Great piece, Amanda. This 4th of July is so surreal considering the state of our government, which is a perfect distillation of its now-goal of making real the wishes and whims of Donald Trump. At least King George had a Parliament who made him drop his war against the colonies because they got tired of financing it.
With the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, and it’s possible replication all over the country, it looks like JD Vance is getting the answer as to whether Trump is America’s Hitler, and he’s egging him on.
Great article (as usual). I am afraid though that it may be time to review America's founding myth and adapt it to the facts. At the time, the UK was already largely a DEMOCRATIC monarchy. Just like today, all European monarchies are 100% democratic. The whole point of "no taxation without representation" had more to do with the fact that the first goal of a government is to keep its citizens safe, something that was almost impossible to do in a time without internet when (1) the government is an ocean away and receives news about violence often too late to be able to intervene, and (2) the local population is extremely violent itself (killing most Native Americans).
The US Constitution clearly rejects both a monarchy and tyranny/authoritarianism/fascism, and installs a democratic republic.
Today, however, the neofascist GOP isn't trying to install a monarchy. That would mean trying to change the Constitution so that Trump's eldest son automatically becomes president. No want wants that (probably not even his eldest son, although who knows?).
The GOP is installing fascism, which means giving over the power of the legislative branch of government (Congress) and the judiciary to the executive branch (all of it, not just the president; and contemporary forms of neofascism show that often, the power of government is handed over to the executive branch and a handful of monarch swirling around it). In this case, Trump is mostly interested in money and golfing and personal adulation, certainly not governing. It's the neofascists standing behind him who write his executive orders and explain them to him - the price he happily paid to be able to stay out of jail and become wealthier than ever before.
Fascism also means taxation without representation. The Big Obscene Bill will INCREASE taxes for the poorest Americans, while taking away their public services.
So yes, the Fourth of July is a great reminder in times like these. But it's a reminder America rejected authoritarianism, not just the idea of a monarchy.
Great piece, Amanda. This 4th of July is so surreal considering the state of our government, which is a perfect distillation of its now-goal of making real the wishes and whims of Donald Trump. At least King George had a Parliament who made him drop his war against the colonies because they got tired of financing it.
With the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, and it’s possible replication all over the country, it looks like JD Vance is getting the answer as to whether Trump is America’s Hitler, and he’s egging him on.
Thank you Amanda. Miss listening to you on the Bulwark so please show up as a guest soon.
Great article (as usual). I am afraid though that it may be time to review America's founding myth and adapt it to the facts. At the time, the UK was already largely a DEMOCRATIC monarchy. Just like today, all European monarchies are 100% democratic. The whole point of "no taxation without representation" had more to do with the fact that the first goal of a government is to keep its citizens safe, something that was almost impossible to do in a time without internet when (1) the government is an ocean away and receives news about violence often too late to be able to intervene, and (2) the local population is extremely violent itself (killing most Native Americans).
The US Constitution clearly rejects both a monarchy and tyranny/authoritarianism/fascism, and installs a democratic republic.
Today, however, the neofascist GOP isn't trying to install a monarchy. That would mean trying to change the Constitution so that Trump's eldest son automatically becomes president. No want wants that (probably not even his eldest son, although who knows?).
The GOP is installing fascism, which means giving over the power of the legislative branch of government (Congress) and the judiciary to the executive branch (all of it, not just the president; and contemporary forms of neofascism show that often, the power of government is handed over to the executive branch and a handful of monarch swirling around it). In this case, Trump is mostly interested in money and golfing and personal adulation, certainly not governing. It's the neofascists standing behind him who write his executive orders and explain them to him - the price he happily paid to be able to stay out of jail and become wealthier than ever before.
Fascism also means taxation without representation. The Big Obscene Bill will INCREASE taxes for the poorest Americans, while taking away their public services.
So yes, the Fourth of July is a great reminder in times like these. But it's a reminder America rejected authoritarianism, not just the idea of a monarchy.
It seems you are using a negative perspective. Over-analyzing.
Because the upside of fascism is... ? Any idea?