• @MrVilliam
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    591 year ago

    Preserving democracy was never going to be a single-step solution process. It takes consistent, persistent work to not only expand, but to just maintain our liberty for all. It’s a tower defense strategy game.

    At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin “Well Doctor what have we got, a republic or a monarchy.” Franklin replied, “A republic . . . if you can keep it.” This existential threat has always been there and it’s something to always be wary of. It’s exhausting, but it’s worth it. Freedom ain’t free.

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet
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      11 year ago

      It wasn’t really a concern until recently. We didn’t have constant threats against democracy from within our own government when I was a kid.

      • @Stegget
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        1411 months ago

        Until recently? We had a little thing called the Civil War that was a bit of a speed bump, too.

        • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet
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          -111 months ago

          That’s why I added the part about “when I was a kid”. I suppose I should have clarified that I’m talking about within my lifetime. There have definitely been other dark moments in our history.

          • @[email protected]
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            011 months ago

            To be fair “when I was a kid” is a rough estimation that typically can range about a 0-60 year timespan or more.

      • ASeriesOfPoorChoices
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        1311 months ago

        So, Nixon & Watergate wasn’t a threat?

        Citizens United wasn’t a threat?

        And don’t forget the constant attempts of voter ID laws in Republican states.

        Gerrymandering by incumbent parties.

        Poling booth closures and inaccessibility.

        As five examples of an endless, constant stream from Republicans.

        You just have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.

        • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet
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          11 months ago

          That is all bad, but it’s not “we’re going to cancel voting and stay in power indefinitely” bad, which is what people fear from the Republican party now. It’s not “we led a group of fanatics to Capitol Hill in an attempt to overthrow democracy” bad.

      • @[email protected]
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        211 months ago

        It’s cyclical. There was an uncannily similar fascist movement in the US immediately prior to WW2. We had members of Congress on the Nazi payroll, for example. It’s happening again; fascism and authoritarianism are on the rise across the globe.

      • @[email protected]
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        -111 months ago

        You can just tell everyone you are an idiot instead of suggesting you know something they don’t.