Two Democracies Voted for Autocratic Rule – Could We?

Former President Donald Trump speaks at Central Wisconsin Airport, 9/7/24, (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Since 2000, two functional democracies have fallen under authoritarian rule. It wasn’t through insurrections but when authoritarian governmental laws accumulated incrementally.

Is America experiencing that trend? Consider how Venezuela and Hungary’s young democracies fell to an authoritarian populist movement.

The leaders came from opposite ends of the spectrum. One advocated creating a socialist state, and the other an “illiberal state.” However, both wanted to tear down the existing political system and never have it return.

So, they methodically pursued taking control of the government’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Institutions intended to protect a democratic society became tools to concentrate power and capital among a few.

An Atlantic article describes how moving toward authoritarian rule occurs when people are sickened with politics and want someone to fix it. They believe it’s already happening in the U.S. It did materialize in Hungary and Venezuela — here’s how it occurred.

It Begins with Electing a Charismatic Populist Leader to Eliminate a Corrupt System

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