Great piece. The need to appeal to rousing principle in defense of liberalism is especially prescient. This view does a lot to explain the flash-in-a-pan track record of narrowly focused centrist groups like No Labels and the Forward Party. When populists on both the left and the right are appealing to grand "good vs. evil" narratives, the defenders of liberalism must do the same.
For those interested in a further deep dive on the philosophical and institutional underpinnings of the new right authoritarians, much of which overlaps with the Caesarists mentioned here, take a look at The New Republic's piece on the Claremont Institute: https://newrepublic.com/article/174656/claremont-institute-think-tank-trump
When it comes to would-be Caesars, it’s more important to pay attention to what people do, rather than what they say. Augustus and his successors went through all the motions of maintaining republican government, holding consulship elections and other democratic procedures – all while they seized power and curtailed freedom. Indeed, one of the hallmarks of power-seizing Caesars is that they never openly declare their intentions. Instead, they quietly tighten their grip, while pretending to defend the republic or “our democracy” (sound familiar?).
So, while the aspirational blathering of Trump and his minions may seem troubling, it doesn’t fit the Caesar pattern. I’m more concerned about the politicians that do fit the pattern, and historically they have mostly been on the left—which, after all, has expansive, intrusive government in its DNA. Consider for example Woodrow Wilson’s Espionage and Sedition acts, Roosevelt’s internment camps, right down to Biden’s multiple instances of flouting the Constitution and Supreme Court with fait-accomplis on eviction moratoriums and student loans. Instead of "bread and circuses" we have free rent and $500 billion ladled out to people who are vastly wealthier than the average citizen.
The last few years have seen Americans jailed for joke election tweets, secretly surveilled under deliberately falsified FISA warrants, and falsely arrested with intimidating 4am SWAT teams. They have also seen the rapid expansion of an administrative state that isn’t answerable to anybody. The poster child for this is Elizabeth Warren’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was set up to be funded by the Fed, so that neither Congress nor the Executive would have control over it. (note the CFPB head insisted he couldn’t be removed by the president, when Trump took office). And above all, we have seen attempts to remove presidential candidates from the ballot (not just Trump, but also Kennedy) -- all to preserve "our democracy!" This is a trend that is much scarier than 4 more years of Trump's mean and idiotic tweets.
Trump and his ilk are loathsome and say some crazy things. But the dangerous bite rarely comes from the dog that barks, it comes from the snake that doesn’t.
Great article. If we can just make through the boomer times — the next 2 - 3 elections — our democracy might be safe. This is my personal perspective as a late boomer and professional, but the pill and abortion rights have led to a dramatic shift in women’s domestic and economic power in the United States, far exceeding that of other global powers. A vocal and voting portion of our population wants to return to the old order faster than a democracy can or will give it to them. So Caesar it is. But Caesar needs an army and the US military has suffered centuries of personal loss during war and peacetime to protect this democracy. Their vote counts too.
The American experiment is over. What will replace it? Who knows. However, the death of the American republic is not in doubt. I have a standard comment on this
“China is very good at building dams, the US is very good at enforcing PC. Which system will prevail in the 21st century?”
Great piece. The need to appeal to rousing principle in defense of liberalism is especially prescient. This view does a lot to explain the flash-in-a-pan track record of narrowly focused centrist groups like No Labels and the Forward Party. When populists on both the left and the right are appealing to grand "good vs. evil" narratives, the defenders of liberalism must do the same.
For those interested in a further deep dive on the philosophical and institutional underpinnings of the new right authoritarians, much of which overlaps with the Caesarists mentioned here, take a look at The New Republic's piece on the Claremont Institute: https://newrepublic.com/article/174656/claremont-institute-think-tank-trump
When it comes to would-be Caesars, it’s more important to pay attention to what people do, rather than what they say. Augustus and his successors went through all the motions of maintaining republican government, holding consulship elections and other democratic procedures – all while they seized power and curtailed freedom. Indeed, one of the hallmarks of power-seizing Caesars is that they never openly declare their intentions. Instead, they quietly tighten their grip, while pretending to defend the republic or “our democracy” (sound familiar?).
So, while the aspirational blathering of Trump and his minions may seem troubling, it doesn’t fit the Caesar pattern. I’m more concerned about the politicians that do fit the pattern, and historically they have mostly been on the left—which, after all, has expansive, intrusive government in its DNA. Consider for example Woodrow Wilson’s Espionage and Sedition acts, Roosevelt’s internment camps, right down to Biden’s multiple instances of flouting the Constitution and Supreme Court with fait-accomplis on eviction moratoriums and student loans. Instead of "bread and circuses" we have free rent and $500 billion ladled out to people who are vastly wealthier than the average citizen.
The last few years have seen Americans jailed for joke election tweets, secretly surveilled under deliberately falsified FISA warrants, and falsely arrested with intimidating 4am SWAT teams. They have also seen the rapid expansion of an administrative state that isn’t answerable to anybody. The poster child for this is Elizabeth Warren’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was set up to be funded by the Fed, so that neither Congress nor the Executive would have control over it. (note the CFPB head insisted he couldn’t be removed by the president, when Trump took office). And above all, we have seen attempts to remove presidential candidates from the ballot (not just Trump, but also Kennedy) -- all to preserve "our democracy!" This is a trend that is much scarier than 4 more years of Trump's mean and idiotic tweets.
Trump and his ilk are loathsome and say some crazy things. But the dangerous bite rarely comes from the dog that barks, it comes from the snake that doesn’t.
Great article. If we can just make through the boomer times — the next 2 - 3 elections — our democracy might be safe. This is my personal perspective as a late boomer and professional, but the pill and abortion rights have led to a dramatic shift in women’s domestic and economic power in the United States, far exceeding that of other global powers. A vocal and voting portion of our population wants to return to the old order faster than a democracy can or will give it to them. So Caesar it is. But Caesar needs an army and the US military has suffered centuries of personal loss during war and peacetime to protect this democracy. Their vote counts too.
I second comments by T. Monteleone.Thanks
The American experiment is over. What will replace it? Who knows. However, the death of the American republic is not in doubt. I have a standard comment on this
“China is very good at building dams, the US is very good at enforcing PC. Which system will prevail in the 21st century?”
Of course, I could mention El Salvador…