"A Field Guide to Understanding GOP Authoritarianism and the Future of America"

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Wajahat Ali
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Sharing this again. Here are 11 books you should read to understand where America is headed.

"A Field Guide to Understanding GOP Authoritarianism and the Future of America"

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A Field Guide to Understanding GOP Authoritarianism and the Future of America
11 books that explain the forces trying to dismantle our freedoms and how to mobilize against them
11:07 PM · Jun 24, 2022

https://medium.com/wajahatmali/a-field-guide-to-understanding-gop-authoritarianism-and-the-future-of-america-e270aa5e6ff9

Democracy is having a rough go of it lately.

In America, the GOP adulates a corrupt, twice-impeached vulgarian who abused his power and encouraged a failed coup and violent insurrection. Over in France, Emmanuel Macron won the election, but extremist Marine Le Pen received 42% of the vote, increasing her 2017 numbers. Strongmen around the world, from Brazil to Saudi Arabia to Turkey, are flexing their muscles as democracies are back-sliding and under assault.

Meanwhile, back at home, we are still hijacked by ineffectual institutions and a media industry that keeps normalizing bad-faith right-wing actors and engaging in a “both sides” analysis. Apparently, woke teenagers who want universal healthcare are the same as violent insurrectionists carrying Confederate flags. Oh, there’s also the rise of white Christian nationalism — an increasingly violent ideology that wants to establish the Kingdom of Christ in America — which had a massive footprint in the January 6th failed coup attempt. This ideology is espoused by GOP elected officials and its alleged global defenders including butcher Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orban, both of whom are praised by America’s right-wing influencers, including Tucker Carlson.

Everything is awesome, right?

It’s easy to bury your head in the sand, ignore the comet in the sky, and tap out due to apathy or cynicism. Or, you can drown yourself in mindless noise and entertainment. However, I still believe there is time to fight back, even as our backs are against the wall. The best way is to first understand our current political reality and the anti-democratic forces we are facing.

I recently posted a tweet recommending some books, writers, and sources that have helped me understand the current moment. I’ve decided to expand on that list, which is by no means exhaustive. (If it’s helpful, I’ll continue expanding it with more recommendations and resources.)

*snip*

[usonian]

1. Here are some resources.

These are from previous posts. Short version, aimed at understanding and action. Today.

Chaos means weak government, and that means little or no regulation of oligarchs. Period.
It's exactly the Nazi Germany playbook

Normalize hate and violence.
Stochastic terrorism.
Bring down elected government.

IT CAN BE STOPPED.

THIS IS NOT 1938 GERMANY.

More:

My longer response:
https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16762063
Things Have Causes

Short verson: This series in the DailyKos.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2021/8/6/2044226/-America-2021-The-Good-the-Bad-the-Ugly
“Democracy in Crisis: We’ve Been Headed Here for Decades.” Part 1of 8
Read all 8 to get the "plan" in detail.
I strongly recommend doing so.

I also reference two books: The Psychology of Genocide and When Society Becomes an Addict.
These are long reads, but the 8-part series above is really to the point of this long plan to "replace" democracy with autocracy.

Today? GOTV!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216821536
Donate, volunteer, write postcards, phone bank ... more as I get links.