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ProfessorPlum

(11,252 posts)
Wed Jun 19, 2019, 12:13 PM Jun 2019

The Optics of Weakness and Bringing a Rope to a Sword Fight

As I consider my situation, a private citizen who would like to combat and discourage the rise of fascism in my country, and the tools that I have at hand, including my fellow citizens who are also not fans of fascism, there is one weapon in my arsenal that consistently lets me down. It is sword-shaped, but has the consistency of an over-boiled noodle. Fighting fascism is completely impossible with it. And it is the national leaders and the political elite in my country who (theoretically) wield a lot of power but are either on board with fascism or are too afraid to fight it.

Is there any situation in which our nominally anti-fascist political elite would present themselves as STRONG rather than WEAK? Every response to the proto-fascism in this country is marked by weakness, by capitulation, by caution, by inaction. Can we not fashion an action that would both fight fascism and also appear STRONG to our benighted citizenry? It doesn't take much. It doesn't even require actual strength, just the appearance of strength.

Can't we muster a show of strength in our dedication to not become the Fourth Reich that signals to our people that fighting fascism is worth it? Or did that die after WWII?

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Optics of Weakness and Bringing a Rope to a Sword Fight (Original Post) ProfessorPlum Jun 2019 OP
It's too soon watoos Jun 2019 #1
powder equals dry ProfessorPlum Jun 2019 #2
Irony? triron Jun 2019 #3
I wish Democrats could do something more. Turin_C3PO Jun 2019 #4
Ask yourself WWMD. What Would Mitch Do? That's the answer. hedda_foil Jun 2019 #5
seriously ProfessorPlum Jun 2019 #6

Turin_C3PO

(13,650 posts)
4. I wish Democrats could do something more.
Wed Jun 19, 2019, 01:23 PM
Jun 2019

But what? They already have a dozen investigations ongoing and Republicans are refusing to comply with subpoenas. They can ask the courts to intervene but what if they refuse court orders? Who’s going to enforce the court order? Certainly not Bill Barr’s US Marshalls.

We can impeach but apparently Dems in red districts are nervous that voting to impeach will cost them their seat.

ProfessorPlum

(11,252 posts)
6. seriously
Wed Jun 19, 2019, 03:30 PM
Jun 2019

if a Democrat ever just declared that the rule of law was over and he/she wasn't to be held accountable for anything, what would McTurtle and the Grand Old Racist party do?

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