There is nothing persuasive about this piece. It is a study in false comparisons and cognitive dissonance. The only valid comparison between what has happened in Turkey and the US is that the wealthy elite of both countries could not stop their perpetual greed from causing a continuous decline in socioeconomic circumstances for everyone else. However, the response and result is nothing similar. There have been no constitutional amendments attempted by Republicans. The Trump Administration is following the same letter of the law that Democrats leveraged to stay in power.
The cry of the Trump-related "fascism", "dictator", "threat to democracy", frankly is the stuff of hysteria and mania perpetrated by the radicals as directed by their Wall Street-backed Professional Managment Class masters. It completely ignores that the election of Trump, as demonstrated clearly during the COVID episode, was a correction to the REAL threat to democracy that is a globalist authoritarian collectivist cabal.
Trump looks pretty "globalist" to me these days. He can't even wait for his own aerospace company to make him a new plane while he showers the Emirates with Nvidia chips.
You don't understand the real definition of "globalist". A globalist pursues the liberal global new world order. Think global EU. Trump is a nationalist. But having good relationships with other countries is in the US national interests.
I don't really see particularly strong parallels between Erdogan and Trump policy-wise -- Erdogan is far more ruthless -- but the political parallel is apt. Erdogan and co. were only able to rise to power because westward-facing Istanbul-sequestered Kemalists had become so corrupt and indifferent to the views and interests of ordinary citizens, much as there was only an opening for Trump because the Democratic Party had become so indifferent to (or actively hostile to) the views and interests of voters in the American hinterlands.
Yes! Back in college I did a semester-long project on Turkish politics and it's remained a particular interest of mine ever since. I felt the author really nailed the parallels between Erdogan and Trump in terms of the cultural themes and resentments each was able to draw upon to win office, but was less persuasive in terms of likening Erdogan's increasingly autocratic rule to what Trump has actually been able to decree given his slim majority in Congress and that so many of his executive orders have been stymied by the courts.
The question is; why is Trump acting so quickly when he has at least until the 2026 midterms to get the job done? If Trump acted more slowly, the damage to our constitutional democratic republic may not be noticed until, perhaps, it was too late. By acting quickly Trump is risking the opposition to his policies quickly coalescing around a few major issues and a few leaders. One possibility is that Trump sees the opposition, primarily the Democrats, is such disarray that he believes the time to act is now. (The threats to our republic have been identified ad nauseam, but true leadership is no where to be found.) There are other possibilities.
I don't necessarily agree with all the comparisons, but I do agree that for people in the US, for once panic is the appropriate response to what is happening under Trump.
Really dangerous behaviour. And it shows why democracy cannot be improved just by. elections every 4 years. There is a real need for decentralisation through civic initiatives and engagement
"Americans must take to the streets to peacefully push back against Trump’s assault on rights and freedoms. The recent 'Hands Off' protests were a promising start, but to have real impact, the movement must widen its base—amplifying the everyday economic struggles caused by Trump’s policies, not just the cultural concerns of a narrow slice of society."
The second half of that prescription is all-important. Taking to the streets gives the participants a sense of doing something, but it's essential that Trump be opposed by a broad, supra-partisan cross-section of ordinary Americans and the institutions that are respected by that cross-section (if any remain); not by the predictable street-takers with their predictable placards.
Sheer passion may feel like power, but it isn't. Coordination, coordination, coordination.
There is nothing persuasive about this piece. It is a study in false comparisons and cognitive dissonance. The only valid comparison between what has happened in Turkey and the US is that the wealthy elite of both countries could not stop their perpetual greed from causing a continuous decline in socioeconomic circumstances for everyone else. However, the response and result is nothing similar. There have been no constitutional amendments attempted by Republicans. The Trump Administration is following the same letter of the law that Democrats leveraged to stay in power.
The cry of the Trump-related "fascism", "dictator", "threat to democracy", frankly is the stuff of hysteria and mania perpetrated by the radicals as directed by their Wall Street-backed Professional Managment Class masters. It completely ignores that the election of Trump, as demonstrated clearly during the COVID episode, was a correction to the REAL threat to democracy that is a globalist authoritarian collectivist cabal.
Frank Lee - hater gonna hate - in every Persuasion comment field after every text :p
Trump looks pretty "globalist" to me these days. He can't even wait for his own aerospace company to make him a new plane while he showers the Emirates with Nvidia chips.
You don't understand the real definition of "globalist". A globalist pursues the liberal global new world order. Think global EU. Trump is a nationalist. But having good relationships with other countries is in the US national interests.
I don't really see particularly strong parallels between Erdogan and Trump policy-wise -- Erdogan is far more ruthless -- but the political parallel is apt. Erdogan and co. were only able to rise to power because westward-facing Istanbul-sequestered Kemalists had become so corrupt and indifferent to the views and interests of ordinary citizens, much as there was only an opening for Trump because the Democratic Party had become so indifferent to (or actively hostile to) the views and interests of voters in the American hinterlands.
Did you even read the text here before commenting?
Yes! Back in college I did a semester-long project on Turkish politics and it's remained a particular interest of mine ever since. I felt the author really nailed the parallels between Erdogan and Trump in terms of the cultural themes and resentments each was able to draw upon to win office, but was less persuasive in terms of likening Erdogan's increasingly autocratic rule to what Trump has actually been able to decree given his slim majority in Congress and that so many of his executive orders have been stymied by the courts.
All right, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts
Sadly, I agree
The question is; why is Trump acting so quickly when he has at least until the 2026 midterms to get the job done? If Trump acted more slowly, the damage to our constitutional democratic republic may not be noticed until, perhaps, it was too late. By acting quickly Trump is risking the opposition to his policies quickly coalescing around a few major issues and a few leaders. One possibility is that Trump sees the opposition, primarily the Democrats, is such disarray that he believes the time to act is now. (The threats to our republic have been identified ad nauseam, but true leadership is no where to be found.) There are other possibilities.
- I've alway said that Bukele is Trump on Steroids.
Erdogan has support from Islamists and pro-business companies. Trump has support from Christianists and pro-business companies
I don't necessarily agree with all the comparisons, but I do agree that for people in the US, for once panic is the appropriate response to what is happening under Trump.
Really dangerous behaviour. And it shows why democracy cannot be improved just by. elections every 4 years. There is a real need for decentralisation through civic initiatives and engagement
"Americans must take to the streets to peacefully push back against Trump’s assault on rights and freedoms. The recent 'Hands Off' protests were a promising start, but to have real impact, the movement must widen its base—amplifying the everyday economic struggles caused by Trump’s policies, not just the cultural concerns of a narrow slice of society."
The second half of that prescription is all-important. Taking to the streets gives the participants a sense of doing something, but it's essential that Trump be opposed by a broad, supra-partisan cross-section of ordinary Americans and the institutions that are respected by that cross-section (if any remain); not by the predictable street-takers with their predictable placards.
Sheer passion may feel like power, but it isn't. Coordination, coordination, coordination.
https://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.com/2025/03/fight-fire-with-water.html