On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely do you think we are to becoming a dictatorship?

[Stinky The Clown]

With 10 being highly likely.

In many ways we've seen the movie in which we are now all actors and extras.

Do you think democracy can overcome the decidedly authoritarian shift in out country?

[SummerSnow]

1. We are already there under this administration

[LostinRed]

2. As long as the Supreme Court isnt packed

We’re fine but if Trump gets to appoint anyone else we’re screwed

[workinclasszero]

31. The fuckers stole a damn seat from us in the first place!

And IMO that's when the republican dictatorship got under way!

[Mariana]

41. I agree.

That was utterly un-American.

[workinclasszero]

70. Totally

But the republican party and it's 1%er fascist owners no longer give a shit about the rule of law or democracy.

[RKP5637]

76. Yep, my thought too. Once that happens, the boat will have taken on too much water and

American democracy/freedom will sink. And the deplorables will cheer it on as they sink into some type of dystopia.

[rainin]

3. 7

Actually, plutocracy might be a better word.

[Kilgore]

4. Zero

I have faith in our constitution.

[ck4829]

8. I have faith in our constitution too, but I don't have faith the DC joke gov is party to it

[Kilgore]

14. The pendulum will swing

And things will change.
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Obama-Trump......I predict a liberal Dem as the next link in the chain

[atreides1]

52. You're assuming...

That free elections will continue, and that the fanatical cross worshippers won't be able to get the changes they want enacted!!!

[Golden Raisin]

57. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

As long as Election Integrity is compromised (see 2016) we are screwed. I would not put it past Trump, with ratification and blessings of the Republican-controlled Congress, to postpone, suspend or cancel elections in the event of some crisis (war with N. Korea, etc.)

[Zorro]

63. Be prepared for our own version of the Reichstag fire

and the suspension of both our civil liberties and the 2018 election.

[RKP5637]

77. I know it sounds radical to say that, but I believe it could happen with the right events. n/t

[Mariana]

43. I do, too.

I don't have faith that the republicans will uphold it, however. As someone pointed out upthread, they've blatantly ignored it before, when they refused to allow the President of the United States to appoint a Supreme Court Justice.

[treestar]

60. I'm with you

It would not be a real danger until fascistic Republicans had both houses of Congress and the Presidency and enough state legislatures to amend the constitution. They would have to repeal the Bill of Rights along with the Civil War Amendments and rewrite most of the Articles in order to end up with a dictatorship.

Even Republicans might not do all that.

[In_The_Wind]

5. Ten

[dchill]

6. 9.1

[Motley13]

7. Zero

0

[ck4829]

9. 10

[Initech]

10. I feel like we've been here since Bush.

Under him, the uber wealthy were given too much power, and now they're completely out of control.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Yep. nt

[RKP5637]

79. Yep! Bush and Cheney did what they damn well pleased, like Trump, and the undertow has been

getting stronger and stronger. Democrats are too damn nice!!!!!!!!!

[democratisphere]

11. A day away.

In many respects we are already a dictatorship.

[mn9driver]

12. 5.

Executive actions by themselves are not indicative of a dictatorship. Trump and his cabal of idiots and grifters are still nominally constrained by the constitution and the institutions that support it.

But there is growing evidence that those institutions are not resilient enough to survive a direct attack. Witness the current propaganda campaign attacking and undermining the FBI, the packing of the courts with unqualified political hacks, and the constant demonizing of any kind of objective media reporting, to name just a few things.

5 may be too optimistic.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

35. Agree. 5.

The fact Trump did so well in the primaries didn't bode well for the future. That had me worried enough. The fact he won the nomination and the election pushes my worry off the charts.

It can still go either way. That's why I'm at a 5.

It's not trump that has me worried (for the long term). It's what comes next if he can pull this off.

Either the trump presidency ends in shambles for him and the Republican Party and cooler heads prevail or we are really fucked.

[dem4decades]

15. 7 - Republicans are complicit. Graham loves golfing with Trump.

The guy who Democrats had a slight bit of hope would protect the Constitution now wants to investigate the investigator.

[Hortensis]

16. 2. And that is hideously, dreadfully high. Obama didn't

warn us of the risk that we could become a fascist state because he's prone to hyperbole.

80% of the wealth of our nation is controlled by 0.1% of the population, though, by far most white, by far most with no real connection to other 99.9% except through people who serve their needs directly, and that is not a recipe for one man/one vote.

[FarCenter]

17. 10 - historically Democracy only works in a low population density, high resources setting

But it might take several decades.

[metalbot]

44. Interesting

Because you essentially argue that Red States could maintain democracies for much longer.

[FarCenter]

66. Many of them have competitive state and local elections and politic

at least in comparison to the machine dominated politics of the bicoastal urban areas.

[roamer65]

49. I believe Jefferson said that as population increased, our liberties would decrease.

[Shrek]

18. Zero

[Wounded Bear]

19. I'd give it a 5 or 6...

It's getting really, really scary.

[ecstatic]

20. 9. A "well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy."

Look at all the policies that are changing right under our noses, but we can't do anything about it because more than half the population is getting gaslighted and lied to.

Everything from the tax scam, the environmental protections that are being rolled back, the dismantling of the consumer protection agency, the repeal of net neutrality, the change back to tip pooling, the change of something as simple as making airlines reveal all baggage fees.

These things could not happen if we had a well informed electorate.

[Corgigal]

21. 2

However my whole family has passports.

[gopiscrap]

22. 7

[sarcasmo]

23. 7 and Donnie is working on the finish.

[sofa king]

24. 8.5

There's only one piece left in the puzzle. A pipe bomb ain't gonna do it, but something larger would.

Edit: Paul Krugman isn't the only one who has noticed that the White House is scared shitless, and the rest of you should be scared as well because the Trump Administration's real problems only start when they leave the White House.

So the obvious, stupid, ruthless, completely self-interested play is to use a false-flag attack take total control of the government before it can kick them out. Donald Trump attempting anything else would be genuinely astonishing.

[workinclasszero]

25. In effect, we are under a lawless republican dictatorship right now

All I hear from the republican state news, Fox and hate radio, is Trump needs to fire Mueller and it's all a grand conspiracy of course.

When Trump pulls the trigger on Mueller, then the mask of freedom, democracy and rule of law will fall away and reveal the truth.

I have no idea what comes after that.

Chaos? Blood in the streets? Rounding up liberal democrats?

Anything goes then I guess.

Oh, that's a 10 vote for me.

[Adrahil]

26. 7. We are in deep trouble. NT

[Va Lefty]

27. 9 well on the way to 10

[Botany]

28. 8.0 Trump's base thinks he is on a mission from God.

I had to go to a Cabelas store yesterday and it was trip to a different world one car in the
parking lot had a license plate that read "Benghazi," bumper stickers that read "lock her up"
and Blackwater Security, he had an NRA sticker, and he had a sticker that said he was a
deputy sheriff too. The customers and the staff in the store were very nice and friendly but
I couldn't help but think they were from another world.

[brooklynite]

29. Having lived in a Dictatorship...this is nothing like one. Nor are we approaching one.

[budkin]

30. 10

[Lint Head]

32. 9.9

[Seeking Serenity]

33. Dictatorship? Zero

An authoritarian, police-type state? Four.

But I'm not sure yet from which side, left or right, the authoritarians will come.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

34. I'm at about a 5-6 right now

Some of the things that the GOP has been doing since 2000-ish has laid some groundwork for an authoritarian Putin-style government/society but they haven't been competent enough (so far) in actually achieving their aims- and their agenda is generally pretty unpopular. Bush/Cheney took things pretty far out after 9/11/01 but I think that their invasion/occupation of Iraq (which kept them occupied), 2006 midterms, and 2008 financial meltdown sunk their further plans. Trump is a buffoon and doesn't know what he is doing, so, in the end, we may be saved by his general incompetence. I would be more worried if a more competent Putin-like Republican were in charge right now as to what they might be able to accomplish.

[MikeydaDog]

36. 1

[rock]

38. That makes 2 of us

Welcome to DU!

[librechik]

37. yeah, it's here. They just haven;t made us suffer too much yet.

That is coming, if history is any indication

[ck4829]

42. Those all describe the traits of one country, so... "At least we're not as bad as North Korea"

Not exactly a winning motto.

[obliviously]

54. We could play this all night

Would you prefer Venezuela, Iran, how about Cuba maybe?

[tavernier]

40. 1

[metalbot]

45. This is the same sort of question as was asked on right wing boards during the Obama administration

I don't think it's particularly insightful as a question, and it appeals to only strong partisans on one side or the other.

Whether or not you consider any particular presidency to be authoritarian or not depends a lot on your point of view.

[roamer65]

46. 1.

The rating for breakup of the United States? 9.

This country will Balkanize before it swallows totalitarianism.

[Dreamer Tatum]

47. fucking zero nt

[uponit7771]

48. 7 due to gerrymandering, voter suppression and republican party not caring about America first

[McCamy Taylor]

50. Zero because the Pentagon won't play along.

[steve2470]

80. agreed nt

[Kimchijeon]

51. Dictatorship? Zero. Fascist state? Already there.

Current looney tunes admin is just great biz for the oligarchy running the show, that's all. Great distraction clowns.

[ClarendonDem]

53. 0-1

Trump is awful, but we are a long, long way from a dictatorship. Hell, Trump can't even get a wall built.

[Hoyt]

55. Not likely, unless you define dictator as someone you despise like Trump.

White wingers called Obama a dictator, among other things.

I despise Trump, but he's not a dictator. Of course, that may be the best thing we can say about him.

[CanonRay]

56. At least 8, probably 9

[ileus]

58. 1

[Blue_true]

59. 3, the country has been closer, in particular during the first fifty years

of it's existence. The country has also been controlled by the monied before. What is happening now has happened before, the difference is that now an idiot is trying to become the dictator.

[defacto7]

61. 5... we are in the middle of a coup.

We didn't have one, we aren't expecting it... it is happening as we speak. We still have the possibility to turn it around but the rope gets tighter every time we allow them to take our people down, every time Fox trolls for the religious right, every time a fake news draws us into some trap, every time people are persuaded to accept the unacceptable.

The stupid is rising. We have to stop it.

[Kirk Lover]

62. 2-3

[TheDebbieDee]

64. I think we'll have a better idea of what our ranking is on this scale...

If/when Special Counsel Robert Mueller is fired!

If there is rioting in the streets in DC, NY, Chicago and LA and Trump makes any hint of running from crowds then I'll rank us at a 3 or 4!

If there is no action other than an increase in posts at DU (remember, SOMEBODY shut down DU for 6 weeks after the election last year) and FB sites and organizers at these sites become mute, then I'll rank us at 12!

[TomSlick]

65. I MUST continue to believe that our democratic institutions will overcome.

The other possibility is too dark to consider.

[rollin74]

67. 2

[greytdemocrat]

68. 0-1 at the most.

[VOX]

69. 11. And thats optimistic.

The U.S. *as an idea* is on the chopping block: One-party rule in Washington. Right-wing SCOTUS and numerous lifetime judgeships. 32 states now fully governed by Republicans, top-to-bottom. Right-wing-abetted attack on United States by a hostile foreign power to gain full control of the country. A publicly stated desire to legally prosecute political rivals long after said rivals have been defeated. Publicly stated interest in creating a private secret police force (Erik Prince). Perpetual warfare entwined with nationalistic imagery (dramatic increase in public display of flags, military iconography and promotion of private philanthropy directed to disabled veterans, “Support Our Troops!” Repeated public contempt (and threats made) toward a free press/media. Publicly stated interest in creating a private army to wage war in Afghanistan (Erik Prince again). Destruction of long-standing government bureaus/departments. Publicly stated desire to exhibit missiles, tanks and other armaments in nationalistic parades. Republican Party over country. Public admiration of other totalitarian despots. Disdain and flouting of traditional channels and procedures. Failure of institutions in stopping the nationalistic fervor. Drawing upon the “muscle” of poorly educated supporters from interior regions (as was done in Germany in the 1930s). Unprecedented public demonstrations by home-grown neo-Nazis (Charlottesville). Increase in hate crimes, and racism; overall suspicion and open hatred of any non-white, non-Christian ethnic or religious group. Deliberate creation of a psyche-shocking climate of fear, “fog” and instability, Orwellian messaging, cult-like behavior, sweeping instutional changes, a parade of nihilistic, private-sector cabinet heads and advisors, including:
Stephen K. Bannon: far-right-wing ideologue, architect of chaos, advocate of nationalist state
Roger Stone: master of foul play, “rat-fucking,” and advocate of totalitarian state
Sebastian Gorka: known ties to fascist org.
Paul Manafort: Russia operative
Michael Flynn: Russia operative
Rudy Giuliani: Russia operative
Betsy DeVos: sister of Erik Prince, has an interest in transforming public education
Extra credit:
Robert Mercer: funder of Breitbart, major player in Brexit (UK nationalist movement with deep Russian ties)

[Stinky The Clown]

73. Add this about the repeal of net neutrality

NOT just about DU.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029967260

[melman]

71. 0.0

[djinmo]

72. dictatorship

I give it a 8

[Lee-Lee]

74. Zero. The military would never allow it

While the US military leans right, the military would absolutely not tolerate the abuse of the Constitution required to reach the point of being a dictatorship.

For those unaware, there are two different oathes taken when someone joins the military.

The oath of enlistment includes a clause that the person will obey the orders of the President, but the path taken by officers has no mention of the President, it only requires the person taking it to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

There is a reason for that.

The only way a dictatorship could exist is with the military actively supporting it. They won’t.

[steve2470]

78. yep you nailed it!

The instant anyone attempts it clearly, they will lock him/her up under military guard and restore rightful civilian rule.

[L. Coyote]

75. Already a kleptocratic plutocracy, no dictatorship needed.

[Orsino]

81. Our government is neutering itself.

That's oligarchy, and not an effort to turn this president into a dictator.

[Paladin]

82. 8.

When do we start fighting back? The leadership of the Democratic Party seems to be missing in action. Senator Gillibrand leads the charge to get rid of Al Franken, one of our most effective voices---and her reward is trump referring to her as a whore in one of his morning tweets. This is not how you win a war.

[Loge23]

83. We're at 6 now

Full control of House, Senate, WH. Supreme Court in serious danger. Substantial Media in place.
Add in a woefully un - or misinformed populace, apathy, and misplaced nationalism and you have all the ingredients in place. Also, many people would not recognize a dictatorship until it has been solidified. The old "it can't happen here" line.
So why a 6? Because there's still a chance for the people to #RiseUp and make a difference, but that window is getting smaller.

[Jspur]

84. I would say 0

I would say highly unlikely to be a dictatorship. We are actually now firmly a Kleptocracy with the rich controlling all levers of government. I feel America is now going back to the Gilded Age where inequality is at record highs. History tends to repeat itself over a bunch of times. America has gone through eras of cruelty from the rich and then a correction when things become unbearably bad economically for the 99 percent. Unfortunately for us we haven't hit rock bottom yet for a correction to occur.