Yes, American Democracy Could Break Down

[Ronnie]

Before anyone casts judgment on the title of this article, I suggest you all read it in full.  It's a chilling article that outlines the ways an authoritarian we elect--not necessarily Trump--could overstep our democratic boundaries and system of checks and balances if he or she lacked any respect for them.  Here are a few excerpts:

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http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/10/trump-american-democracy-could-break-down-214383

[Antonio the Sixth]

I think this is entirely accurate. We need to do everything we can to avoid this nightmare.

[ApatheticAustrian]

since many republicans think obama has been a dictator, i guess they no longer see much difference to our fear of trump-upped autocracy.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I think this is entirely accurate. We need to do everything we can to avoid this nightmare.

This is why the War on Terror has been a bad idea from the start. Just like the War on Drugs. It creates a breeding ground for authoritarians.

But that's no excuse for anyone to actively support someone who says they will be a dictator.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I think this is entirely accurate. We need to do everything we can to avoid this nightmare.

This is why the War on Terror has been a bad idea from the start. Just like the War on Drugs. It creates a breeding ground for authoritarians.

But that's no excuse for anyone to actively support someone who says they will be a dictator.

I'll agree with the first paragraph.

The second part of this is a stretch.  We survived Nixon, and Hillary is far more Nixonian than Trump.

[Frodo]

Too many people take our federal republic, democratic institutions, and our status as a free, self-governing people for granted, it seems.  We have long forgotten what it was like to be ruled by despots....  

[Ljube]

Too many people take our federal republic, democratic institutions, and our status as a free, self-governing people for granted, it seems.  We have long forgotten what it was like to be ruled by despots....  

We will remember that, if Clinton wins.

[ApatheticAustrian]

let me tell you from my european experience:

over here about a dozen of trump's kind have either become prime ministers or leaders of the strongest parties......

.... and not a single thing has improved, most of the time it even got worse, since those people aren't only anti-small-l-liberal but also at least as corrupt as the people they criticize for a living and also...biggest difference....absolutely incompetent, cause of their total lack of experience.

since i believe in US uniqueness, i am pretty sure, the most responsible western democracy can endure NOT living through those destructive and needless expensive challenges itself.

[Senator Spark]

Only if Hillary is elected we will sink into anarchy. If the chief executive is someone who is breaking the law how can they enforce it?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I think this is entirely accurate. We need to do everything we can to avoid this nightmare.

This is why the War on Terror has been a bad idea from the start. Just like the War on Drugs. It creates a breeding ground for authoritarians.

But that's no excuse for anyone to actively support someone who says they will be a dictator.

I'll agree with the first paragraph.

The second part of this is a stretch.  We survived Nixon, and Hillary is far more Nixonian than Trump.

I that Nixon had some degree of self-restraint, yes.

[kyc0705]

Only if Hillary is elected we will sink into anarchy. If the chief executive is someone who is breaking the law how can they enforce it?

She could simply be removed from office if she verifiably breaks the law. And believe me, the Republicans would be salivating to do it if they had proof. Say what you will about Clinton, she probably won't subvert the Constitution in order to somehow cancel an impeachment trial. Like Nixon, a hypothetical President Clinton, in that scenario, would probably resign before things got too inevitable. Tim Kaine would take over, and he'd lose to a generic Republican in 2020.

But President Trump? We have no idea what he would do. Would the GOP push to impeach him? As the article points out, that's doubtful. Right now, Paul Ryan hasn't rescinded his endorsement, despite sending every indication that he wants to. There isn't any indicator that this would be any different if Trump wins.