The US is trending towards authoritarian government under Trump.
Review the basic characteristics of a government heading towart authoritarian ism and the US is experiencing almost all under Trump,
If a left wing zealot is elected next, they will have the excessive powers to do what they want.
What are the top elements of the authoritarian playbook?
- Divide and rule: Foment mistrust and fear; actively scapegoat and pit groups against each other.
- Spread lies and conspiracies: Actively promote mis/disinfo; undermine the public’s belief in truth.
- Destroy checks and balances and undermine institutions: Quietly use legal or pseudo-legal rationales to gut institutions (bureaucracies, courts, electoral institutions), undermine their independence, and weaken opposition.
- Demonize opponents and independent media: Undermine the public’s trust in those actors and institutions that hold the state accountable.
- Undermine civil and political rights and criminalize dissent: Actively suppress free speech, the right to assembly and protest and the rights of women and minority groups; restrict NGO activities.
- Blame minorities, immigrants, and “outsiders” for a country’s problems: Exploit national humiliation while promising to restore national glory.
- Deploy military forces to address public security problems and/or declare national emergencies to seize unconstitutional powers.
- Reward loyalists and punish defectors: Make in-group members fearful to voice dissention.
- Encourage or condone violence to advance political goals: Dehumanize opposition and/or out-groups to justify violence against them.
- Organize mass rallies to keep supporters mobilized against made-up threats: Use fearmongering and hate speech to consolidate in-group identity and solidarity.
- Make people feel like they are powerless to change things: Solutions will only come from the top.
