Will the next administration, dem or repub, end up being a Weimar government?

[El Pinko]

IE, the last vestige of our ruined democratic system before the ultra-rightwing nuts in the media and our communities

stage an American "Crystal Night" and bring about a new order of scapegoating, wanton violence and lawlessness?





I ask because I honestly do worry about this sort of thing.

[ThomWV]

1. No, but not for any reason you gave

One of the greater weaknesses of the "Weimar Republic" was that there were so many political factions that no coalition could be formed to exercise rational governance. Remember, it was Rule 49 that Hitler used to grab power, but it was available (and I believe only used twice) long before the little Corporal's political(?) triumph over the Weimar.

[El Pinko]

2. That's an interesting point.

Yes, we do have two parties - one ultra-right wing and completely ruthless, the other, center-right-wing and completely gutless.

It hardly seems a stretch to say that such a scenario MIGHT come to pass, given enough economic hardship and turmoil in the streets.

[SidneyCarton]

7. Wasn't it Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution?

[Fumesucker]

3. History just rhymes..

A look at history should suggest possibilities but each situation is different.

I think there is a non zero chance of the US going through a Wiemar type situation but I'm not sure how far above zero the chance is, could be as high as 50/50 or as low as 1/100.

It's a good thing that hindsight is 20/20 eh?

[AndyTiedye]

4. They Have Something a Bit More Medieval in Mind

It is likely that they will declare McCain/Palin the "winner" in November no matter how far behind they are going into the election,
even if they know that the people won't believ it.

They would be counting on Palin's Dominionist base (and the 3rd ID of the Army) to make it stick
and it would end up more like a "Christian" version of Saudi Arabia than Nazi Germany.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. What people overlook is the leaders of the Weimar gov't called in the Freikorps to crush the left.

The "good guys" brought in the "bad guys" to (mistakenly) ensure their power.

[SidneyCarton]

8. Exactly.

If the Obama Administration uses Blackwater to crush right-wing fringe movements, be concerned. If a McCain administration uses Blackwater, etc. to crush progressive movements, be afraid.

[SidneyCarton]

6. History never exactly repeats itself...

Therefore, we should not look for something akin to Weimar. Remember also, the Weimar republic was seen by most Germans as an imposed system. There was no Democratic tradition in Germany prior to 1919, and many Germans wanted a return to the Monarchy. The coming years may bring us chaos, instability and the desire for a strongman, the radical fringes, particularly on the right may become more powerful, and may even become a viable political movement, it depends. But if the last several weeks have taught us anything, it is that nothing is certain in the next four years.

[GreenEyedLefty]

9. I agree. n/t