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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Republics End by Paul Krugman
How Republics End
Paul Krugman at the NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/opinion/how-republics-end.html?_r=0
"SNIP.............
On the first point: Roman politics involved fierce competition among ambitious men. But for centuries that competition was constrained by some seemingly unbreakable rules. Heres what Adrian Goldsworthys In the Name of Rome says: However important it was for an individual to win fame and add to his and his familys reputation, this should always be subordinated to the good of the Republic
no disappointed Roman politician sought the aid of a foreign power.
America used to be like that, with prominent senators declaring that we must stop partisan politics at the waters edge. But now we have a president-elect who openly asked Russia to help smear his opponent, and all indications are that the bulk of his party was and is just fine with that. (A new poll shows that Republican approval of Vladimir Putin has surged even though or, more likely, precisely because it has become clear that Russian intervention played an important role in the U.S. election.) Winning domestic political struggles is all that matters, the good of the republic be damned.
And what happens to the republic as a result? Famously, on paper the transformation of Rome from republic to empire never happened. Officially, imperial Rome was still ruled by a Senate that just happened to defer to the emperor, whose title originally just meant commander, on everything that mattered. We may not go down exactly the same route although are we even sure of that? but the process of destroying democratic substance while preserving forms is already underway.
Consider what just happened in North Carolina. The voters made a clear choice, electing a Democratic governor. The Republican legislature didnt openly overturn the result not this time, anyway but it effectively stripped the governors office of power, ensuring that the will of the voters wouldnt actually matter.
.................SNIP"
Response to applegrove (Original post)
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Cha
(296,804 posts)thank you!
But if there is any hope of redemption, it will have to begin with a clear recognition of how bad things are. American democracy is very much on the edge
The US corporate media****** are a big part of this.. without them aiding and abetting the enemy we wouldn't be here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/opinion/how-republics-end.html?_r=0