This is how democracy dies -- in full view of a public that couldn't care less

[kpete]

"A recent Gallup poll found that Trump’s approval rating among Republicans — the supposed law-and-order party — is at a record-high 94 percent. His support in the country as a whole is only 43.4 percent in the FiveThirtyEight average, but he is still well positioned to win reelection, because most people seem to care a lot more about the strength of the stock market than about the strength of our democracy. This is how democracies die — not in darkness but in full view of a public that couldn’t care less."


.........

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/15/this-is-how-democracy-dies-full-view-public-that-couldnt-care-less/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

[Wounded Bear]

1. The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing

Edmund Burke died in 1797, and John Stuart Mill died in 1873. Both produced apothegms that are loosely similar to the quotation under investigation but are unmistakably distinct. The earliest known citation showing a strong similarity to the modern quote appeared in October of 1916. The researcher J. L. Bell found this important instance. The maxim appeared in a quotation from a speech by the Reverend Charles F. Aked who was calling for restrictions on the use of alcohol: 2

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/12/04/good-men-do/

Guess the quote is unverified. Doesn't make it untrue.

[BKDem]

2. What other person, place or thing does 94% of any demographic group in this country approve of?

This is unbelievable and terrifying. Republicans will be the death of the Republic.

[OliverQ]

3. One thing to keep in mind about that approval with Republicans.

Sane people are quitting the Republican party in droves. As the party shrinks in size, the only ones left are the rabid fascists and cultists. That means his approval is going to increase among Republicans as the party bleeds people. Independents' disapproval of Trump is 66%. Has any party ever won the Presidency with such a high disapproval among Independents?

[UniteFightBack]

4. +1000 nt

[BKDem]

6. Good and reassuring point.

I'm going to keep telling myself that.

[VOX]

7. Problem: that shrinking base has far more senators and a president...

Thanks to the low-population “flyover” states, swing states and the Electoral College. Republicans have (for now) a lock on a system that keeps them in power. Twice now in the past 20 years, the Democratic candidate for president has won the popular vote, only to be defeated by the Electoral College.

There’s also the issue of inadequate senatorial representation. Example: seven northern plains-area states (Montana, the Dakotas, Idaho, etc.) have a combined population of just 4 million, but they have 14 Republicans senators. California has a population of 40 million, but just 2 Democratic senators. So gaining a Democratic majority in the Senate is a hard slog.

Trump “won” (assuming there was no interference...a big leap) strictly on the basis of the swing states impacting the Electoral College. He has to deploy this tactic again, it’s his only path to victory.

So, once more, our next president will be decided in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, and maybe Arizona. And the Democratic candidate MUST fight like a tiger for those states— it’s absolutely crucial.

[DEbluedude]

5. Yep. Good Germans.

It still astonishes me. I remember as a kid, I was always perplexed at how someone like Hitler could come to power. Now I know. It's sad, frustrating and downright depressing at times, but I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

[CousinIT]

8. Republicans are the MINORITY. If Democrats GTFO and VOTE

ALL of them, Republicans would be obliterated.

But getting people to vote - especially Democrats & progressives - is like pulling teeth. If their candidate isn't PRISTINELY perfect, they abhor it. Republicans OTOH, unite behind their nominee NO. MATTER. WHAT. Even behind Donald Trump.

And THAT is the difference between us and them.

We Dems could learn from that.

[HipChick]

9. But my 401K is doing great..

this is what I keep hearing...we should be in the streets..