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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 31, 2022

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From a comment on Reddit’s Daystrom Institute, a Star Trek subreddit:

scared people don't evaluate a potential authoritarian's worth on how many boxes they've checked on the formal etiquette checklist, but by their ability to convincingly sell an illusion of prosperity just around the corner if only they would hand him the power.

The framing of this statement made it clear they were switching from talking of a specific fictional character to obliquely mentioning former President Donald Trump. So, I have a question for the non-Trumpers, never-Trumpers, and former Trumpers of The Motte: prior to and excluding the events of January 6, did you honestly believe Trump was a Hitler-to-be, a potential ender of democracy, a dictator thug, or any other sort of authoritarian who would end the rule of law and instead rule by might? And if so, whose opinion on the matter did you value?

(Please note that you will probably not convince me personally, and a Gish gallop will make me even less likely to listen to your arguments.)

did you honestly believe Trump was a Hitler-to-be, a potential ender of democracy, a dictator thug, or any other sort of authoritarian who would end the rule of law and instead rule by might?

Mostly no, I considered that such fears were overblown, that he was "just" an incompetent and boisterous asshole that people elected as a big "fuck you" to the establishment and especially the sanctimonious "I know better what's the best for you racist rednecks so shut up and listen to your betters" left.

However, I saw his refusal to accept the election outcomes as despicable, showing that maybe in fact he would have liked to strong-arm his way into staying if power if he could get away with it.

However, part of the blame for that seems to be the crappy electoral system in the US, especially the lack of voter ID which is just baffling. If people don't trust the system, the proper response is to make the system more trust-worthy, not to tar anybody voicing criticism as a fascist.

And if so, whose opinion on the matter did you value?

I mostly made my opinion of Trump by reading his Twitter. I don't trust journalists to give an accurate portrayal of Trump, they have a "boy who cried Hitler" problem.