Many thought it would be the radical left that threatened American democracy

[Alhena]

From the "red scares" of the post WW-I era, to Macarthyism, the "establishment" seemed to think that it was the radical left that was a threat to US Democracy. By contrast, the Republican party and white middle America were seen as guarantors of its stability.

Fast forward to 2020, and we find a Republican Mussolini-wannabe president openly plotting to steal an election, and, if necessary, to have the Republican legislators of various states override the will of their voters. In other words, a coup d'etat. And who are his footsoldiers? 90 IQ rubes hitting refresh all day on the Gateway Pundit and similar sites, waiting for their latest marching orders.

Is there enough decency left among some on the Republican party to stand up to this? Yes, I know they've stood by Trump through a lot of crap, but this is literally an attempt to overturn our democracy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. I'm confused. Who other than right wing radicals have "thought it would be the radical left"

that threatened American democracy?

[regnaD kciN]

3. Virtually everyone in my youth...

First, it was thought to be the Communists working to subvert American minds, then the '60s radicals who were calling for revolution. These notions were common throughout most of society -- even those on the left in the Democratic Party, like Hubert Humphrey in the late '50s and early '60s, had to emphasize that they were "anti-Communist liberals." It may be hard for those who came of age after the downfall of the U.S.S.R. to realize just how thoroughly the notion of the Soviet Union attempting to infiltrate the U.S. and push us to embrace Communism was "conventional wisdom."

[Alhena]

5. For one, the US Congress which passed the Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918

In June 1918, the Socialist Party figure Eugene V. Debs of Indiana was arrested for violating the Sedition Act by undermining the government's conscription efforts. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedition_Act_of_1918

While the act didn't specifically single out far left parties, that's who the law was almost exclusively used to prosecute.

[msongs]

2. radical left is extremely miniscule, the fascist right just coughed up 70 million votes for

youknow who

[Bettie]

6. On the other hand, now we know why

so many thought Hitler was a great choice.

Somewhat sarcastic, somewhat WTF.

[Clearly fogged in]

4. figuratively speaking radical left

My sister says that of me. shocking

[BlueLucy]

7. No one I know ever thought it would be the "radical left."

Some things we on the left have done can be scary to the nation though. Not at this magnitude but in 2016 Bernie took forever in 2016 to admit he lost, asking for every vote to be counted even when he was mathematically eliminated. He called the process "rigged," He ginned up his supporters calling for a "messy" convention. Some Bernie supporters still think it was rigged against him. Did he help erode confidence in our democracy? That is the question.

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