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Original poster

US democracy is about to die

260 replies

StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:03

... So many indicators for this, the most recent is Trump calling for the DoJ to go after his enemies:

Dear American friends, I hope you find a peaceful way out of this. As for us here, I can only hope we keep the contagion at bay.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIfD6vMtmj0

OP posts:
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Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:15

I truly think part of the problem is how civic education has been completely neglected these past decades. Understanding what institutions do and how democracy works really should be mandatory for any school leaver. I'm always appalled at how little understanding there is out there on the subject. I happen to care about this topic but I see many don't.

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ForLilacLeader · 16/03/2025 14:14

StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:12

That's what 99% of diplomacy is about though. That's the job.

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only if its relevent to a cause etc, i dont see how just slandering or libel would help any cause other than name calling

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:13

And it's not 'tit for tat' - if someone offends you you answer, you engage with them.

OP posts:
kattaduck · 16/03/2025 14:12

Mrsdyna · 16/03/2025 13:55

Are you a gang member OP?

Well according to the Alien Enemies act the OP doesn't have to be one, she just has to be suspected ( and be older than 14). And from a country that the US is curretly at war with.
Which as far as I know is not Venezuela.
Thankfully there are still judges who are not afraid to stand up to Trump.

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:12

ForLilacLeader · 16/03/2025 14:11

but why get drawn in a tit for tat arguing etc when it wastes time

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That's what 99% of diplomacy is about though. That's the job.

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ForLilacLeader · 16/03/2025 14:11

StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:10

An appropriate and proportionate response would be to criticise, answer back, refute etc. not expel!

but why get drawn in a tit for tat arguing etc when it wastes time

Maitri108 · 16/03/2025 14:11

FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 16/03/2025 13:56

I am no Trump defender and he may indeed have terrible and huge plans for democracy... But the idea that his goal is to declare martial law doesn't make sense. There would be a civil war immediately.

Actually, maybe just a coup because the last thing MAGA supporters want is more government control....

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But Trump said many times that he wanted to militarise the police.Trump declared a national emergency which required the use of the armed forces in January.

There's the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act which gives the President emergency powers to use the military against citizens. He's sacked military leaders and is replacing them with yes men.

He can convince the MAGAs by telling them he's doing it to get rid off immigrants. As you can see above, Americans think he's trying to get rid off terrorists. They don't see it as him eroding basic rights.

KenAdams · 16/03/2025 14:11

Happyinarcon · 16/03/2025 14:05

If America bans gender neutral bathrooms I’ll book a holiday there

You won't be able to get there though as plane bathrooms are gender neutral.

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:10

And by the way, Breitbart... never biased is it?

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Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:10

An appropriate and proportionate response would be to criticise, answer back, refute etc. not expel!

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ForLilacLeader · 16/03/2025 14:08

StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:36

Yes, this regime is about dismantling the rule of law. The fact that dangerous foreign criminals have no place in a country is cynically being used as a pretext to control everyone that is perceived as being an enemy.
The US is not at war with South Africa for example and yet its ambassador is being expelled from the US because, quote, he doesn't like Trump!

well you have freedom of speech but the lack of manners "Mr Rubio reposted an article from the right-wing website Breitbart that quoted the envoy saying in a webinar that Mr Trump was leading a white “supremacist” movement."

Breitbart | The Independent

The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/breitbart

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:06

BooToYouHalloween · 16/03/2025 14:05

🙄

I do think after Covid people are desperate to constantly be trying to find the next catastrophe. It really isn’t helpful. YABU.

Well, as someone who ended up being very ill with COVID five years ago and losing my job in the middle of the pandemic, another disaster is really not what I want...
However denying reality has never helped anyone. It'll affect you whether you like it or not.

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Happyinarcon · 16/03/2025 14:05

If America bans gender neutral bathrooms I’ll book a holiday there

ForLilacLeader · 16/03/2025 14:05

LauderSyme · 16/03/2025 13:36

@BigDecisionWorthIt "How does the Alien Enemies act impact Western Nations?"

I didn't say it does, directly. But it's invocation is an indication of the fascist direction in which the US government is heading, and that affects us all. Just ask 1930s Europeans.

You are naive in the extreme if you think Trump will restrict himself to using the Act purely to remove terrorists. He already had the powers to do that.

Anyway, he doesn't care about terrorists when their agenda serves him and his positions. He supports them and celebrates them and pardons them.

Much like he doesn't care about rapists and criminals in the country. He talks about deporting all the illegal ones whilst importing Andrew Tate. He doesn't give a shit about the crimes, only the ethnicity of the perpetrators.

but considering what its being used for then why is that a bad thing ?

BooToYouHalloween · 16/03/2025 14:05

🙄

I do think after Covid people are desperate to constantly be trying to find the next catastrophe. It really isn’t helpful. YABU.

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 14:03

the last thing MAGA supporters want is more government control....

MAGA is a cult. MAGA only cares about MAGA so if MAGA can control everything they'll go right along with it.

As for a civil war, I suspect the real issue that the opposition is facing right now is that they don't want to be accused of starting one as that might indeed give Trump an excuse for an even worse power grab.

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PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 16/03/2025 14:02

LizzieSiddal · 16/03/2025 13:38

It’s scary and happening I plain sight. Someone has got to start standing up to him.

Edited

They won't though.

Those who can are burying their heads in the sand - they have been since he launched his presidential campaign - counting on the vain hope that he won't do what he says, that it's all bluff & bluster, ignoring the evidence in front of their eyes. Political commentators are pinning their hopes on the remaining checks & balances of US law. It's naive.

I need to fact check it but I understand he has tasked military leaders to plan an invasion to take the Panama Canal. Rumour is that he'll do the same for Canada & Greenland and there is no reason to doubt this.

The rest of Europe needs to wake up to the fact that within months the US will not simply be an "unreliable ally" but that we could easily find ourselves at war with both the US & Russia.

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/03/2025 14:00

LizzieSiddal · Today 13:38

It’s scary and happening I plain sight. Someone has got to start standing up to him

I think that will be Mark Carney.

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:59

Mrsdyna · 16/03/2025 13:55

Are you a gang member OP?

LoL.
I am someone who cares very much for the values of the Enlightenment that the US republic represented up until now - flawed, like any state but I believed in its values. I have been travelling to the US for decades and have many friends there as well as professional ties. I find it very hard to witness the erosion of democratic values. It's done openly and brazenly as well.
Talking of gangsters, the core issue with dictatorships is that they're a mafia by another name. Gangsters with nukes.

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FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 16/03/2025 13:56

Maitri108 · 16/03/2025 13:31

I'm afraid it's happening at pace while the world watches. It's rumoured that Trump is deliberately creating havoc so that he can bring in martial law - nothing would surprise me.

People need to start acting rather than holding up signs. The fact that the Republicans are waving pom poms while he dismantles the state is a concern.

I am no Trump defender and he may indeed have terrible and huge plans for democracy... But the idea that his goal is to declare martial law doesn't make sense. There would be a civil war immediately.

Actually, maybe just a coup because the last thing MAGA supporters want is more government control....

Mrsdyna · 16/03/2025 13:55

Are you a gang member OP?

Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:50

...But we're not quite there yet i guess. There's still some way to go.

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Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:49

I genuinely think that the best thing we can do (for those outside of the US) is to keep supporting those Americans who understand and loathe what is going on. The worst would be to bin the whole country wholesale. The entire world governed by liberal democracies should stand against this outrage and support those Americans who want to keep their country alive. Much like France's De Gaulle found refuge in Britain as the leader of free France in exile... Petain was a horror; De Gaulle kept the spirit of the republic alive.

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Original poster
StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:45

The entire system of checks and balances is considered by his followers to be an inconvenience.

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Maitri108 · 16/03/2025 13:44

StandFirm · 16/03/2025 13:36

Yes, this regime is about dismantling the rule of law. The fact that dangerous foreign criminals have no place in a country is cynically being used as a pretext to control everyone that is perceived as being an enemy.
The US is not at war with South Africa for example and yet its ambassador is being expelled from the US because, quote, he doesn't like Trump!

Have you heard about his UN questionnaire? He's looking to pull the US out of the UN and has already banned members of the ICC from the States. He's also drawn up a list of countries that are banned as well.