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Kurt Gödel, famous Austrian mathematician, was afraid that the US constitution has a flaw which makes it vulnerable to a similar seizure of power. Unfortunately

Kurt Gödel, famous Austrian mathematician, was afraid that the US constitution has a flaw which makes it vulnerable to a similar seizure of power. Unfortunately, he never wrote down what it is, so we don't know what he was concerned about specifically. Fortunately, the event most similar to the Reichstag fire - January 6th - did not in reality lead the US down that kind of path. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del's_Loophole https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del's_Loophole

llamaimperative 2y ago
There seems to be quite a few such loopholes. Another one is POTUS’s ability to suspend Congress indefinitely when there is a “disagreement” between the House and Senate as to whether they’re in recess. It’s not clear what “disagreement” means and hypothetically the courts could disagree, but even in light of that you’re talking about 1 POTUS, 1 Congressional majority leader, and a few Justices required to suspend Congress indefinitely. (Article 2 Section 3)
Fluorescence 2y ago
Jan 6th would be the Beer Hall Putsch. Notable this time round for no legal consequences for the main character. A Reichstag Fire would be an inciting event early in the next term, committed by a member of a regime out-group, used to justify radically increasing authoritarian and prejudicial rule. Given the events of the last few weeks, it feels like there will be plentiful opportunities if wanted.
- tharmas 2y ago
  Jan 6th gets a lot of attention. But the Bush v Gore Florida count seems to have been completely forgotten. It ushered in what is quite arguably the worst Presidency in modern history. Jan 6th was blunt and obvious but Florida 2000 was far more surreptitious. I think it deserves more attention. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/politics/supreme-court-split-54-halts-florida-count-in-blow-to-gore.html https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/politics/supreme-court-sp...
dkuntz2 2y ago
january sixth was not the reichstag fire, it was the beer hall putsch

llamaimperative 2y ago

There seems to be quite a few such loopholes. Another one is POTUS’s ability to suspend Congress indefinitely when there is a “disagreement” between the House and Senate as to whether they’re in recess. It’s not clear what “disagreement” means and hypothetically the courts could disagree, but even in light of that you’re talking about 1 POTUS, 1 Congressional majority leader, and a few Justices required to suspend Congress indefinitely. (Article 2 Section 3)

Fluorescence 2y ago

Jan 6th would be the Beer Hall Putsch. Notable this time round for no legal consequences for the main character. A Reichstag Fire would be an inciting event early in the next term, committed by a member of a regime out-group, used to justify radically increasing authoritarian and prejudicial rule. Given the events of the last few weeks, it feels like there will be plentiful opportunities if wanted.

tharmas 2y ago
Jan 6th gets a lot of attention. But the Bush v Gore Florida count seems to have been completely forgotten. It ushered in what is quite arguably the worst Presidency in modern history. Jan 6th was blunt and obvious but Florida 2000 was far more surreptitious. I think it deserves more attention. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/politics/supreme-court-split-54-halts-florida-count-in-blow-to-gore.html https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/politics/supreme-court-sp...

dkuntz2 2y ago

january sixth was not the reichstag fire, it was the beer hall putsch