Until very recently I was quite hopeful that some concepts I studied and taught 50 years ago would not come to pass. Now, I'm not sure. For the first time in my life, I am very concerned about American Democracy. Especially the rule of law. Because when that goes out the window, all bets are off.
I pray every night that Americans will be different than 1930s Germans. But I don't think America has ever been punched in the face like this. All we can do is stay strong, protest, boycott, and not obey in advance.
Forgot to mention: your insight “Definitions are flat. Comparisons offer nuance and understanding” is so true that it sticks like a Euclid axiom. And with this article you gave us a wonderful example. Thanks again, Carlyn.
Bravo! Bravo! I concur; it's just brilliant. First, you recognized the need, and then you did an excellent job of education. We must name it to claim it or fight it. I will pass this along to personal friends and my new friends with Austin Indivisible—"the Resistance" is gaining momentum (I think). (God, I like the breadth of your thinking, interests, and how you write.)
Brilliant! In the full meaning of the word. An absolute necessity in today's world, should be made into wallpapers on every Main Square of the globe, not just in the US. History can repeat itself, stupid as we are, our human race - which is an arrogant comment, so all of us "in the know" should spread the words and educate as Carlyn does.
a wonderful article presenting an awful quantification of our reality with just enough humor to stop me from vomiting on my laptop...(after all, with tariffs now i cannot afford to replace it!). I wrestle with two issues... the first is simply understanding these terms does not help any of us carry on a meaningful dialogue with those who need to understand these terms... explaining what is really happening to a member of the far right does not result in a meaningful discussion, but usually name calling or worse, threats to ones body, home or family... knowing the difference between an autocracy and a totalitarian regime does not matter when explaining to someone who does not understand either and is swallowing the misinformation fed to them by the far right... secondly, how does it all end? like so many authoritarians before him, trump has assumed office through a semi-legitimate election (the massive interference from foreign governments being a bit of an issue!) and is now rolling up the carpet behind him. Putin, Oban, Berlusconi, Netanyahu, Pinochet, the list goes on. get into office, then pull up the drawbridge, the ladders, put alligators in the moat, and neuter the courts, shut down the press... then what? People talk about the 2026 elections, but trump is ignoring the house and senate now and he controls both.... he is ignoring the courts and the justice dept is his own personal army, going after his enemies and protecting his friends... you will know when the last act is upon us... when they start to look at repealing the 2nd amendment... an armed populace goes from a political talking point and dog whistle to about the only viable threat to absolute power... when they start to yank away people's guns, then your remark below about "hoping it will be different than 1930's Germany" will have come to reality.... i am with you there, but do not see it turning out differently... or ending prettily...
Since the Supreme Court doesn't have an army...I am worried too. I just got bad flashbacks of Trump's plans to put reptiles around his wall. It's that kind of cruelty that should keep everyone up.
Your tariff comment made me laugh. I dropped my phone today and you know that moment when you lift it up and think, "Please please don't be broken." That thought was followed by, "Please don't be broken because tariffs are going to make a new phone cost more than a black market kidney."
Of course, if he did put reptiles his wall. They would just blend in with the rest of his cabinet members. You couldn’t tell the difference I told my children (young adults) to treat their cell phone like it was fine in China. It will cost them less to replace their car than it with the cell phone
So, I'm fairly well educated, you want me to learn and understand all that AND be able to communicate this stuff intelligently. So I appreciate all you wrote, but I'm going to boil it down...Trump bad, almost anyone else as long as they are not trying to take over the world, good.
Well, I think if you understand just two or three of these, you are in good shape. I tried to make it as painless as possible. I know...not fun learning.
This is a good reminder, especially for those of us who skipped government class in college, or didn't pay attention.
I hope that you're making space in your everyday to ignore the political news, or at least have a small sanctuary or shrine where you can practice gratitude.
I'm from the third world. So much of this is how the real world works. The cool thing about it is if enough people are fed up, congressional elections is in 18 months. I'm not phased yet.
This is a Masterclass Carlyn. As a Geopolitician you teaches me unknown terminology.
Brillian simply Brilliant !
You just aced my contemporary ideology class.
Until very recently I was quite hopeful that some concepts I studied and taught 50 years ago would not come to pass. Now, I'm not sure. For the first time in my life, I am very concerned about American Democracy. Especially the rule of law. Because when that goes out the window, all bets are off.
I pray every night that Americans will be different than 1930s Germans. But I don't think America has ever been punched in the face like this. All we can do is stay strong, protest, boycott, and not obey in advance.
Thank you for all the research that went into these concrete comparisons. I learnt so much.
Thanks! And my head has exploded.
Forgot to mention: your insight “Definitions are flat. Comparisons offer nuance and understanding” is so true that it sticks like a Euclid axiom. And with this article you gave us a wonderful example. Thanks again, Carlyn.
Bravo! Bravo! I concur; it's just brilliant. First, you recognized the need, and then you did an excellent job of education. We must name it to claim it or fight it. I will pass this along to personal friends and my new friends with Austin Indivisible—"the Resistance" is gaining momentum (I think). (God, I like the breadth of your thinking, interests, and how you write.)
Great explainer. I never loved Harvard as much as I do today!
Brilliant! In the full meaning of the word. An absolute necessity in today's world, should be made into wallpapers on every Main Square of the globe, not just in the US. History can repeat itself, stupid as we are, our human race - which is an arrogant comment, so all of us "in the know" should spread the words and educate as Carlyn does.
a wonderful article presenting an awful quantification of our reality with just enough humor to stop me from vomiting on my laptop...(after all, with tariffs now i cannot afford to replace it!). I wrestle with two issues... the first is simply understanding these terms does not help any of us carry on a meaningful dialogue with those who need to understand these terms... explaining what is really happening to a member of the far right does not result in a meaningful discussion, but usually name calling or worse, threats to ones body, home or family... knowing the difference between an autocracy and a totalitarian regime does not matter when explaining to someone who does not understand either and is swallowing the misinformation fed to them by the far right... secondly, how does it all end? like so many authoritarians before him, trump has assumed office through a semi-legitimate election (the massive interference from foreign governments being a bit of an issue!) and is now rolling up the carpet behind him. Putin, Oban, Berlusconi, Netanyahu, Pinochet, the list goes on. get into office, then pull up the drawbridge, the ladders, put alligators in the moat, and neuter the courts, shut down the press... then what? People talk about the 2026 elections, but trump is ignoring the house and senate now and he controls both.... he is ignoring the courts and the justice dept is his own personal army, going after his enemies and protecting his friends... you will know when the last act is upon us... when they start to look at repealing the 2nd amendment... an armed populace goes from a political talking point and dog whistle to about the only viable threat to absolute power... when they start to yank away people's guns, then your remark below about "hoping it will be different than 1930's Germany" will have come to reality.... i am with you there, but do not see it turning out differently... or ending prettily...
Since the Supreme Court doesn't have an army...I am worried too. I just got bad flashbacks of Trump's plans to put reptiles around his wall. It's that kind of cruelty that should keep everyone up.
Your tariff comment made me laugh. I dropped my phone today and you know that moment when you lift it up and think, "Please please don't be broken." That thought was followed by, "Please don't be broken because tariffs are going to make a new phone cost more than a black market kidney."
My phone lives. :)
Of course, if he did put reptiles his wall. They would just blend in with the rest of his cabinet members. You couldn’t tell the difference I told my children (young adults) to treat their cell phone like it was fine in China. It will cost them less to replace their car than it with the cell phone
So, I'm fairly well educated, you want me to learn and understand all that AND be able to communicate this stuff intelligently. So I appreciate all you wrote, but I'm going to boil it down...Trump bad, almost anyone else as long as they are not trying to take over the world, good.
Well, I think if you understand just two or three of these, you are in good shape. I tried to make it as painless as possible. I know...not fun learning.
I like it when you go deep.
This is a good reminder, especially for those of us who skipped government class in college, or didn't pay attention.
I hope that you're making space in your everyday to ignore the political news, or at least have a small sanctuary or shrine where you can practice gratitude.
I'm from the third world. So much of this is how the real world works. The cool thing about it is if enough people are fed up, congressional elections is in 18 months. I'm not phased yet.
I have tried but it stresses me out more not to stay on top of the news. I am a masochist!
Damn Carolyn, that was an impressive piece of writing- would love to know your education background. Ll