“If society extends tolerance to those who are intolerant, it risks enabling the eventual dominance of intolerance, thereby undermining the very principle of tolerance. “
“This paradox was articulated by philosopher Karl Popper in THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES (1945) where he argued that a truly tolerant society must not tolerate those who promote intolerance. Popper argued that if intolerant ideologies are allowed unchecked expression they could exploit open society values to erode or destroy tolerance itself though authoritarian or oppressive practices.”
And so we have Jack Smith, under orders from Garland Merrick, dismissing charges against a sociopath who openly states his intention to undermine the US Constitution and everything it stands for.
I can’t express the problem any better than Thom Hartmann who spells it out in his newsletter post. (see TheHartmannReport – Is Dem Leadership MIA?)
So where should democratic societies draw the line? A complicated question. But as of today, everything that is happening points to a complete surrender of democratic norms. One establishment institution after another, as well as one democratic leader after another seems to be capitulating like a fast-moving train wreck, paradoxically enabling an intolerant fascist dictatorship.
Does that sound extreme? Look around you. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence? Pete Hegseth, Defense? Pam Bondi, AG? Kash Patel!!! Etc.
The coming administration is loaded with miscreants, incompetents and election deniers – delusional minions operating in a delusional framework. What could possibly go wrong?
And what can those of us living in an alternate reality – the one grounded in real world facts – do to survive it?
In that regard, I agree with Hartmann that there appears to be a serious crisis of leadership.
Recall the two conventions from the recent past. The Republican convention featured one despicable, mean-spirited, unsavory character after another, all spouting a collection of gaslighting falsehoods, lies and propaganda totally contrary to easily ascertainable facts.
The Democrats featured one attractive, articulate speaker after another in a seemingly endless bench of talent and attractive, inspirational leadership.
Where are they now?
National politics have devolved into a disorienting miasma of despair for well over half the country and a mean spirited, aggressive facism for the party in control. That party, and the incompetent sociopath leading it, does not represent either the interests or the majority of the electorate in spite of the razor thin vote count putting them in power.
The seat of government is now controlled by the “unruly mob” as Hamilton once described them – put in power by an overwhelming misinformation system constructed and controlled by an extraordinary cabal of plutocrats led by Bozo and Musk.
Today’s chilling example is an exchange between Emperor-In-Waiting Elon and Alexander Vindman.
In a breathtaking combination of effrontery, gaslighting and hubris, Musk whined:
“Vindman is on the payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs and has committed treason against the United States,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, responding to comments Vindman made in an interview about Musk’s reported conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Musk added that Vindman, who played a central role in the first impeachment of then-President Trump, “will pay the appropriate penalty.” Pay the appropriate penalty???
Vindman – a true patriot and American hero - responded to Elon’s attempt at bullying:
Let me help you out with the facts: I don’t take/have never taken money from any money from oligarchs Ukrainian or other otherwise.
I do run a nonprofit foundation. The HereRightMattersFoundatiom.org to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s unprovoked attack on Feb 24, 2022. I served in the military for nearly 22 years and my loyalty is to supporting the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. That’s why I reported presidential corruption when I witnessed an effort to steal an election. That report was in classified channels and when called by Congress to testify about presidential corruption I did so, as required by law.
You, Elon, appear to believe you can act with impunity and are attempting to silence your critics. I’m not intimidated.”
Vindman is a true patriot, fearlessly speaking truth to power. And musk is a disgusting phony.
And so the intolerant and unelected “best buddy” is threatening his critics with retribution for questioning insane policies?
Hoping I’m wrong, I’m watching what appears to be a fast moving train wreck with no apparent organized opposition or leadership capable of stopping it.
More to follow…
Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.”