Dictatorship of the Proletariat?

[Gary Childress]

So there's been reckless talk by Trump concerning becoming a dictator:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX0iAmz9iLM

What would happen if Trump won? Would the powers that be accept it or would they try to seize control, proclaiming martial law or essentially a dictatorship out of desperation to stop Trump? Could we descend into a civil war? All this reckless talk of "dictatorship" is starting to sound really scary to me. Is such rhetoric crossing a line? I wish Trump wouldn't use rhetoric like that.

[Immanuel Can]

So there's been reckless talk by Trump concerning becoming a dictator:

No, there's been a joke he made in response to the oppositional allegation, and which Lefties fervently wish were not a joke, so they could say the kind of thing you're trying to say.

But don't worry: he only said "first day." So after his inauguration, with whatever leftover time he has between the ceremony and sundown, you fear he'll be a "dictator." But it won't be for very long, and not much will get done.

Have another nap, Gary. You're safe.

[Gary Childress]

So there's been reckless talk by Trump concerning becoming a dictator:

No, there's been a joke he made in response to the oppositional allegation, and which Lefties fervently wish were not a joke, so they could say the kind of thing you're trying to say.

But don't worry: he only said "first day." So after his inauguration, with whatever leftover time he has between the ceremony and sundown, you fear he'll be a "dictator." But it won't be for very long, and not much will get done.

Have another nap, Gary. You're safe.

That's not an appropriate "joke" for a politician in a democratic republic to make.

[Immanuel Can]

So there's been reckless talk by Trump concerning becoming a dictator:

No, there's been a joke he made in response to the oppositional allegation, and which Lefties fervently wish were not a joke, so they could say the kind of thing you're trying to say.

But don't worry: he only said "first day." So after his inauguration, with whatever leftover time he has between the ceremony and sundown, you fear he'll be a "dictator." But it won't be for very long, and not much will get done.

Have another nap, Gary. You're safe.

That's not an appropriate "joke" for a politician in a democratic republic to make.

It wasn't an appropriate question for anybody to ask, either...that didn't stop them.

Get your panties out of their bunching, Gary. The man made a joke, one based on the stupidity of the question. It's not more serious than that. If you think it is, then you're being delusional. Nothing in Trump's past period as president suggests you have anything at all to fear.

[Iwannaplato]

Get your panties out of their bunching, Gary. The man made a joke, one based on the stupidity of the question. It's not more serious than that. If you think it is, then you're being delusional. Nothing in Trump's past period as president suggests you have anything at all to fear.

Have another nap, Gary. You're safe.

And yet......

Yes, and thinking conceptually, in a way that focuses on an issue or subject, rather than the petty character-assassinating of his interlocutors. So he's really doing what we came here to do.

If we wanted a site for the opposite, it should be called, "Uncharitable-and-Unthinking Now."

But I think we can focus on style: just stay on topic, for example: it's right at the top of each thread. Speak about things in a moderately mature manner. And insulting each other is merely Three Stooges stuff...the world's a better place without it.

No ad hom or irrelevancy to philosophy so far.

So far, so good.

So I'd favour mandating a basic level of politeness and intention to deal with the issues, not merely to "flame" the people. And if people couldn't manage that, I think nobody would miss them anyway.

It would be great to get all the ad hominem rabbit-trails out of here, and set some guidelines that stipulate we have to talk about the topics, not insult particular people.

IC didn't mention implicit sexism so he's safe from hypocristy on using the 'panties in a bunch' on that score, but just on that score.

[Alexis Jacobi]

What would happen if Trump won? Would the powers that be accept it or would they try to seize control, proclaiming martial law or essentially a dictatorship out of desperation to stop Trump? Could we descend into a civil war? All this reckless talk of "dictatorship" is starting to sound really scary to me. Is such rhetoric crossing a line? I wish Trump wouldn't use rhetoric like that.

All this is paranoid nuttery, obviously.

However, we must understand that there is a faction in America that recognizes the existence of a “deep state” which, according to their understanding, has far too much power. I need to do more research as to how they describe the Deep State but the concept makes sense. They say they want to dismantle it. Note that Sculptor often posts a link to Project2025

We — Americans — are already in civil conflict but “war” in the tradicional sense is unlikely.

How the world of vast corporate power will channel their energies is an open question. The business, financial and military sector of the country has tremendous power.

[accelafine]

Is there any evidence of him doing anything 'dictatorial'? Besides, the position of US president is basically a dictator anyway. They have a huge amount of power.

[promethean75]

"Is there any evidence of him doing anything 'dictatorial'?"

Naw he's good so far except for his refusal to accept the election results. That's a pretty text book dictator move.

Other than that, Gary, three things u need to worry about if he becomes the prez again are a) border officials ripping your nephew from your sister's arms like in a fuckin movie with the kid screamin 'moooom' as he stares at her over the shoulder of the burly texan border patrol officer who briskly carries him away (if they happen to be mexican and are gonna cross the border), b) being forced to read about creationism in school instead of something more productive and educational, and c) being forced to come to term if u get pregnant by accident. Oh and the general costs of goods'll rise becuz of all his tariffs. Oh and you won't be able to smoke pot legally for at least four more years. Other than that, not much of anything will be noticeably different except you'll have to listen to him babbling any time there's an address.

[accelafine]

He wouldn't have had an election in the first place

[Iwannaplato]

How the world of vast corporate power will channel their energies is an open question. The business, financial and military sector of the country has tremendous power.

And while Trump complained about Obama putting, for example, Goldman Sachs in key positions after being elected, Trump did the same thing when he was elected. The Clintons and Trump go way back in many organizations. It's getting harder to get people to think there is an actual choice, so we get these surreal competitions between things like senile puppets and middle management oligarchs.

[accelafine]

Not to mention the fact that they insert their own family members into positions of power--something that would be considered outrageous nepotism in a proper democracy. There would be a hue and cry if it happened here.

[leedunbar]

So there's been reckless talk by Trump concerning becoming a dictator:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX0iAmz9iLM basket random

What would happen if Trump won? Would the powers that be accept it or would they try to seize control, proclaiming martial law or essentially a dictatorship out of desperation to stop Trump? Could we descend into a civil war? All this reckless talk of "dictatorship" is starting to sound really scary to me. Is such rhetoric crossing a line? I wish Trump wouldn't use rhetoric like that.

Trump proposed to extend executive power if he wins this election in order to appoint “his people” to different positions. That’s exactly how dictatorship has been installed in my country(Belarus), current dictator won presidential elections and made referendums to extend powers of executive branch. Of course it would be nearly impossible to do in the United States but the fact that someone proposes it is already scary.