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Like a lot of countries, the constitutional set of checks and balances was predicated on the fact that the majority of those involved were basically trying to "

Like a lot of countries, the constitutional set of checks and balances was predicated on the fact that the majority of those involved were basically trying to "do the right thing". It's effectively a state-level gentleman's agreement, where it is assumed that any bad actor is in the minority, and can be dealt with while they remain the minority. This falls apart if they're not the minority - i.e. you failed to deal with them while they were a minority. There were levers designed expressly to deal with things like this - impeachment, etc. - they weren't used because one side thought that it would play out in their favour. As they will probably learn, it plays out in nobodies favour.

exitb 2y ago
While I won't claim there are countries that are immune to the effects of persistent grifting, the speed at which US was taken over is quite surprising for a European. In most liberal democracies there just is no single person with even half as much power, as the US president has over his country.
- kolektiv 2y ago
  Agreed - I'm also a European (well, geographically, no longer EU unfortunately).
- jajko 2y ago
  Well, it was a strength as long as people wielding such power acted at least a bit morally and with higher purpose than their petty egos. But now it shows its weakness. But things would have to get much much worse (and they probably will) before US population in general steps down a notch from that pedestal of 'US is the greatest and most free country in the world yadayada' and admits that well, we've fucked up and how to make sure this won't happen again. If there would still be a way to correct all this after his term/death eventually since he won't give up power easily, which I sincerely don't think will be the case anymore.
- potato3732842 2y ago
  >While I won't claim there are countries that are immune to the effects of persistent grifting, the speed at which US was taken over is quite surprising for a European That's because you guys get the CNN 5min recap version of American politics and therefore you didn't see the discontent that's been brewing since the 00s when US was sufficiently annoyed with establishment types to elect a young(er than the typical federal political) black guy who ran on a platform of change. The populists will continue to win elections until morale improves.
alabastervlog 2y ago
As with damn near everything else seriously wrong with this country, the trouble is the two-party system. A real fix requires fixing the constitution so our government can stably support several viable parties rather than two, forcing coalition-building after the election. If we had two parties for the anti-abortion voters, the “come and take them” folks, et c, to vote for without throwing their votes away, things might look very different now. Trump’s this powerful because he exploited weaknesses in one of the two “tents” and captured the whole thing, it would have been far harder for him to get so far if there were another party palatable to the right. Unfortunately, the two-party systems serves those two parties well, and also serves the rich better than a more multipolar system (it’s easier to deal with), so this is a flaw that we cannot practically fix.

exitb 2y ago

While I won't claim there are countries that are immune to the effects of persistent grifting, the speed at which US was taken over is quite surprising for a European. In most liberal democracies there just is no single person with even half as much power, as the US president has over his country.

kolektiv 2y ago
Agreed - I'm also a European (well, geographically, no longer EU unfortunately).
jajko 2y ago
Well, it was a strength as long as people wielding such power acted at least a bit morally and with higher purpose than their petty egos. But now it shows its weakness. But things would have to get much much worse (and they probably will) before US population in general steps down a notch from that pedestal of 'US is the greatest and most free country in the world yadayada' and admits that well, we've fucked up and how to make sure this won't happen again. If there would still be a way to correct all this after his term/death eventually since he won't give up power easily, which I sincerely don't think will be the case anymore.
potato3732842 2y ago
>While I won't claim there are countries that are immune to the effects of persistent grifting, the speed at which US was taken over is quite surprising for a European That's because you guys get the CNN 5min recap version of American politics and therefore you didn't see the discontent that's been brewing since the 00s when US was sufficiently annoyed with establishment types to elect a young(er than the typical federal political) black guy who ran on a platform of change. The populists will continue to win elections until morale improves.

alabastervlog 2y ago

As with damn near everything else seriously wrong with this country, the trouble is the two-party system. A real fix requires fixing the constitution so our government can stably support several viable parties rather than two, forcing coalition-building after the election. If we had two parties for the anti-abortion voters, the “come and take them” folks, et c, to vote for without throwing their votes away, things might look very different now. Trump’s this powerful because he exploited weaknesses in one of the two “tents” and captured the whole thing, it would have been far harder for him to get so far if there were another party palatable to the right. Unfortunately, the two-party systems serves those two parties well, and also serves the rich better than a more multipolar system (it’s easier to deal with), so this is a flaw that we cannot practically fix.