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It's easy to forget sometimes that our leaders are still humans. Bill Clinton was as human as Saddam Hussein - the only difference is that the US has strong ins
by mkaziz 10y ago
It's easy to forget sometimes that our leaders are still humans. Bill Clinton was as human as Saddam Hussein - the only difference is that the US has strong institutions to check the powers of its human leaders, so Bill never became a Saddam. People like Donald Trump rise when when those institutions are rattled either internally (the GOP sold itself to hurt Obama) or externally (9/11 rattled the national apparatus and consciousness so much that the Iraq war was greenlighted, despite the tenuous link there).
The key is to focus on the institutions. As long as the institutions remain strong, we may be able to weather the occasional rogue leader.
- jbattle 10y agoI'm often struck how long the roman empire was able to continue operating even with terrible emperors at the helm for years or even decades. You almost get the sense that a Augustus or Trajan or Justinian was able to refill some deep well of energy / tradition / momentum in the bureaucracy that was then able to sustain itself through long decades of indifference or mismanagement. The time scales are mind-boggling compared to our typical 4/8 year perspective.
- manopeace 10y agoThings change more rapidly now a days.
- stcredzero 10y agoDon't forget "Sword in Hand" Aurelian. Roman History can be seen as a period of rise, then prolonged decline/decay, punctuated by resurgences helmed by great leaders. The Roman Empire worked because it was able to harness the self-interest of many parties and the population in general. It is a model of oppression through the exploitation of self interest and class distinction. (A system fluid enough for slaves to work their way up to becoming wealthy citizens.) Amazing how many parallels there are between the US and the Roman Empire.
- tremon 10y agoHaven't your institutions been subverted already? Secret courts, asset forfeiture, parallel construction, NSLs?
- YeGoblynQueenne 10y agoSo, what institutions are those that enable extrajudicial killings of your own citizens by drone? Or is Obama too, a rogue leader? Guantanamo? Is there an institution that allows that, or was it a "rogue leader" that enabled that? Iraq? Afghanistan? Bosnia? I don't even remember what war Regan was involved in and the guy before him and the guy before that guy. It seems like every US president in living memory, has made it a point to either start or continue an invasion of a sovereign nation against international law, reason and morality alike. (apologies for the harsh tone; please feel free to reciprocate)