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How do we know who is popular in a dictataorship?
Trump is already saying the opposite of what's true about everything and a lot of people still believe it. The more he controls the media, the more that's all anybody will here.
How do we know Putin etc. are popular? Where are legitimate polls in a country that has fake elections? What percentage of people dare to speak out? Are they polling the people in prison for opposing them?
I have to hope we are too educated and experienced with democracy for him to win, but I have trouble imagining the soldiers who'll have to turn things around and how bad it will have to get for them to take the risk.