The America I've always believed in doesn't exist

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

All my life I have believed in the promise of America, the idea that America was an exceptional country—the world’s greatest democracy. I admit that I bought in fully to the American mythology: that whatever our flaws, we were at heart a kind and generous nation whose citizens tenaciously believed in democracy and the rule of law, that we were jealous guardians of freedom at home and abroad, that we were a shining example of those ideals in the world.

I used to wonder how people in other countries with functioning democracies could so easily surrender their rights and freedoms to authoritarian rulers (Weimar Germany in the past; more recently, countries like Hungary, Turkey, the Philippines, and India). How could a citizenry succumb so foolishly to an obvious demagogue? How could a nation’s independent legislature and judiciary cower to a strongman without a fight? Having grown up in America, with its long, stable history of self-government, I found that backsliding hard to imagine.

Now I understand.

I understand, in a way I never could before, that America isn’t special. We are simply a nation of human beings, like humans in every other country, and no less susceptible to cheap demagoguery.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/7/2283729/-The-America-I-ve-always-believed-in-doesn-t-exist

[Arne]

1. The "it can't happen here" argument truly died in 2016.

[bedazzled]

5. I thought it died when the supremes handed bush the white house

Never forget that night. I had a two year old kid and knew fear. My beliefs were wrong.

[claudette]

2. Yep

Lots and lots of ignorant voters who voted for an immoral vulgar pig which brings America into the gutter. No morals any more. Are we supposed to feel sorry for those Latinos who voted for him when the orange felon deports any of their family or friends? Simply because they didn’t want a woman in the WH? I do not understand. Wish I could afford move away for the next four years.

[Skittles]

3. speaks for me

the American experiment is dead - with Trump again we have ZERO moral authority......it absolutely disgusts me and the worst part is, all the assholes who voted for him have NO CLUE how it will negatively affect them and their loved ones - none at ALL

[Rebl2]

4. Agreed

I learned some time ago after Obama was in office. Republicans were so hateful towards him I knew this is the true face of republicans. Hateful deplorables.