General Discussion

Lonestarblue

(11,840 posts)

15. Masha Gessen wrote an opinion piece for the NYT today that seems spot on to me.

Fri Nov 15, 2024, 11:01 AM

Nov 15

“For those bewildered by why so many Americans apparently voted against the values of liberal democracy, Balint Magyar has a useful formulation. “Liberal democracy,” he says, “offers moral constraints without problem-solving” — a lot of rules, not a lot of change — while “populism offers problem-solving without moral constraints.” Magyar, a scholar of autocracy, isn’t interested in calling Donald Trump a fascist. He sees the president-elect’s appeal in terms of something more primal: “Trump promises that you don’t have to think about other people.”

Magyar is only partially right because I would argue that liberal democracy does solve problems, but he is correct in that populism, especially as practiced by Trump and his supporters, offers no moral constraints but problem solving with no rules other than those made by the authoritarians.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/opinion/donald-trump-orban-putin.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aE4.nZD2.3gL8ELzsiL6Y&smid=url-share

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Editor-in-chief of America's oldest magazine resigns after calling Trump voters fascists [View all] sarisataka Nov 15 OP

She was right, though. Ocelot II Nov 15 #1

Agree. Offensive and inappropriate, maybe, but spot on. spooky3 Nov 15 #2

After what Trump has put us through, I don't like inappropriate as a condemnation Walleye Nov 15 #26

I agree. ShazzieB Nov 15 #60

excellent point nt barbtries Nov 15 #65

No need to apologize. It's obvious it's her opinion, not the magazine's. Just turn and walk out of the door. brush Nov 15 #78

We are in peril because too many influential people put being 'appropriate' above being offensively honest & forthright Attilatheblond Nov 15 #29

And Yet We Have Allowed the Right to Suborn the Terms "Politically Correct" and "Woke" As If They Have Always The Roux Comes First Nov 15 #56

I feel like making several new DU accounts Tansy_Gold Nov 15 #57

### riversedge Nov 16 #89

I had an English teacher in high school back in the 60's that was always grammartically (?) correct LiberalArkie Nov 15 #48

Absolutely. Glad she spoke the truth. Timeflyer Nov 15 #6

Why are Dems so quick to apologize? Bluetus Nov 15 #39

Sometimes COL Mustard Nov 15 #62

Truth hurts. They are ignorant and fascists. Envirogal Nov 15 #67

People shouldn't back off on speaking the truth. returnee Nov 15 #70

Trump voters lack the one thing that makes us human... Dennis Donovan Nov 15 #3

From John Prine - GoneOffShore Nov 15 #10

Except most animals aren't selfish. nt Susan Calvin Nov 15 #20

True. Animals just do what they have to do to get food, territory and mates Ocelot II Nov 15 #51

The reprisals are coming... Blue_Tires Nov 15 #4

oh please NJCher Nov 15 #14

He's the one who has repeatedly promised Blue_Tires Nov 15 #17

you're assuming he has the competence to get this done NJCher Nov 15 #18

Are you really trying to tell people... Think. Again. Nov 15 #27

what does "take the dangers of trump seriously " NJCher Nov 15 #34

oh, sure, I'll explain... Think. Again. Nov 15 #50

so exactly nothing in terms of NJCher Nov 15 #55

Wow, you REALLY don't want the first-count results... Think. Again. Nov 15 #59

au contraire NJCher Nov 15 #61

oh, so THAT'S why you're arguing against it! Think. Again. Nov 15 #63

not sure where you're getting that NJCher Nov 15 #73

Read these and get back to us liberalgunwilltravel Nov 15 #28

I've read enough of this stuff NJCher Nov 15 #36

Hear! Hear! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Nov 15 #83

That photo of Trump's eye overlooking the US Capitol building is very telling to say the least!!.... riversedge Nov 16 #88

But the people behind him WILL get it done ! HUAJIAO Nov 15 #33

Oh really? NJCher Nov 15 #37

That was true last time but I don't think so this time. HUAJIAO Nov 15 #68

he's crazier this time NJCher Nov 15 #71

I want this to be true progressoid Nov 15 #69

see my post on dementia, above NJCher Nov 15 #72

Eventually, enough people will have nothing left to lose Attilatheblond Nov 15 #31

If it was her personal x account then she should not have quit kerouac2 Nov 15 #5

I'm guessing that she did not quit voluntarily. wnylib Nov 15 #12

I got undertones NJCher Nov 15 #19

Something tells me she doesn't regret anything she said (despite apologizing) Wiz Imp Nov 15 #7

To me, if you vote for fascist dump, you are a fascist. Butterflylady Nov 15 #32

I get that. At the very least, if you voted for Trump you proved you were OK with fascism. Wiz Imp Nov 15 #53

She just misstated it. Trump voters supported Fascism. surfered Nov 15 #8

You are what you support - Fuck those Nazi scumbags JoseBalow Nov 15 #21

Yes. You are what you do. hay rick Nov 15 #30

You are what you eat NT Tickle Nov 16 #90

She shouldn't have resigned - I guarantee not a single MAGAT reads Scientific American groundloop Nov 15 #9

Well not for the articles at any rate. bluesbassman Nov 15 #13

I'm failing to see the reason for her exit. She was completely correct. AllyCat Nov 15 #11

You see that's the difference between us and them. bluesbassman Nov 15 #16

Trump literally calls us THE ENEMY WITHIN Skittles Nov 15 #77

she is right about the fascism Skittles Nov 15 #75

Masha Gessen wrote an opinion piece for the NYT today that seems spot on to me. Lonestarblue Nov 15 #15

Are we still uncomfortable calling fascists, fascists? JoseBalow Nov 15 #22

Geez, all she was doing was telling the truth. ananda Nov 15 #23

I'm sorry she resigned. MineralMan Nov 15 #24

No apology necessary orangecrush Nov 15 #25

She wasn't wrong Bettie Nov 15 #35

Keep our eyes on the ball Joe_Gadway Nov 15 #38

Her comments don't reflect the position of Scientific American SpankMe Nov 15 #40

I thought the MAGA morons on X loved free speech Galraedia Nov 15 #41

Elon has deleted more Twitter accounts than any prior leader there. That's far from free speech. NT BrianTheEVGuy Nov 15 #66

It's free speech for racists, misinformation, misogynists, child sex predators, and simps who kiss Elon's a** though. Galraedia Nov 15 #80

Seems to me that if one is in a high-profile or non-political public-facing position Seeking Serenity Nov 15 #42

I'm surprised they found the posts on Bluesky Bonx Nov 15 #43

Nothing to apologize for. ificandream Nov 15 #44

Wait wut? I thought they loved that shit! mountain grammy Nov 15 #45

During Bush jr they censored science articles. Blue Full Moon Nov 15 #46

Laura's Comments Were On Point And Understated MayReasonRule Nov 15 #47

It seems she made a lot of people uncomfortable by telling the obvious truth. Ping Tung Nov 15 #49

Why? JustAnotherGen Nov 15 #52

Trump is a fascist as proven by his own statements. Anyone who votes for a fascist is a... Martin68 Nov 15 #54

Thin Skinned and useless mntleo2 Nov 15 #58

Well, if she was resigning anyway, barbtries Nov 15 #64

she is correct but Skittles Nov 15 #74

She's wrong AltairIV Nov 15 #76

Not good Ndp5 Nov 15 #79

This woman deserves a medal! raccoon Nov 15 #81

I stopped reading when it stopped focusing on science. alarimer Nov 15 #82

Science has always been political, same as any other human endeavor. hunter Nov 16 #91

Her remarks damn well SHOULD represent the position of Scientific American soldierant Nov 15 #84

They are scientists angrychair Nov 15 #85

I thought her comment was both quite SCIENTIFIC Conjuay Nov 15 #86

No good deed goes unpunished. usonian Nov 16 #87