Okay , before you neo-Cons jump all over me for equating Hitler and Trump, let me say that I am not equating the Donald and the Adolph. Hitler was much, much smarter.

 

What I am saying is that I have long- pondered whether our country could ever give rise to someone like Hitler or Mussolini. Prior to this current election cycle, I just couldn't see it ever happening in the US. I mean, we've had some scandalous characters in the Oval Office but not a brutal dictator like Hitler or Stalin. Surely, Americans could not and would not ever allow that to happen. The past year has caused me to change my mind. I now think it is within the realm of possibility one day.

 

Could someone come along at a time when many Americans are hurting , angry , fearful , and desperate and stoke those emotions with enough nationalistic fervor and xenophobia to gain leadership of the country? I've always thought that it was not possible. Now, I've seen enough to think that it is possible.

 

While Trump is clearly a narcissist and probably a sociopath(and a perverted one , at that), I'm not saying that he's capable of killing six million like Hitler or 20+ million like Stalin. Nevertheless, we've seen how a megalomaniac with a serious personality disorder came fairly close to the Presidency. We will avoid it this time but what about in the future? And could it be someone much worse than the "Orange Amoeba"?

 

And don't think I'm insisting that the demented demagogue would necessarily rise up from the Republican Party. He(or she) could be a Democrat or Independent.

 

What do you think ? Could a "Hitler" type ever assume power in the U.S?

Edited October 28, 20169 yr by Jumper_Dad
TOS

These are the threads, that in my opinion, will get this forum closed again and ruin this for everyone.

These are the threads, that in my opinion, will get this forum closed again and ruin this for everyone.

 

Yep... all hail the Queen!! SMH

This is a very serious question that I have thought about for years and not a question that I pose to get a forum closed. I am not saying that Trump= Hitler, just I've seen now that even Americans can be duped by a strong personality that plays on people's fears and prejudices. Hitler did it and the Germans fell for it. The world lived a nightmare. Could it ever happen here? That's all I'm asking. For decades I said, NO. Now, I say , MAYBE SO . MJ, surely you can ponder the question and give a serious answer without putting the political forum in jeopardy. Give it a try. I welcome hearing what you think.

No, I don't. We operate under a strong constitution. Someone might try, but the rest of government would prevent it and the people would vote it out at the next election. The President may be the Commander in Chief, but the military takes an oath to the constitution.

No, I don't. We operate under a strong constitution. Someone might try, but the rest of government would prevent it and the people would vote it out at the next election. The President may be the Commander in Chief, but the military takes an oath to the constitution.

 

I'm not sure but didn't Donald say something once about the generals doing as he asked or they would be gone. Also, he said he knew more than the generals. We came too close for comfort this time around. Could someone rise up twenty or thirty years from now that could threaten our democracy or does our democracy live on for infinity?

These are the threads, that in my opinion, will get this forum closed again and ruin this for everyone.

 

Haha I'm glad I read your post before responding. I'll just leave my comment for this thread as yes I agree with MJ.

I was preparing a post about Trump and his statements that conflict with the Constitution. The only amendment he appears to care about is the second one. He has openly said things, and not just trivial-ignore-them-as-fluff statements, that go against every basic constitutional/american principle.

 

I threw my notes away as they were too depressing. I really am surprised that so many conservatives, who have long championed a strict view of the constitution, would support so readily a candidate who openly says what he does.

 

I am also surprised that HRC was able to get the nomination (in a sense) given that we could have done so much better.

Haha I'm glad I read your post before responding. I'll just leave my comment for this thread as yes I agree with MJ.

 

Okay. Fair enough. Not sure ,though, why you think you or others couldn't discuss the question without causing the forum to be closed.

 

Could a candidate ever gain power and threaten our democracy? Simply question. No need to break rules. Just answer the question.

Okay. Fair enough. Not sure ,though, why you think you or others couldn't discuss the question without causing the forum to be closed.

 

Could a candidate ever gain power and threaten our democracy? Simply question. No need to break rules. Just answer the question.

 

To answer your question above, yes. They call them elections.

I was preparing a post about Trump and his statements that conflict with the Constitution. The only amendment he appears to care about is the second one. He has openly said things, and not just trivial-ignore-them-as-fluff statements, that go against every basic constitutional/american principle.

 

I threw my notes away as they were too depressing. I really am surprised that so many conservatives, who have long championed a strict view of the constitution, would support so readily a candidate who openly says what he does.

 

I am also surprised that HRC was able to get the nomination (in a sense) given that we could have done so much better.

 

Like what?

Like what?

 

That would take a long post.

This is a very serious question that I have thought about for years and not a question that I pose to get a forum closed. I am not saying that Trump= Hitler, just I've seen now that even Americans can be duped by a strong personality that plays on people's fears and prejudices. Hitler did it and the Germans fell for it. The world lived a nightmare. Could it ever happen here? That's all I'm asking. For decades I said, NO. Now, I say , MAYBE SO . MJ, surely you can ponder the question and give a serious answer without putting the political forum in jeopardy. Give it a try. I welcome hearing what you think.

 

Many would say that's exactly what Obama did. Obama played on the fears of people, he promised them things and he masterfully used new media. That's pretty much how Hitler came to power.

Wow....

Many would say that's exactly what Obama did. Obama played on the fears of people, he promised them things and he masterfully used new media. That's pretty much how Hitler came to power.

 

Like I said, our future "Hitler" could come from any party.

Btw, I've missed hearing from you in the political threads. You have some interesting insights in the political realm and I really enjoy reading what you have to say.

Edited October 29, 20169 yr by Science Friction