Democracy's Shift to One Party States

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/10/poland-polarization/568324/

...the Leninist one-party state is not a philosophy. It is a mechanism for holding power. It works because it clearly defines who gets to be the elite—the political elite, the cultural elite, the financial elite. In monarchies such as prerevolutionary France and Russia, the right to rule was granted to the aristocracy, which defined itself by rigid codes of breeding and etiquette. In modern Western democracies, the right to rule is granted, at least in theory, by different forms of competition: campaigning and voting, meritocratic tests that determine access to higher education and the civil service, free markets. Old-fashioned social hierarchies are usually part of the mix, but in modern Britain, America, Germany, France, and until recently Poland, we have assumed that competition is the most just and efficient way to distribute power. The best-run businesses should make the most money. The most appealing and competent politicians should rule. The contests between them should take place on an even playing field, to ensure a fair outcome.

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Poland and Hungary have already abandoned that ship. Several other European countries are standing at the rails, waiting to jump off. In the US, Trumpism is beginning to line up behind them.

Does this not ring familiar here at home?

For those who become the one-party state’s gatekeepers, for those who repeat and promote the official conspiracy theories, acceptance of these simple explanations also brings another reward: power.

...the Hungarian state promotes a Medium-Size Lie: It pumps out propaganda blaming Hungary’s problems on nonexistent Muslim migrants, the European Union, and, as noted, George Soros. Schmidt—a historian, scholar, and museum curator—is one of the primary authors of that lie. She periodically publishes long, angry blog posts fulminating against Soros; against Budapest’s Central European University, originally founded with his money; and against “left intellectuals,” by which she seems to mostly mean liberal democrats, from the center-left to the center-right.

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From the American Alt-Right's howls of "Deep State" and "Fake News," to blaming everything on George Soros, there is another message, subliminal for most, overt for others. But, in effect, the message points at Jews who refuse to toe the one-party line. They are easy targets. So too are the Blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, Gays and now, as we saw last week, women; whose cries of sexual assault against the One Party's favorite son went completely ignored.

The Kavanaugh debacle was not really a matter of a good judge falsely accused. It was more a matter of an incompetent partisan hack--a fully entrenched operative of the One Party---being blocked from his rightful position to sway the court on behalf of the One Party. Kavanaugh's nomination was not one of merit; it was a nomination based on loyalty to the Party.

...we should not have been surprised—I should not have been surprised—when the principles of meritocracy and competition were challenged. Democracy and free markets can produce unsatisfying outcomes, after all, especially when badly regulated, or when nobody trusts the regulators, or when people are entering the contest from very different starting points. Sooner or later, the losers of the competition were always going to challenge the value of the competition itself.

More to the point, the principles of competition, even when they encourage talent and create upward mobility, don’t necessarily answer deeper questions about national identity, or satisfy the human desire to belong to a moral community. The authoritarian state, or even the semi-authoritarian state—the one-party state, the illiberal state—offers that promise: that the nation will be ruled by the best people, the deserving people, the members of the party, the believers in the Medium-Size Lie. It may be that democracy has to be bent or business corrupted or court systems wrecked in order to achieve that state. But if you believe that you are one of those deserving people, you will do it.

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As go Poland and Hungary, so too moves the United States. We've become a nation who believes the lies. Why? Because those lies reinforce long held beliefs that an equal playing field only applies to those who fit the definition of the preferred players: White, Christian, straight and devoted to maintaining the social order of our White European and, yes, Christian roots. Those believing otherwise will be shut out; their concerns ignored as we saw last week.

Kavanugh:

“This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record; revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups..."

https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article219358835.html

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A crazy rant to many, something which should have immediately dismissed him as a viable candidate for the high court, resonated with those beholden to the One Party. Instead of sinking him, the rant made him a One Party hero. And, the One Party went to bat for him, at the expense of the will of the nation.

Never before, at least not in my lifetime, has the minority so successfully flown the bird to the demands of the masses. So, we saw a pretend "investigation" and a few faux waffles, but in the end, everyone voted exactly as they intended before the rant or the accusation. Not a single mind had been changed---and, that is not healthy for a democracy. But, it is definitely another brick in the One Party wall.

calamity said:

As go Poland and Hungary, so too moves the United States. We've become a nation who believes the lies. Why? Because those lies reinforce long held beliefs that an equal playing field only applies to those who fit the definition of the preferred players: White, Christian, straight and devoted to maintaining the social order of our White European and, yes, Christian roots. Those believing otherwise will be shut out; their concerns ignored as we saw last week.

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Those in the United States who've adopted this vision of White or Nativist Nationalism have one small problem that their Polish and Hungarian counterparts don't--a demographic trend stacked pretty stoutly against them. Our republican (little "r") system of government, and some of the quirks our founders fashioned into it to protect against a tyranny of the majority, will ensure that we'll continue to elect the occasional president who didn't win a plurality of votes and continue to endure a Senate that endows the citizens of flyover states with outsized power, but Nationalists' and Nativists' dreams of winding this country back to the 1960s (or whatever the hell it is they want; I'm not quite sure what they're always crying about) is a fantasy.

One party system in the USA?

Let's wait until after the November election to declare the Democratic Party gone.

LincolnRossiter said:

Those in the United States who've adopted this vision of White or Nativist Nationalism have one small problem that their Polish and Hungarian counterparts don't--a demographic trend stacked pretty stoutly against them. Our republican (little "r") system of government, and some of the quirks our founders fashioned into it to protect against a tyranny of the majority, will ensure that we'll continue to elect the occasional president who didn't win a plurality of votes and continue to endure a Senate that endows the citizens of flyover states with outsized power, but Nationalists' and Nativists' dreams of winding this country back to the 1960s (or whatever the hell it is they want; I'm not quite sure what they're always crying about) is a fantasy.

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I hope you are right, but I fear that the power of the little lies may sway more and more of that dwindling population in the white nationalist's direction. I believe that there is much to be learned by trying to understand why 53% of the white women voted for the ***** grabber over a white woman; someone who most white women should have been able to identify with.

Simply put, they believed the lies. Lies telling you what you want to believe are powerful, and they hold sway over common sense.

The United States isn't a one party system.

LincolnRossiter said:

Those in the United States who've adopted this vision of White or Nativist Nationalism have one small problem that their Polish and Hungarian counterparts don't--a demographic trend stacked pretty stoutly against them. Our republican (little "r") system of government, and some of the quirks our founders fashioned into it to protect against a tyranny of the majority, will ensure that we'll continue to elect the occasional president who didn't win a plurality of votes and continue to endure a Senate that endows the citizens of flyover states with outsized power, but Nationalists' and Nativists' dreams of winding this country back to the 1960s (or whatever the hell it is they want; I'm not quite sure what they're always crying about) is a fantasy.

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All United Stated citizens are guaranteed equal representation.

Dittohead not! said:

One party system in the USA?

Let's wait until after the November election to declare the Democratic Party gone.

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If the Democrats win, watch the rhetoric against them ramp up. And, as we saw with Reid, Pelosi and Obama, when the economy collapses due to Trump's idiotic policies, who do you think will be blamed?

When SHTF: when the cuts come to Social Security and Medicare, which are definitely coming, to pay for Trump's reckless tax policy, who do you think the white people will believe when White Nationalist media begins blaming Democrats in charge? When an immigrant kills someone again, who do you think the white pride folks will blame for "open borders"? As things slide, which they inevitably will, do you really doubt that George Soros like conspiracies won't take hold even more than they are already?

Dittohead not! said:

One party system in the USA?

Let's wait until after the November election to declare the Democratic Party gone.

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Even if they are rendered ineffective or even gone, there will always be another party rising up to take the reins.
It is a natural balancing act.

If the Democrats go the way of the Whig part or the Bullmoose party, there will be another.
I see the Democratic party in its death throws because they fail to learn from their mistakes.
Insulting others who do not think like they do is one of their major blunders.
The entire country does not live in Frisco or NYC, and those two places do not have a monopoly in intellect.

Their own arrogance in believing they never make mistakes will bury them.
If you want to read a eulogy about their death, just read " What Happened ".

I have always been a conservative Democrat and am patiently waiting for another party I can join that shares my views.
Every time I endured a defeat, I learned why and ensured I did not do the same thing over again.
This is called " learning from your mistakes ".
If you do not believe you ever make mistakes, then you will never learn.
This is the current Democratic party.

PleasantValley said:

Even if they are rendered ineffective or even gone, there will always be another party rising up to take the reins.
It is a natural balancing act.

If the Democrats go the way of the Whig part or the Bullmoose party, there will be another.
I see the Democratic party in its death throws because they fail to learn from their mistakes.
Insulting others who do not think like they do is one of their major blunders.
The entire country does not live in Frisco or NYC, and those two places do not have a monopoly in intellect.

Their own arrogance in believing they never make mistakes will bury them.
If you want to read a eulogy about their death, just read " What Happened ".

I have always been a conservative Democrat and am patiently waiting for another party I can join that shares my views.

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Sadly, the national intellect does reside in the cities. The ignorance definitely lives in "god's country." Of course, you could argue that the uneducated and uninformed should have a voice. But, you didn't. You pushed a lie pretending that there is intellect in the hinterlands. There is not. There is only ignorance out there.

calamity said:

If the Democrats win

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Yeah but when does that ever happen. :mrgreen:

calamity said:

Sadly, the national intellect does reside in the cities. The ignorance definitely lives in "god's country." Of course, you could argue that the uneducated and uninformed should have a voice. But, you didn't. You pushed a lie pretending that there is intellect in the hinterlands. There is not. There is only ignorance out there.

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If you're so smart why do you keep losing?

apdst said:

All United Stated citizens are guaranteed equal representation.

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That’s not actually true.

LincolnRossiter said:

That’s not actually true.

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It's in The Constitution.

calamity said:

Sadly, the national intellect does reside in the cities. The ignorance definitely lives in "god's country." Of course, you could argue that the uneducated and uninformed should have a voice. But, you didn't. You pushed a lie pretending that there is intellect in the hinterlands. There is not. There is only ignorance out there.

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Classic example of doubling down on the arrogance and the insults.
Not learning one thing from their defeats.
This is why they will continue to repeat them.

apdst said:

It's in The Constitution.

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The constitution, as written, gives each citizen from Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, or Vermont considerably more voting power, proportionally, than a citizen from California, New York, or Texas has. Funny thing, too, since the citizens and resources of those large states drive the economy.

LincolnRossiter said:

The constitution, as written, gives each citizen from Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, or Vermont considerably more voting power, proportionally, than a citizen from California, New York, or Texas has. Funny thing, too, since the citizens and resources of those large states drive the economy.

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The Constitution gives every United States citizen equal representation. No amount of trick math or spin will change that.

calamity said:

If the Democrats win, watch the rhetoric against them ramp up. And, as we saw with Reid, Pelosi and Obama, when the economy collapses due to Trump's idiotic policies, who do you think will be blamed?

When SHTF: when the cuts come to Social Security and Medicare, which are definitely coming, to pay for Trump's reckless tax policy, who do you think the white people will believe when White Nationalist media begins blaming Democrats in charge? When an immigrant kills someone again, who do you think the white pride folks will blame for "open borders"? As things slide, which they inevitably will, do you really doubt that George Soros like conspiracies won't take hold even more than they are already?

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You do make a good point. The American electorate was gullible enough to fall for Trump's con, so they might be gullible enough to fall for what you describe as well.

Well, at least Trump's core supporters will certainly blame Democrats for any ills that plague us. The question is, will there be enough of them to determine the course of the country? Time will tell.

apdst said:

The Constitution gives every United States citizen equal representation. No amount of trick math or spin will change that.

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What calculation are you employing to reach the conclusion of EQUAL REPRESENTATION?

PleasantValley said:

Even if they are rendered ineffective or even gone, there will always be another party rising up to take the reins.
It is a natural balancing act.

If the Democrats go the way of the Whig part or the Bullmoose party, there will be another.
I see the Democratic party in its death throws because they fail to learn from their mistakes.
Insulting others who do not think like they do is one of their major blunders.
The entire country does not live in Frisco or NYC, and those two places do not have a monopoly in intellect.

Their own arrogance in believing they never make mistakes will bury them.
If you want to read a eulogy about their death, just read " What Happened ".

I have always been a conservative Democrat and am patiently waiting for another party I can join that shares my views.
Every time I endured a defeat, I learned why and ensured I did not do the same thing over again.
This is called " learning from your mistakes ".
If you do not believe you ever make mistakes, then you will never learn.
This is the current Democratic party.

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Could be.

Meanwhile, Trumpism is likely to torpedo the Republican Party.

We could wind up with two new parties. Best case scenario: They might be able to work together to solve common problems, just as the Democrats and Republicans could do once upon a time.

apdst said:

The Constitution gives every United States citizen equal representation. No amount of trick math or spin will change that.

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I seem to remember math not being your thing when we discussed how probability factors into electoral projections. I guess that still holds.

LincolnRossiter said:

I seem to remember math not being your thing when we discussed how probability factors into electoral projections. I guess that still holds.

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I don't recall us having that discussion, but it's irrelevant. Your problem with our system is that it is fair and isn't rigged in your side's favor.

Dittohead not! said:

Could be.

Meanwhile, Trumpism is likely to torpedo the Republican Party.

We could wind up with two new parties. Best case scenario: They might be able to work together to solve common problems, just as the Democrats and Republicans could do once upon a time.

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We can hope.
It would not take much to be better than all the hate mongering and insulting arrogance we see now.

apdst said:

The United States isn't a one party system.

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It seems like a right wingers want that, they only believe in the first amendment rights are for right wingers only and do not apply to people they do not like like kneeling NFL players and do not apply the second amendment to people your side does not like, like Philando Castile. Not to mention your side takes delight in the misfortune of others:

[https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/572104/

The modern conservative movement is about maintaining perks for itself, not freedom for everyone, small government is for conservatives only, everyone else can be subjected to big government in the form of militarized police for all you care.

haymarket said:

What calculation are you employing to reach the conclusion of EQUAL REPRESENTATION?

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Population, per The Constitution.

Yes_Minister said:

It seems like a right wingers want that, they only believe in the first amendment rights are for right wingers only and do not apply to people they do not like like kneeling NFL players and do not apply the second amendment to people your side does not like, like Philando Castile. Not to mention your side takes delight in the misfortune of others:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/572104/he modern conservative movement is about maintaining perks for itself, not freedom for everyone, small government is for conservatives only, everyone else can be subjected to big government in the form of militarized police for all you care.

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It's the Liberals that have been screaming for a one party system for years.