General Discussion

Skinner

(63,645 posts) Fri Dec 16, 2016, 10:59 AM Dec 2016

166

NYT: Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy? [View all]

This op-ed on the New York Times does a good job explaining why I find Trump so alarming. Worth reading the whole thing...

By STEVEN LEVITSKY and DANIEL ZIBLATT DEC. 16, 2016

Donald J. Trump’s election has raised a question that few Americans ever imagined asking: Is our democracy in danger? With the possible exception of the Civil War, American democracy has never collapsed; indeed, no democracy as rich or as established as America’s ever has. Yet past stability is no guarantee of democracy’s future survival.

We have spent two decades studying the emergence and breakdown of democracy in Europe and Latin America. Our research points to several warning signs.

The clearest warning sign is the ascent of anti-democratic politicians into mainstream politics. Drawing on a close study of democracy’s demise in 1930s Europe, the eminent political scientist Juan J. Linz designed a “litmus test” to identify anti-democratic politicians. His indicators include a failure to reject violence unambiguously, a readiness to curtail rivals’ civil liberties, and the denial of the legitimacy of elected governments.

Mr. Trump tests positive. In the campaign, he encouraged violence among supporters; pledged to prosecute Hillary Clinton; threatened legal action against unfriendly media; and suggested that he might not accept the election results.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/opinion/sunday/is-donald-trump-a-threat-to-democracy.html

121 replies

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Highlight:

NYT: Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy? [View all] Skinner Dec 2016 OP

K&R... spanone Dec 2016 #1

Yes, he is a threat. kentuck Dec 2016 #2

Yes we do. pangaia Dec 2016 #8

no, i think the question is mopinko Dec 2016 #15

With a Republican majority in Congress, the question is how much WILL he do; hamsterjill Dec 2016 #20

the uncertainty is a big part of the problem srobertss Dec 2016 #43

It's scary, because in many ways he's using the same tactics! Especially turning large RKP5637 Dec 2016 #104

Kicked and recommended. WheelWalker Dec 2016 #3

Definitely worth reading the entire thing. K & R Pacifist Patriot Dec 2016 #4

K&R. Not only a threat, a puppet of a foreign entity. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2016 #5

yes, to our democratic process of government bigtree Dec 2016 #6

If you have to ask . . . . . . no_hypocrisy Dec 2016 #7

This editorial will never be understood by Trumpski and his comrades GusBob Dec 2016 #9

tRump scares me madokie Dec 2016 #10

Me too, absolutely.. whathehell Dec 2016 #12

I agree with you. hamsterjill Dec 2016 #23

Yes, my major fear about him is whathehell Dec 2016 #59

"Say what you will Bob Loblaw Dec 2016 #70

Lol. whathehell Dec 2016 #88

He was Bob Loblaw Dec 2016 #89

and we will be just as dead tavalon Dec 2016 #86

Yes, exactly. n/t whathehell Dec 2016 #87

This! smirkymonkey Dec 2016 #99

Same here tavalon Dec 2016 #85

I sadly agree with you Pachamama Dec 2016 #95

Reminds me of how we felt with the rise of Hitler, all of the dictators back then! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2016 #105

Yes, he is a threat - and the republicans, in congress, well asiliveandbreathe Dec 2016 #11

A companion piece from Smithsonian, DU thread by Muriel Volestrangler UTUSN Dec 2016 #13

This is even a question? ananda Dec 2016 #14

YES He Is! Donald Trump, the Family of Donald Trump and the Presidency... Raster Dec 2016 #16

K&R! Omaha Steve Dec 2016 #17

Yes. And in related news, water is wet. malchickiwick Dec 2016 #18

Around here, the water is as hard as a rock. tclambert Dec 2016 #22

Anyone who doesn't pipi_k Dec 2016 #19

+1 hamsterjill Dec 2016 #24

The KKK, American Nazis(alt-right) the Russian dictator Putin workinclasszero Dec 2016 #21

The scariest thing is the media is playing the alt right like it's a joke. Initech Dec 2016 #103

Yeah, I'm stunned with how some in the media cover this with giggles. FFS, just how clueless RKP5637 Dec 2016 #106

Death threats, rape threats, harassment threats are no laughing matter. Initech Dec 2016 #112

Don't you feel like we're in some kind of Stephen King novel, really? It's like a TV RKP5637 Dec 2016 #114

I feel like we're living in an episode of The Twilight Zone or the X Files. Initech Dec 2016 #116

This. CrispyQ Dec 2016 #111

Russian interests say yes too. He's the perfect chaos candidate and easy to manipulate. ffr Dec 2016 #25

Trump alone is not a threat to democracy. He'll need a lot of help. subterranean Dec 2016 #26

That should be a statement Perseus Dec 2016 #27

This last election and the hacking of DU should show w/out a doubt that democracy is over for now. Botany Dec 2016 #28

This is what scares me workinclasszero Dec 2016 #50

YES-- he's a threat to everything we hold dear ailsagirl Dec 2016 #29

Democracy, and humanity! nolabear Dec 2016 #30

The entire Republican Party is a threat to democracy. Maven Dec 2016 #31

Absolutely correct. Look what they are doing right now in NC mnhtnbb Dec 2016 #38

Bingo! workinclasszero Dec 2016 #51

Incompetent governing + a terrorist attack... ginnyinWI Dec 2016 #32

YES! smirkymonkey Dec 2016 #33

American democracy has collapsed elmac Dec 2016 #34

Thank you for posting that video. dawn frenzy adams Dec 2016 #110

this is not accidental AlexSFCA Dec 2016 #35

Agree. MarvinGardens Dec 2016 #39

Dem moderates have been pushed out? What's your evidence for that assertion? JudyM Dec 2016 #47

learning AlexSFCA Dec 2016 #53

Your "both sides are the problem" characterization is exactly wrong. Maven Dec 2016 #49

"moderates from BOTH parties have been pushed out? WTF? How dare you spew that crap KittyWampus Dec 2016 #117

how in the world does one "build bridges" or work with a person who is completely irrational, niyad Dec 2016 #121

Trump, by himself is no threat Lithos Dec 2016 #36

Even Condoleeza Rice is Pushing Back! McKim Dec 2016 #37

Col. Von Staffenberg, where are you? muntrv Dec 2016 #40

Donald Trump is the living embodiment of Plato's critique of democracy 0rganism Dec 2016 #41

Political extremist, polarization and leaders in power who are ideologues. herding cats Dec 2016 #42

Not any more than any other president can be seen as a threat. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #44

please understand that he doesn't give a rat's behind about whatever limits a president. and, niyad Dec 2016 #69

Meh. Tough talk Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #71

so, reportedly, did members of hitler's cabinet. niyad Dec 2016 #72

Hitler didn't have a cabinet... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #78

whatever you want to call them. and no, it is not silly. his speeches, his gestures, niyad Dec 2016 #92

The whole world Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #93

you go right ahead and tell yourself whatever makes you comfortable. the rest of us, niyad Dec 2016 #98

You keep doing the same. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #108

"by their actions shall ye know them"-- and we have seen his actions enough to know him. niyad Dec 2016 #120

A nice rational pause. CanSocDem Dec 2016 #90

Thanks for the link! Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2016 #91

This is even a question?? randr Dec 2016 #45

Exactly! Generator Dec 2016 #46

Dump has already harmed American democracy in numerous concrete ways. Nitram Dec 2016 #48

Is any President who ignores the Constitution a threat to democracy? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #52

I'm particularly alarmed by the people Trump is surrounding himself with. octoberlib Dec 2016 #54

Clearly and concretely yes!! onecaliberal Dec 2016 #55

KnR Hekate Dec 2016 #56

Trump tests positive Generic Other Dec 2016 #57

Does a bear shit in the woods? malthaussen Dec 2016 #58

"to civilization" Bucky Dec 2016 #60

Uh yes, yes, and yes. YOHABLO Dec 2016 #61

Do we have a democracy in the US? I say no. jimmil Dec 2016 #62

KamaAina: Is Pope Francis Catholic? KamaAina Dec 2016 #63

His 'election' already triron Dec 2016 #64

yes he is bdamomma Dec 2016 #65

I think he's a threat to life on this planet.. whathehell Dec 2016 #66

Trump voters think we are upset because Hillary "lost" Skittles Dec 2016 #67

dear nyt--perhaps if you had DONE YOUR DAMNED JOB of actually being journalists, and telling niyad Dec 2016 #68

To NYT: yes. tandem5 Dec 2016 #73

Of course he is NastyRiffraff Dec 2016 #74

Not just to Democracy, he's a threat to the entire world. nt Autumn Dec 2016 #75

These paragraphs are particularly ominous............. LongTomH Dec 2016 #76

Those three paragraphs stood out to me, too. CrispyQ Dec 2016 #113

we haven't had a real democracy the last 30 years certainot Dec 2016 #77

This. CrispyQ Dec 2016 #115

Yes, he is! And 62 million crazed American voters like it that way radhika Dec 2016 #79

Donald J. Trump told us, repeatedly, that the election had to be "fair" bucolic_frolic Dec 2016 #80

He's a threat not only from his own fascist BigDemVoter Dec 2016 #81

Trump is a threat to life. nt SunSeeker Dec 2016 #82

Kick and recommend Hekate Dec 2016 #83

I think we can fight and defeat him internally tavalon Dec 2016 #84

Yep, he makes Bush seem harmless. This ass is likely to start a war over a tweet. Someplace awhile RKP5637 Dec 2016 #107

If you have too ask. you don't have a clue. Nitram Dec 2016 #94

... orleans Dec 2016 #96

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... C Moon Dec 2016 #97

He's a threat to the human species. Third Doctor Dec 2016 #100

Yes of course Emilybemily Dec 2016 #101

Idiots are more of a threat. liberalmuse Dec 2016 #102

ascent of anti-democratic politicians? eniwetok Dec 2016 #109

They have to ask???!!! n/t Different Drummer Dec 2016 #118

Duh. Rex Dec 2016 #119