You may think me alarmist, but demagogues have destroyed Republics many times. Plato referred to democracies falling to tyranny over 2,000 years ago. The Gracchi brothers damaged the Roman republic allowing Julius Caesar to destroy it. The French revolution was dominated by demagogues. The 20th century saw the fall of so many republics to demagoguery that a world war became inevitable.
The demagogue will always exist. It will be possible to prey on our base nature. We are human.
But, in order for a demagogue to gain power, there must be capitulation. Without Hindenburg's assent, the Reichstag Fire Decree does not get issued. Without a telegram from King Victor Emmanuel III, Mussolini does not become prime minister. At the time, those involved may have thought they had no alternative. Throughout history demagogues have benefited from chaos, violence, and unrest. In some cases, they incited the events, but in other cases they simply rode the wave of unrest to power.
Now, it is 2020 and again a government has capitulated. The Executive Branch of the United States government has claimed that the Legislative branch has no authority. The Legislative Branch has agreed. They have given up their power. They had their reasons, although I can not fathom them.
Many will say, that this is just a "blip". That the government of the United States will cycle and normalcy will return. I do not believe that. I believe that precedent has been set. The fall may not occur tomorrow, but it will come.
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