - but every case he loses moves him deeper into "loser" category that is poisonous for his image.
And, extra dessert today: I really think Trump's speech is still deteriorating. We are one "real journalist" away from an interview that makes him sound like Silly 'Ol Granpa.
This inflammatory piece is well off the mark of reality. I agree that Trump has authoritarian inclinations and the there are mildly disturbing similarities to El Duce. I would not vote for him.
But this piece is singularly anti-Trump and is pro-nothing. From this piece, you'd conclude that the author simply wants US voters to stay home.
In reality, the US situation is a vote on the lessor-of-2-evils-- action-oriented, authoritarian Trump or corrupt mentally challenged Biden. Given experience with both, I'd bet that the US will be better off with Trump--particularly internationally. But me? I'd vote for a credible, mid-road candidate (were one to exist).
His Tweets and Substack have made good points and I added ‘Corruptible...’ to my reading list. Have not yet started it though. And I think he has a newer book out that interests me. Too many damn books I want to read...and I get distracted by sports, and burbon/whiskey. 🤦♂️
Thank you for writing this essay. Sometimes it seems as if very few people will allow themselves to see what’s right in front of them. We are in a dangerous place.
On the Canadian side, the demagoguery of Poilievre is also dangerous. He too could win power in the next election, and I’m not confident he wouldn’t abuse his power in similar authoritarian ways.
Dangerous times await us, and it’s important we don’t acquiesce.
Chances are good that PP will be the next prime minister if history teaches us anything. He’s not as bad as Trump, but he would cause significant damage to Canada. Other than “vote harder”, I’m not sure what we can do to prevent this.
The rise of Donald Trump, in many respects bears remarkable similarities to the rise of Nazism in Germany. I do not record these events in the order they occurred by all have been repeated by Trump and modern day republicans. They have enthusiastically embraced Nazi propagandist Goebbels dictum "If you tell a lie often enough and convincingly enough , people will believe it. They have separated children from the families coming across the Mexican border, without even properly documenting it, much as the Nazis did with Jews and others. They have vilified the legitimate press. They have interfered with the manner in which j justice is rendered. They have tried to overturn the results of a legitimate election. Finally, tell me what difference there is between the January 6, attack on the White House and The Night Of Broken Glass in Germany during the 1930's. There are many others. The people of Germany could not have possibly foreseen where Nazism would lead when it first appeared shortly after WW!. We do, so we have no excuse if we do not stop it.
Accept our civic responsibility and demand more of politicians. The easiest way is to simply vote the bastard out. It is ca disgrace to the very concept of democracy that a man as depraved as Trump could attain the nomination of his party in the first place.
You did it once , you do it again.. If he gets in again you will truly have a Fascist government. Boycott all companies that donate to the Republican Party and let them know you are doing it. Corporations will drop him like a hot potato.
You used the exact sane phrase with regard to another person. You better believe I am serious. I have been a student of history for all my life. The Republican Party controlled by religious fundamentalists is in every sense of the word a Fascist Party. The sooner the voter recognizes that and the better it will be for everyone.
I'm not sure if it's a return of authoritarianism in America as much as an exploitation and inflaming of tendencies that have been evident in recent US state governments and Trump has weaponized this effectively as he's the one megaphone who can tap into this.
While we seek to find examples such as the rise of Nazism in Germany, the reality is that authoritative tendencies are rampant globally and researchers are proving this.
For example many Canadians celebrate the protesters in Hong Kong yet don't realize as they've never met any protesters or spoke to them as I have about their world views to find that they personally possess authoritarian characteristics and imposition of their wills over the masses.
Authoritarianism stems from our world views as how authority, uniformity and obedience should be exercised over others. It just so happens that many Canadians seeing rising crime rates don't focus on the causes but demand jailing and no bail basically and abhor governments merely tweaking the policies.
Today the SOGI protests across Canada are authoritarian in nature no doubt funded by those who want to impose their wills on the masses. It's a challenge to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by the rise of hatred attacks. Sadly, we have to choose sides.
Canada faces our own challenges in authoritarianism as politically these days there's far less civility, everything's a scandal and facts don't matter.
We blame rising inflation and income stagnation on the federal government yet this is nonsensical on its surface. OECD for example tracks many stats and one I've seen is how as union membership declined so did real incomes.
The left got it right. When the global free trade elections of the 1980s and the corresponding freedom of movement of labour and capital were all in place, that coincided with the flatlining of real incomes.
If you are a right leaning, conservative minded person in any country, studies show that you're prone to responding positively to calls for authoritarian actions as for those folks, the ends justifies the means. Canada too is at risk and Pierre Polievre is the right man with the reckless, fact-free views to tap into this.
Just want to add to how the influence of our world views impact the latent tendencies in all people.
Right now in Canada we have the Leader of the Opposition and his adherents putting out videos like Vancouver is Dying. They stoke fear, anger and hatred of institutions.
I follow a number of university friends from the '70s on Facebook. Some now are being influenced by this nonsense. Interestingly among two of those who believed there were more politically aligned further to the left than I was - a middle of the road, liberally minded person - I've witnessed a significant change where they post daily every street crime and increasingly post right wing diatribes to lock them up without bail.
Yet others see the issues as flowing from conditions in society these days and the fix is not more jails but better basic income schemes, affordable housing and access to services.
I'm in my 70s and when I go to the gym were there a mix of students and working people from teens to people in other age groups I see community. When I attend public events I like this past year's BMO Marathon events in Vancouver with over 20,000 participants in three different events plus thousands of spectators I see a community that makes me proud to be a Canadian. I drove a friend to the start line at 5:30 am that Sunday morning and as we drove there there were special buses and lots of vehicles all heading to this event.
If you default strategy is authoritarian ideas you're losing that most vital of sense - community.
If you're mired in these negative thinking in your social circle you need new friends.
Feels like the end of the Rome Republic
Yep. I’ve been thinking that since 2016. The constant attempts by media, pundits, and even longtime politicians, to normalize and minimize the danger,…have been incredibly difficult to comprehend. It’s as if people are more worried about being alarmist, than doing what they can to educate others about current realities.
These are tough times. You say "authoritarianiism" like it's a bad thing. We need to check our assumptions about liberalism, justice and human rights to begin with.
African "democracies" run by family dynasties who hoard wealth while colonial powers steal resources for example. Or the imposition, by whining and badgering, of the use of pronouns in government. To cite only two examples.
Colour me optimistic. We've had four years of old people dying and teenagers getting the vote.
Trump has consolidated his base, but not grown it, so victory is going to be elusive. Every analyst agrees with Mr. Moscrop that he "Can" win; but I don't think they're taking into account the rabid intensity of the forces that would rise up to defeat him once we get past the primaries.
Stop and think what it means to threaten the most-powerful people in the USA, and give them a year to get ready to mitigate the threat. The usual power calculus is that the Left has few or no champions of great wealth and corporate power. Trump's threats really do promise economic devastation, because investors would fear losing a whole project if Trump decided they were an object lesson, or wasn't satisfied with the bribes. The whole DeSantis/Disney fracas indicates that serving their holy Base will even cause them to harm corporate profits.
Meanwhile, the IRA has another year to make a bunch of large projects dependent on continued Green beliefs. Trump would shut them all down.
So, I think there would be massive economic and volunteer support for the Beat Trump project, larger than 2020. I don't see the Republicans doing better than 2020.
Oh, and for dessert, I'll just keep my money on the table, that the legal woes will eventually do Trump more harm than good. They are helpful while he's still fighting - the warrior image - but every case he loses moves him deeper into "loser" category that is poisonous for his image.
And, extra dessert today: I really think Trump's speech is still deteriorating. We are one "real journalist" away from an interview that makes him sound like Silly 'Ol Granpa.
This inflammatory piece is well off the mark of reality. I agree that Trump has authoritarian inclinations and the there are mildly disturbing similarities to El Duce. I would not vote for him.
But this piece is singularly anti-Trump and is pro-nothing. From this piece, you'd conclude that the author simply wants US voters to stay home.
In reality, the US situation is a vote on the lessor-of-2-evils-- action-oriented, authoritarian Trump or corrupt mentally challenged Biden. Given experience with both, I'd bet that the US will be better off with Trump--particularly internationally. But me? I'd vote for a credible, mid-road candidate (were one to exist).
Staid, what makes you believe I'm not "serious"?
Have you read any of Brian Klass’ books (or his Substack posts)?
No, any good?
His Tweets and Substack have made good points and I added ‘Corruptible...’ to my reading list. Have not yet started it though. And I think he has a newer book out that interests me. Too many damn books I want to read...and I get distracted by sports, and burbon/whiskey. 🤦♂️
Don't we all!