Anthony on Nostr: With respect, I think that's going too far. MTG isn't storming into Congress with ...

With respect, I think that's going too far. MTG isn't storming into Congress with weapons and goons and dragging AOC away. She's acting (to some degree) like a member of Congress. They're using the levers of power that are there. Yes, they're doing damage and yes, they're remaking them. But they're not throwing them off or smashing them.

And I believe they can't do that, at least not right now, because the US economy would collapse and some of the basis of their current power would dissolve. The US needs trading partners, and USD dominance is a key part of that. One thing worth watching is whether US GDP really does contract by 2.8% as the Atlanta Fed is estimating right now, and how the Trump administration reacts to that.

US citizens are going to Republican town halls and shouting at their Congresspeople. People don't do that when fascists take power. The Congresspeople are not responding by lining up armed thugs in their town halls and dragging off anyone who protests. They're responding by not holding town halls. This suggests to me that they're afraid of their constituents, not that they're fascists confident in their power.

There are street protests happening. They would not be happening if we were really in fascism territory because the analog of brownshirts would be shutting them down. Being harassed or arrested by police is not the same thing.

So, I have to disagree with you. There are important indicators we need to watch, and who knows how those will change over time. But for now I think the indicators are telling us the distinction does matter, and recognizing that aims our attention in what I think are important directions.

CartyBoston (npub1hyn…0yth)