Note: This photo released by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shows damage to the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after a fire Sunday, April 13, 2025.
I echo what Janice has said. I feel less alone knowing there are others who feel as I do. I was a Political Science major and once felt optimistic about our institutions.
I can't follow the syntax of your last sentence, with the word "outshot," which I also don't understand. Please explain? I don't understand Limited Democracy either. I understand "zones of lawlessness," as described by Aziz Huq in an article in the May Atlantic about how autocrats create them, as did Hitler. I recommend this article.
Sorry for the confusion relating to oddball contemporary language usage.
"Outshot" as in "takeaway" food for thought.
"Limited Democracy" is described by a number of scholars on the subject of authoritarianism and fascism. Yuval Noah Harari, Timothy Snyder, and a bunch of folks who have written about how democracies can come undone use some of these terms because there are importance nuances. It's not just full Democracy of Nazi Germany is part of the key distinctions. People too often fall into black and white thinking which leads us down dangerous paths, assumptions, and complacency. There's a lot we can do to ensure that our Democracy does not crumble entirely.
We remain far from other historical examples of authoritarian rule thought we're getting closer to Erdogan's Turkey. There's this really scary quote from Erdogan that I think about often:
"Democracy is like a train: when we reach our destination, we get off."
thanks. I thought "outshot" meant takeaway. Snyder and Huq are saying similar things with different terms. Huq talks about Hitler creating a dual nation in which the normative state continues for the most part, to keep the economy going, while the prerogative state, in which one strongman can do whatever he wants, grows larger. Courts and laws continue for the sake of most people, while dissenters are whisked away. As under Stalin. Singapore is a contemporary example of a dual state. The danger to Democracy is that if only a few people get taken away, those who aren't affected by it won't say anything.
That's interesting about Singapore. Notable that they are a prosperous state though the laws are extremely strict. It's also easily controlled as it's about 300 miles across.
As long as that declared-innocent man remains in El Salvador, people think the Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping him there because a website said so, women are prosecuted for miscarrying, etc., how much farther does the train have to travel? Maybe till April 20?
I'd like to believe our standing army, our intelligence agencies, other powerful entities will only allow the law to be pushed so far before they take matters into their own hands.
The leaders of the army have been already been replaced by loyalists, same with the intelligence agencies. Indivisible is mobilizing, as a nationwide organization that helps local groups. Members of groups in NY are discussing how to train to perform civil disobedience. Heather Cox Richardson and Jasmine Crockett are mobilizing in various states through a new group, Red, Wine, and Blue. Trump is set up to trigger the Insurrection Act on April 20. DOD has to approve it. Which means Hegseth. A colleague of ours told us today that the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Trump re Garcia. This is what Trump is saying, the exact opposite of the truth. We sent our colleague a transcript of the decision from the Supreme Court website, which, so far, still exists. I think we, you and I and others, are the powerful entities who will have to take things into our own hands. As an old poet friend of mine used to joke in the 60s, we'll be shooting it out with the Feds. Now, with the "anti-Feds?" I don't want to shoot anyone. Or get shot. I'm glad Harvard stood up for the rule of law.
The photo that got me was the burnt remnants of Passover crafts from that night's festivities. I'm not shocked by the lack of acknowledgement from #47, but I am shocked by how numb I'm becoming to the constant onslaught of terrible news we are experiencing. Which, of course, is what "they" want. I don't know how we are all expected to stay sane and get to Midterms in one piece. I tried to do a rewatch of the West Wing back in November - I've binged the series at least five times and this time had to quit in the middle of the first season. It was too painful to watch. I want to believe we aren't too far gone to fine our way back to what the US can be. I think things will only continue to get worse before the pendulum can swing in the other direction.
(Sorry, I'm usually able to find a bright side/spin and I'm falling short here)
Definitely, Katie. The burnt Passover crafts image is disturbing.
With you about it becoming increasingly disturbing that we are starting to get a little numb to these horrors. Part of the strategy. Part of "flood the zone" tactics. The endless bombardment.
Well, sounds like I'm not alone in The West Wing tragedy. A smaller tragedy though still a loss. A loss of personal fulfillment but, moreover, a loss in a the sense that we're likely to return to anything resembling that level of almost good-natured political engagement. Even the "bad guys" are almost wholesome by Trumpian standards.
I don't think all is lost. I do think we'll find a way to pivot to what's next. The question becomes what these next phase (multiple phases, really) will look like. A far cry from the cultural "feel" of the Bill Clinton era administration.
It's a "New World Order" and we need to find some better angels fast.
I echo what Janice has said. I feel less alone knowing there are others who feel as I do. I was a Political Science major and once felt optimistic about our institutions.
Horrifying event.
I can't follow the syntax of your last sentence, with the word "outshot," which I also don't understand. Please explain? I don't understand Limited Democracy either. I understand "zones of lawlessness," as described by Aziz Huq in an article in the May Atlantic about how autocrats create them, as did Hitler. I recommend this article.
Sorry for the confusion relating to oddball contemporary language usage.
"Outshot" as in "takeaway" food for thought.
"Limited Democracy" is described by a number of scholars on the subject of authoritarianism and fascism. Yuval Noah Harari, Timothy Snyder, and a bunch of folks who have written about how democracies can come undone use some of these terms because there are importance nuances. It's not just full Democracy of Nazi Germany is part of the key distinctions. People too often fall into black and white thinking which leads us down dangerous paths, assumptions, and complacency. There's a lot we can do to ensure that our Democracy does not crumble entirely.
We remain far from other historical examples of authoritarian rule thought we're getting closer to Erdogan's Turkey. There's this really scary quote from Erdogan that I think about often:
"Democracy is like a train: when we reach our destination, we get off."
thanks. I thought "outshot" meant takeaway. Snyder and Huq are saying similar things with different terms. Huq talks about Hitler creating a dual nation in which the normative state continues for the most part, to keep the economy going, while the prerogative state, in which one strongman can do whatever he wants, grows larger. Courts and laws continue for the sake of most people, while dissenters are whisked away. As under Stalin. Singapore is a contemporary example of a dual state. The danger to Democracy is that if only a few people get taken away, those who aren't affected by it won't say anything.
Right, notable point at the end there... the degree to which a kind of "secret police" ends up being used...
That's interesting about Singapore. Notable that they are a prosperous state though the laws are extremely strict. It's also easily controlled as it's about 300 miles across.
As long as that declared-innocent man remains in El Salvador, people think the Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping him there because a website said so, women are prosecuted for miscarrying, etc., how much farther does the train have to travel? Maybe till April 20?
It's been clear for a while now.
I'm confident there are groups mobilizing.
I'd like to believe our standing army, our intelligence agencies, other powerful entities will only allow the law to be pushed so far before they take matters into their own hands.
The leaders of the army have been already been replaced by loyalists, same with the intelligence agencies. Indivisible is mobilizing, as a nationwide organization that helps local groups. Members of groups in NY are discussing how to train to perform civil disobedience. Heather Cox Richardson and Jasmine Crockett are mobilizing in various states through a new group, Red, Wine, and Blue. Trump is set up to trigger the Insurrection Act on April 20. DOD has to approve it. Which means Hegseth. A colleague of ours told us today that the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Trump re Garcia. This is what Trump is saying, the exact opposite of the truth. We sent our colleague a transcript of the decision from the Supreme Court website, which, so far, still exists. I think we, you and I and others, are the powerful entities who will have to take things into our own hands. As an old poet friend of mine used to joke in the 60s, we'll be shooting it out with the Feds. Now, with the "anti-Feds?" I don't want to shoot anyone. Or get shot. I'm glad Harvard stood up for the rule of law.
Thank you for sharing your sensible and well-articulated thoughts and observations.
The photo that got me was the burnt remnants of Passover crafts from that night's festivities. I'm not shocked by the lack of acknowledgement from #47, but I am shocked by how numb I'm becoming to the constant onslaught of terrible news we are experiencing. Which, of course, is what "they" want. I don't know how we are all expected to stay sane and get to Midterms in one piece. I tried to do a rewatch of the West Wing back in November - I've binged the series at least five times and this time had to quit in the middle of the first season. It was too painful to watch. I want to believe we aren't too far gone to fine our way back to what the US can be. I think things will only continue to get worse before the pendulum can swing in the other direction.
(Sorry, I'm usually able to find a bright side/spin and I'm falling short here)
Definitely, Katie. The burnt Passover crafts image is disturbing.
With you about it becoming increasingly disturbing that we are starting to get a little numb to these horrors. Part of the strategy. Part of "flood the zone" tactics. The endless bombardment.
Well, sounds like I'm not alone in The West Wing tragedy. A smaller tragedy though still a loss. A loss of personal fulfillment but, moreover, a loss in a the sense that we're likely to return to anything resembling that level of almost good-natured political engagement. Even the "bad guys" are almost wholesome by Trumpian standards.
I don't think all is lost. I do think we'll find a way to pivot to what's next. The question becomes what these next phase (multiple phases, really) will look like. A far cry from the cultural "feel" of the Bill Clinton era administration.
It's a "New World Order" and we need to find some better angels fast.
There was also lack of acknowledgment by the Attorney General.