But first: The Zoom Where It Happened!
And now: two pieces on the modern equivalent of whether America sticks with democracy, a la Franklin Roosevelt . . . or goes fascist, a la Charles Lindbergh. (Hey, it happened in Germany, it happened in Italy. Watch HBO to see how it could have happened here).
You’ve probably already read this first one: Authoritarian rule may be just around the corner. Paul Krugman.
But this may also be of interest: 2020: Democracy Will Be On The Ballot. (“This is precisely how fascism takes over.”)
Arguably, The Revolution Is Under Way Already. (“Far from making Americans crave stability, the pandemic underscores how everything is up for grabs.”) Will we go the Franklin Roosevelt way (and likely move closer to universal health care and affordable college and higher taxes on those who can best afford to pay them) or the xenophobic, populist Charles Lindbergh way?
None of this is a reference to the fact that our crude, vulgar president (“I’d like to punch him in the face”) kept a book of Hitler’s speeches by his bedside. But there’s no question that he did. The only question is whether there was any significance to its having been there. He would say no, no significance at all; but because he constantly lies and misleads, it’s hard to be sure.
Have a great weekend.
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