Last worries that we might now be in a transition to authoritarianism of the kind Russia went through in the 1990s, but I visited Russia often in those days, and much of the Russian democratic implosion was driven by genuinely brutal economic conditions and the rapid collapse of basic public services. Americans have done this to themselves during a time of peace, prosperity, and astonishingly high living standards. An affluent society that thinks it is living in a hellscape is ripe for gulling by dictators who are willing to play along with such delusions.
This is the problem. Americans are not living “affluent” lives. They may have iphones and Netflix, but they are struggling to make rent and buy groceries. Their credit cards are getting maxed out. And their wages are staying flat, certainly relative to the sharp increase in the price of everything.
Americans are hurting economically right now. I wouldn’t compare the situation to Russia, but seeing your bank account disappear, your debt grow, and no solution in sight is a recipe for desperation.
It was the economy, stupid.
But the “economy” on paper is indeed fine, there is just itty detail that it doesn’t trickle down to most voters, who will then seek shelter from these madmen with the other idiot they find selling an even worse alternative…
It’s just inflexible that the american system only enables two parties.
That’s not how Republicans do. They’ll love every second of their own oppression so long as women/queer/colored/etc people are being oppressed too.
Like crabs in a bucket
The irony that many low income idiots who rely upon the very safety nets that the Republicans are targeting to limit or destroy is palpable.
They will lose that support and some how do the mental gymnastics to blame the Democrats for it sadly
