I sympathize with what you’re saying. There are points at which actively avoiding politics is being complicit with what is happening. But I think to understand

I sympathize with what you’re saying. There are points at which actively avoiding politics is being complicit with what is happening. But I think to understand that people need to have more interest in history, and really have strong democratic values. If people don’t and won’t then they will just continue to rationalize and find excuses for everything while the pot slowly continues to boil. Too many people seem think that democracies end and authoritarian regimes happen in big/quick and obvious events. Too many people value power more than democracy and think power by any means will only hurt their “enemies.” So many ignore or foolishly support the slide into authoritarianism. The situation here in the US is complex with so many factors at play, and not all of it is unique. There seems to have been a surge in authoritarian sentiment in many countries over the past decade. To ignore it is peril IMO. But I don’t know how HN could be the place to address this. It would require strong moderation. It would require HN (the community) to first even agree that we have a problem.