In the choice between Putin-style oligarchy and liberal democracy the Trump GOP has chosen Putin. Now, why would they do that? I’ll give you 6 reasons. Then I’ll offer a suggestion from a CSIS report about what we can do about it.
[View here as a Twitter thread]
8/ And they don’t understand what it’s like for the masses with no hope for economic advancement (unless one of the oligarchs bestows generosity). Newsflash to NRA folks: You won’t get to keep your guns in Putin’s America. Once oligarchy’s in place, you’ll no longer be useful.
9/ So what can we do? The Center for Strategic International Studies issued a report on how to counter Russian attacks on democracy. The conclusion is on p. 11: One of “the most effective countermeasures is to increase public resilience against. . .
10/ . . .the kind of techniques used by Russia.” How? By “increasing public understanding of the threat” and “strengthening our commitment to democratic institutions.” If you’ve canvassed for a campaign, you know the strategy: Talk to people who lean toward your views.
11/ Don’t try to convert MAGA people. You’re unlikely to do so, and they’ll wear you out. I think Twitter MAGA trolls are trying to pull us into arguments so we won’t have energy to be productive. Find people who lean Democratic, but feel discouraged, frustrated or apathetic.
12/ If they feel frustrated that “nothing is being done,” explain that due process—like democracy—is slow and laborious, but the alternative is tyranny. Dictatorship is easy. “My way or you go to jail (or die),” gets things done quickly—but we don’t want that.
13/ I think what the CSIS report meant by “strengthen a sense of shared narrative around the value and importance of our democratic institutions” is this: We need to help everyone fall back in love with representative government, even with its flaws. We’ll miss it if it’s gone.
