I'm here with my family for another few weeks before heading back for the start of the fall semester. Today's post hits harder than others (and many of these letters hit plenty hard).
My wife and her family are Hungarian. She and I lived here from 2004-2010. She earned her master's at Central European University, the institution Orban later forced out of Hungary by passing a law that targeted the University because its founder is George Soros - a powerful critic of Orban. So now, if my wife wants to visit her alma mater, a school that was founded in the city of her birth, she has to cross the border to Vienna where the school relocated.
Shortly after my wife graduated from CEU, I got a job at the school as a lecturer. I was teaching composition and professional communication to a multinational group of students. It was a wonderful part of my early career as an academic. I too was sorry to see the school leave Budapest, but we understood. Shortly after having our first child in 2010, our family decided to leave Hungary. The far-right was holding regular marches. Antisemitic and anti-Roma rhetoric was becoming commonplace. Members of Parliament displayed "Greater Hungary" stickers on their cars - stickers that reject the borders created by the Treaty of Trianon. Those stickers were particularly hard to stomach for those of my in-laws who are Jewish; the rejection of the present-day borders was a major motivation for Hungary's alliance with Nazi Germany.
And that's an important part of how Orban came to power. He courted the hard-right. They formed a political alliance that put him in the PM's seat. He has since put some distance between those radicals and his own party, but he couldn't have won those early elections without their help. He's cleaned up that part of his image a bit since, but our friends and family all remember how low he sank to rise this high.
We visit those friends and family every year. The country is still beautiful. Budapest is looking a bit rough around the edges this year, but people here say that's mostly because the city elected a mayor from an opposition party in 2019. People tell me the flow of funding for city projects has slowed since then. I can't confirm that, but it is certainly the belief on the street. The most commonly heard refrain is that if you want to succeed in Hungary, you need to be seen as Orban's political ally. Budapest's mayor is clearly not one.
There is some optimistic reporting about that mayor and the chance of a diverse coalition of opposition parties presenting a real challenge to Orban in 2022 (a right-left coalition similar to the one that defeated Benjamin Netanyahu this year). But the people I speak to are less optimistic than the reporting. Orban's control of the media is the first thing people bring up. He has provided a tremendous megaphone to rhetorically savvy pundits. Every day there's everything from foul-mouthed blowhards to professionally pressed-and-dressed analysts on the TV and radio, all of them presenting a one-sided view.
So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that Tucker Carlson was invited to speak and the Hungarian equivalent of CPAC. If there is one thing the Hungarians learned from the US, it is how to present a counter-narrative that is loose with facts but polished enough to look like news.
If I could offer one hopeful shred of an idea for the US, it would be this: Hungary doesn't have much experience when it comes to preventing power from pooling into the hands of the few. There simply was no democratic bureaucracy in place in 1989 when the Soviet-back government left power. And Orban was there in '89 to learn and understand the workings of Hungary's fledgling democracy. He didn't just know about the levers of power, he put many of them in place. That's not the case for the US. We have the means to stop this slide we are on, but we have to protect them.
Thank you for helping me understand that, Prof. Richardson.
Good morning, Hogan, and thank you for your story. Good to see Hungary through the eyes of a family with that ancestry in its family perspective. My own niece lived in Hungary before pandemic. I just reveled in her stories of her time spent in the country that my own grandmother emigrated from.
In contrast, the stories of whims and winds of politics imposing an oppressing fascist will on the people and culture and traditions is disconcerting to say the least. For Tucker Carlson to be there on the dime of and representing the reprehensible obscenely wealthy white conservative movement through organizations such as the Heritage Foundation is disgusting. Their moral compass is trashed. And you on spot on, Hogan, in your observation of what I consider naïveté on Orban’s part. Being an apparent hero in the eyes of this movement in the United States to trash democracy and keep it in name only is boastful and plays to the ego of treason and Carlson is there as the mouthpiece of that ego. Fools. They suffer amnesia about the soul of our country, its people with a thousand ancestries and little interest really in a fading white men only club. A lot of color and culture and gender is no longer there in servitude of politics and greed. We have left the building and are currently remodeling a few broken structures of our own. Let’s remember our light sabers!
It's time, long past time for those who haven't read it, for us all to read or re-read George Orwell's book from 1950, which is entitled "1984." Also read, the 1936 book by Sinclair Lewis called "It Can't Happen Here."
Perhaps a bit too darkly expressed. But there are those moments that do seem to feel like seismic pre shocks. This is why I am so grateful for HCR & LFAA & this community.
Hogan, thank you so much for your first-hand understanding of Hungarian politics. I also appreciate your optimistic opinion on this country's current predicament.
This letter is chilling. It brought back memories of visiting Hungary and its iconic Parliament Building and thinking that a country that was so outwardly attractive was actually a budding autocratic dictatorship. Reading here that its aims are similar to many of our conservative organizations, like the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, FreedomWorks, etc., many of which funded the Maricopa County elections "audit", and are well represented among the Supreme Court (Alito, Thomas, and Trump's THREE appointees), is the most chilling information we've seen since learning about Heather.
I recall that while taking interior design classes, we had a classmate from Hungary, a very attractive physician. She said that in order to practice medicine here, she'd have to go back to school for years, and wasn't willing to do that, so she wanted to be a designer. She went on to, very pleasantly, recount her experiences in Hungary, which led to a long rant about Jews. In addition to being in a class full of strangers, I was really taken back. She had no idea that, not only were many of the students Jewish, but certainly many who were not Jews were offended by her casual comments that reeked of anti-semitism. My guess is that Hungary must have plenty of anti-semites, in spite of their first hand experience with Hitler during WW II.
Putting this letter together with my small experience with one Hungarian and then learning about her restrictive government, and add in the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, etc., who are actively attempting to undermine the 2020 election and who also represent many members of our Supreme Court, is the scariest thing I've learned about Trumpism. I assumed that Putin was Trump's financier, but it seems that he was probably not alone, and had plenty of help from home-grown wealth. Also helps to explain the many racist, anti-semitic rioters at the insurrection and elsewhere in the country.
I've been very aware of that all my life. I was born during WW II and, while I am not Jewish, I have always been acutely aware of prejudice against Jews. It's appalling, and I've never been able to understand it. To see it persist today is absolutely criminal.
...along with being at the root of evil. We also must remember that Jews are not the sole victims of fascism, communism, white supremacy, religious fanaticism, bigotry, greed, immorality and Lies, Lies, Lies.
You're correct, Fern. The bigotry and tribalism is at the root of our problems today, fanned by the uber-rich and greed for power - divide and conquer.
Hogan, thank you for this first hand account and helping us understand a little more of the story, and for the links to further information, much appreciated.
Thank you so much for writing. That is my question: how do Hungarians feel about this transition? It is good to hear your thoughts about how the U.S. could fend of this type of power grab. I hope it's true. Causing the loss of confidence in elections is a very smart move by conservatives.
I respect your take on it, Kim, but you know what? I’ve always thought it’s the dang stupidest move they could have chosen. There might be people that pretend they have lost confidence, but the election we just had was strong, secure, and safe. It just wasn’t what one man supported by treasonous wealth and white color wanted.
If we were to have an upcoming election supported by all the suppression and vote manipulation being legislated now at state levels, I’d say yes, my confidence is trashed. However, that has NOT happened.
Nor will it when the Constitution of We the People holds.
And I firmly do not believe that the former and his idolaters will ever live to see the day that they will rewrite the Constitution as Orban did to their greedy, immoral, inept pleasure.
Oh, I so hope you’re right, Christine. I have been avoiding the political news for the past few weeks—at least not obsessively taking in every bit of commentary as I usually do —because it was getting me way too down. And that’s a danger. We can become so overwhelmed by the idiocy and the heinous anti-democratic behavior that we become complacent. That was me last week. Then this letter from HRC, who is not an alarmist. Now, I’m alarmed. Time to get going again.
Morning MaryB! I find you to be fierce! Do one thing, at least one, every day that supports the cause to rely on our democracy to foil the traitors and their gross stupidity. Write a letter, call a legislator, opine a retort to something you don’t agree with in the newspaper, be overwhelmed with love for our planet and it’s people. We are all in this together. There is enough to go around.
TY, Christine--as a fellow Floridian, I imagine you face the same daily stupifying news a I. I've written, emailed, demonstrated, etc. here until I'm blue in the face (no pun intended). After 20 yrs of doing this w/the FL legislature and regional boards (i.e., St. John's Water District, Alachua County School Board) w/little to no apparent results and watching my state legislature block the People's will as expressed in constitutional amendments, I'm just tired. I find my State & US senators & Reps totally aligned (read "bought") w/business, gun, and racist interests. All I find myself able to do these days is pray, and support those who have the energy and tools to continue the fight for freedom & democracy. I thank you for your brave and energetic response, and I have your back.
I become overwhelmed sometimes, too, but recover and try to spread the word, donate, support candidates, and try to keep the ball rolling. To be sure, everyone here will vote, and support democracy. We have the numbers.
I wonder if what Kim intended is along these lines - that while continuing to challenge the validity of the election with audits and screaming about the steal may not, at this point, persuade any more people that fraud is rampant, it will cement it in the minds of those who initially distrusted the results, and keep the fire of their anger and resentment burning til 2022.
I agree that those calling the shots are shrewd, but still don't see it influencing anyone but their base. Lies and manipulation are all that they have - not policy, just hatred.
A cautionary tale, indeed. I fear for our democracy, but don't know how to help it survive and thrive... or where in the world I can go if it all blows up and goes to hell
Thank you for that nugget of inspiration at the end of your post. I’m going to try and stay positive , informed and engaged in the hope that Americans understand that Freedom is what we all stand to lose.Frightening.So sorry it happened to you’re family.Shalom.
I know Orban well, since he's been in power, on (mostly) and off since the days Hungary was first admitted to NATO (literally, their THIRD day in NATO, when Orban infamously denied use of Hungary's airfields for NATO operations in Kosovo due to "special considerations" for ethnic Hungarians--nationalism first, since Day One). I was a young Captain in the Army then; I'm a five-years retired Lieutenant Colonel now--tells you how long this guy's been around. He's joined the Putin-Mubarak-Mugabe-Erdoğan Club, absolutely.
Orban has ALWAYS been looked at--State, DoD and the FP establishment--as pro-authoritarian and a threat to democratic growth in Eastern Europe. His bona fides in that regard are indisputable. For FC (Tucker Carlson. Think about it) to cozy up to this guy is unabashedly, exactly what you you're outlining--a man whose ideology and self-importance are bent on destroying our constitution and our country (all while telling himself he's saving it, of course).
Our biggest enemy in the next 2-4 years, is our own 5-minute attention span--made harder if we don't artificially stoke the fire (let's try not to). It's a grind, not a flash fire. We cannot flag in our vigilance and daily determination to oppose and turn back these efforts, bit-by-bit. Understanding these sorts of sideshows (I know FP ain't our thing in 'Merica) and that they really mean is important.
"Our biggest enemy in the next 2-4 years, is our own 5-minute attention span--made harder if we don't artificially stoke the fire (let's try not to). It's a grind, not a flash fire." I SO agree with this!!! That 5-minute attention span helped get us here in the first place. Thanks for the reminder, Robert!
Yes - it is a rule of JOURNALISM. First cite of an acronym must have the words to which it refers. (and for Europeans, acronyms are in upper case as the letters represent another word - but disregard as usual) :)
Another jaw dropping letter. We have openly fascists TV personalities feeding lies to the devout. We should be worried. A way to stealing minds is thru their savior.
From Heather: “Orbán has been open about his determination to overthrow the concept of western democracy, replacing it with what he has, on different occasions, called “illiberal democracy,” or “Christian democracy.” He wants to replace the multiculturalism at the heart of democracy with Christian culture, stop the immigration that he believes undermines Hungarian culture, and reject “adaptable family models” with “the Christian family model.””
Mass psychosis?
FromWaPo#1:”The church is called Mercy Culture, and it is part of a growing Christian movement that is nondenominational, openly political and has become an engine of former president Donald Trump’s Republican Party. It includes some of the largest congregations in the nation, housed in the husks of old Baptist churches, former big-box stores and sprawling multimillion-dollar buildings with private security to direct traffic on Sundays. Its most successful leaders are considered apostles and prophets, including some with followings in the hundreds of thousands, publishing empires, TV shows, vast prayer networks, podcasts, spiritual academies, and branding in the form of T-shirts, bumper stickers and even flags. It is a world in which demons are real, miracles are real, and the ultimate mission is not just transforming individual lives but also turning civilization itself into their version of God’s Kingdom: one with two genders, no abortion, a free-market economy, Bible-based education, church-based social programs and laws such as the ones curtailing LGBTQ rights now moving through statehouses around the country.”…”a church that had grown so large since its founding in 2019 that there were now three services every Sunday totaling some 4,500 people, a growing Saturday service in Spanish and plans for expansion to other parts of the country”
From WaPo #2: “A University of Washington study posits that worship services at megachurches can trigger feelings of transcendence and changes in brain chemistry — a spiritual “high” that keeps congregants coming back for more.
“We see this experience of unalloyed joy over and over again in megachurches. That’s why we say it’s like a drug,” said James Wellman, an associate professor of American religion who co-authored the study.
The study, “’God is like a drug’: Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches” was presented Sunday (Aug. 19) at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Denver.”
From Ruth Ben-Ghiat: “The optics-obsessed Donald Trump knew how to cultivate good crowds and demonize dissenters. That helped him to remain popular despite election interference investigations, impeachment, and more. The need for a continuous stream of adoring crowd images is one reason Trump invested so heavily in rallies. He held more than 150 of them during his presidency, over 40 of which took place during the pandemic. "They say no human being could do that," Trump said of the number of rallies he held soon after his own bout with coronavirus. With evidence of his negligent handling of the pandemic accumulating, he had plenty of motivation.
Trump devoted equal effort to spreading fear about the presence of bad crowds in America, with right-wing propagandists like Tucker Carlson of Fox News acting as his allies.”
Who needs Trump when they have mega churches?
When will we listen to experts on the mind????
Minds are being stolen. What is the tipping point for authoritarianism? It feels as if the Pied Piper is real.
Trump may be the ring leader, but we should never discount the fact that for decades, the Republican Party has cynically captured and exploited large swaths of Christianity in order to gain and control political power. They did it in plain sight and with the cooperation of church leaders. How better to invigorate and expand a political party than to tap into those who are already susceptible to faith-based persuasion?
Thank you Don, I’m usually on the lookout for your comments.
I’m not sure I would call TFG the ring leader. I’m beginning to believe he was the convenient personality needed, and likely somewhat cultivated by a few that came before him with equal evil intentions. The surprise was how easily the devoted let go of their dogma for tfg’s charisma.
We haven't seen someone like Trump since Roy Cohn which harkens back to the next darkest period in political history.
Wanted to also thank you for introducing me to Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Somehow, she has never popped up on my radar before now. I think I'll get a subscription to Lucid ASAP.
Speaking of Ruth Ben-Ghiat, she is out with this just today: “Orbán has arguably been among the most successful sitting leaders at creating an electoral autocracy - the 21st century way of being a strongman that entails keeping a veneer of democracy going while turning elections into sham events, taking judicial and press freedoms away, and suffocating society slowly. As Kim Lane Scheppele Lane writes, "the new autocrats come to power not with bullets but with laws," and "know how to game the system," rigging elections in technical ways, including threatening voting officials or harassing them with expensive legal proceedings.
This is where the GOP is heading, accelerating the agenda of the Trump presidency to undo our democratic freedoms and institutions. As I observed in 2019 on the occasion of Orbán's White House visit, the goal of the Trump presidency was also to align America with the global right.” I find her compelling.
Leave it to another historian to set the record straight and forwarn us of lessons that should have been learned long ago and remembered today. After Trump was illegitimately elected in 2016, I called on the NYT and WAPO to seek out the counsel of historians and psychiatrists. Through them, I hoped people would become sufficiently alarmed and put on alert that the country had a megalomaniac and a sociopath for a president, not unlike Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and many others going back in history. Both NYT and WAPO were very slow to recognize that the U.S. had an unhinged monster acting as president. It has been downhill fast since then.
As a Christian, I've been devastated by the full-on Borg-like absorption of many evangelical churches into some malformed religious industrial complex, totally sold out to whatever it takes to gain & maintain political influence & raw power. They have bought into the error of Constantine- a mandatory "state religion" offering privilege while delivering death. Not only does a state religion of privilege change the heart & mind of no one, it fosters rebellion rather than freedom. I believe that, just as God made us in His image, our freedom to choose is an essential part of that image, and He draws us rather than locking us up or coercing us. Trying to impose theocracy outside a voluntary faith group is Pharisaism and eventually destroys the freedom of everyone. This background on Hungary and its parallels here is really disturbing and I hope enough Americans wake up and commit to fight the fascist, hypocritical spirit threatening our democracy.
Sorry to be off-subject. To date four members of the Capitol Police who were defending our Capitol on January 6th have committed suicide. Last week, my intent was to send the department a thank-you note for their service; to my shame I have not done that as yet. Please thank these guys: 119 D St NE, Washington, DC 20510. The card I bought last week finally goes in the mail today.
I believe it’s 3 members of the Metropolitan Police Dept of DC and one member of the Capitol Police who tragically have taken their own lives in addition to Capitol Policeman Sittnick who died as a result of injuries. All colleagues for sure but I think mailing addresses different?
Christine, thank-you so very much. Will do. My first husband was a medic during the Vietnam War. His mind was so troubled that I often feared for his life - which he took twenty years after his tour of duty. All folks suffering from PTSD are in desperate need of our outreach and support.
Oh geez, Cheryl. 💜 to you and his memory of the good man he lived. I hold my friends dear that suffer from PTSD and offer freely any healing I can give to them. It’s such a mind-bender.
I only can understand it by some of what our nation collectively suffers after this past year and a half.
I’m sorry to ask this question but why did these police people take their lives?
It was so quickly after January 6. I thought perhaps they were involved with the insurrection. I totally understand the trauma that everyone experienced that day. But I’ve yet to read anything on it. Any information please?
I asked that question on here a couple weeks ago. I totally understand the trauma that law enforcement deals with on a daily basis but what could have been the trigger that caused these four to do the very worst thing they could put upon their families. As the investigation. arrests and convictions from the January 6th insurrection proceed, it appears there has been several service people as well as law enforcement individuals involved. I just can't help but think that maybe they decided that knowing they were on the wrong side of the insurrection would be worse for their families. Chances are we'll never really know the why of it. Unfortunately it just leaves us up to our own conclusions. So, so sorry for their families.
As the widow of someone who committed suicide, the “why” question hits a nerve with me. Again, there is no ONE answer. Ultimately, anyone’s “conclusions” are like opinions: Everyone has one.
Bonnie and Pam, did you watch the testimony of the four policemen who appeared before the House Select Committee hearing last week? Listening to the two Capitol Policemen and two D.C. Metropolitan officers was absolutely gut-wrenching. While the reasons for the suicides of the four officers have not been publicized, I believe that it is grossly unfair to assume that these people might have been involved in the insurrection. Listening to the testimony of the four who appeared before the Committee, their pain and trauma were so palpable that it is clear that, as Officer Fanone reported, it wasn't just something that they're able to move on and forget. In fact, several alluded to the officers who committed suicide, and it was obvious that was also weighing on them - something I doubt would have happened if the deceased officers had been involved. They also recommended that others avail themselves of counseling that is available, and I understand that they're calling out the Fraternal Order of Police for not reaching out and offering counseling.
I would imagine the lack of support & minimizing of the trauma suffered by officers responding to the 1/6 insurrection- especially by many of the very people they were charged to protect and serve- could have felt, at times, both unbearable and futile. Just heartbreaking.
As a matter of fact, the officers said that one of the most difficult things they had to deal with was the fact that they'd risked life and limb, only to find that many of the Republican legislators whose lives they'd protected are now trying to call the insurrection a visit by vacationers - totally benign, and even went on to say that there was no violence.
That idea came to me as well , but it is likely a very individual story for each. I understand the suicide rate for police generally is high compared to the population. Essential that cities have resources for them to stay healthy and get help without shame when needed.
Hungary has no "democratic tradition," so the current situation is unsurprising. The country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire till 1918, then the subject of a monarchist-communist civil war till 1922, when Admiral Horthy took over as Regent and set up a nice little fascist state modeled on Mussolini. They were quick to ally with Hitler in 1937, which allowed them to get back some of "traditional Hungary" from Czechoslovakia when the Germans finally swallowed the whole country in March 1939. They were allied with the Nazis throughout the Second World War, then the Red Army came in in the fall of 1944 and established all the exiled Stalinists Horthy had chased out as the new government, which with the exception of 3 weeks in October 1956 had a nice little Stalinist dictatorship till the fall of the USSR. The "democracy" they had for 10 years was mostly a play against the old Stalinists masquerading as "democrats" - Orban came along and just re-established what everyone had known of government for all their lives.
Much the same can be said for much of the rest of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.....excepting of course ......recently....Greece (despite often despotic control by brussels itself). The one shining light being the Baltic States.These countries either faced Ottoman oppression, Hapsberg domination, Tsarist violence, Nazi terror or Stalinist repression. Now the "Orban" system more or less prevails or is shaping up too in Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria. Where it is not yet evident either the countries are still suffering from the somewhat chaotic political infighting that can lead in that direction (the Balkans,, Ukraine) or are keeping a lower profile (Rumania, Czech Rep.). Belarussia I'll not even mention. The problem for the rest of us in Western Europe is that they are mostly in the EU already or trying to get there and we are funnelling boatloads of money their way hoping against hope that they will appreciate the gesture and become like us. Fat Chance! We are just feeding the monster......and they have seen also what a mess our Western European societies are getting themselves into and are thus forging their own models so as not to be like us.
Usually I avoid referring to the former occupant of the White House, but with the report that DT pressured Jerome Rosen “just say that the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me” I now understand what DT meant when said "I alone can fix it." It was the Election he was fixing.
Whenever I hear someone identify their nation as "Christian" among their political ideologies, I know that they have no intentions of being Christian.
Matthew 22:22: Christ said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's"
Anyone who uses religion to enforce their politics is rendering unto Caesar what is God's.
I have been reading several books on the Jim Crow period of American history, recently finishing "The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921". Prior to that, I read several books on American Indians defending their land and treaties during US expansion westward. Americans involved in the most horrible atrocities throughout American history used the Bible and claimed Christian values as they slaughtered anyone and everyone that they identified as those others not Christian according to their politics.
Unless our churches and society identify the evil behavior of using Christian material for political purposes as evil, we will have crosses burning in the hearts and minds of Americans looking to turn our nation, using any means possible, away from God and democracy, away from the ideals of our Declaration of Independence and US Constitution, toward violent repressive one party authoritarian rule.
Throughout our nation are unmarked graves, nameless and missing Americans, that represent America's continuing unspoken holocaust. We are not a Christian or any other religious nation as long as this continues.
Which is why the Constitution includes, in the First Amendment, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”. Jefferson broke it down to the fact that there must be “separation of Church and State”. We, at least, have laws in place that should not be trampled on
But they have been trampled on in those states where abortion has been severely restricted if not effectively banned by the passage of laws based on the religious views of the “Christian” right.
The very people who believe that ‘the second amendment was handed down by Moses’ on the back of the Ten Commandments, readily violate and scoff at the words in the first Amendment! The gun, ammo and war industry protects Scalia’s version of the amendment with all their $$$$$$!
The mega church snake oil sales people have learned to make big $$$$$. Their tax exempt status MUsT be recindered!
Read "The Outlier", a biography of Jimmy Carter that just came out. What is fascinating to me is to discover just how deeply twisted the Christian Evangelists have been when it came to Carter. They rejected him in the end for appalling reasons, in favor of Reagan of CA, who used a lot of racist dog whistle ads in his runs for President (welfare queens, anyone?)--and now they absolutely adore their adulterous, corrupt, Trump from NYC. These so-called Christians had supported Jimmy as a white Southern Christian man in 1976 because they thought he was one of their own. They abandoned Carter because he had the audacity to insist that being Christian meant focusing on helping the poor regardless of the color of their skin, and he refused to funnel Federal money in the form of tax credits to their Sharia Christian private schools. Despite being (and proving through his whole life that he was truly) a deeply devout Christian, a REAL Christian, Carter firmly believed in separation of Church and State. He also thought it an unwise fiscal policy in any case to fund rich white kids going to private schools. Carter, it turned out, was the best of the white South, a stubborn independent thinker raised by a mother (Lillian) who was a classic eccentric Southern woman who saw the racism but refused to take it in and adopt it. He was a very complex character with plenty of flaws, but in the end Carter was not what anybody thought he would be; he was better than they wanted him to be. Our so-called Christians have been mocking his Presidency and calling him weak ever since--but it turns out he was a highly effective President, he got a whole lot more done than people give him credit for doing. We should all wonder why they work so hard to erase his legacy. I think in a way Carter was more dangerous to their focus on the supremacy of white men than anything else that has come along in decades. We need more eccentric Southerners who are true Christians to run and win, not these fake ones who are only out to pad their bank accounts.
An interstate conspiracy to perpetuate fraud and assume and maintain power through control of elections ought to place these folks squarely in the the sights of the RICO act.
Tucker Carlson is not in favor of "Christian Family Values" or "Christian Democracy" any more than Orban is, which is none at all.
Carlson is, however, in favor of all the money he gets from his wealthy, "conservative" right wing, donors who know that if they can take over the government, then, they can use the United States Fed to print money for themselves.
One thing that is clear to the Right Wing of this country. The Federal Reserve can generate great wealth (for them). That has been clear since Ronald Reagan generated $2 Trillion in debt while vocally claiming he would "cut spending". Welfare for rich people was Ronald Reagan's greatest gift to America while he simultaneously impugned welfare for poor people.
That $2 Trillion went almost exclusively to Military Contractors and private Hedge Funds and the stockholders of both.
Since that example showed the way, "Conservative", right wing groups have realized that all they must do is take over the government and permanent wealth, unimaginable before Reagan, is at their feet.
Those groups of right wing folks use the words "Christian", because, the Christian groups in this country, having been taught to "believe" in that for which there is no evidence from birth, have the right skill set to believe right wing lies. Christian groups are experts at believing that which they are told on Sunday morning. They are not experts in Critical Thought, experimental data, or any aspect of thinking that might give them pause when listening to Tucker Carlson.
However, forty years after Reagan showed the way, the right has yet to actually take over the government apparatus, although, they came close under Trump and "W" Bush.
Unfortunately, the wealthy HAVE managed to grab the majority of the money this country has printed since Reagan showed the way. Under Bush, those who bought Haliburton stock before the announcement of "no bid" contracts in Iraq?
Those wealthy investors in Haliburton, tipped off early, were made fantastically wealthy.
Orban is just where the USA right wing has been trying to move for forty years.
Bozo the Clown, Ronald Reagan was the first. He patterned in California. Donald T. Regan cleaned up after the elephant. Nancy fired DTR. She was wife #2. The first was a drunk like Reagan’s father.
Faux fascist dandy Tucker Carlson feels vaguely queer, and St. George’s School is the weakest of our prep schools. He’s a transparent public seducer, liquid goo seeking a container to shape him. Orban is his container.
The Wealthy in America curiously now vote overwhelmingly Progressive Democratic. Beware who you see as elite. The board game, like it or not, has changed and is significant to the state of play.
Absolutely. Their plan to infiltrate and impose their regime is now being prepared to be put in place. The installation of TFG demonstrated where they were going. The failed coup is not the end. TC in Hungary is how blatantly confident they are. Russia and China and technology and possibly grid hacking and mining of info is very concerning.
I don't know the history of the Church. The story you are telling sounds as though it may be foundational to the Church -- a centuries old story. Has it bee told? It would be instructional to know its roots as well as its twists and turns through this country's power structures.
Fern, I believe you--and everyone, especially all Americans--would enjoy and benefit by seeing the PBS series "God in America." It's six one-hour episodes about religions coming to America (the U.S.), and how they integrated into society and eventually began to play a political role. Produced ten years ago, it's still available online and free at: https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/view/. The first two episodes were especially relevant to my family's journey to the U.S. and millions of others who pursued Freedom of Religion. One very relevant event in achieving this freedom was the Baptists' constant prodding of Thomas Jefferson for freedom of religion which sparked him to support the cause. He wrote to the Baptist advocates that he didn't believe in their particular doctrine, but he understood and agreed with their push for religious freedom. He went on to support the issue enthusiastically, and it was then included in the Bill of Rights. "God in America" is quite a high quality production and a worthwhile view.
I am deeply grateful to you Heydon for recommending 'God in America'. I will watch the series as soon as I can by following up on the link you provided. We have all seen glimpses of this, if not more. The last one was provided to me by kimceann's recommendation to look into Norman Vincent Peale, a favorite of Nixon's, Trump's father Fred and of Trump.
The greatest enemy to democracy in America is not Tя☭mp and conservatives. The greatestenemy is apathy. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It is clear that when turnout in American elections is typically between 60% and 65%, the largest political party is non-voters. Apathy, distraction, and yes also voter suppression, these are the enemies destroying our democracy. It is essential we fight these and unite in speaking to those not engaged in the political process. It is far easier to turn a non-voter into a voter than trying to turn a conservative into progressive.
Dear HCR -- I love your columns and often "heart" them, but for today's post, I wish that there were some option that indicated agreement but anger at the same time... (even Facebook doesn't have this sophisticated an emoticon)
Oh my, Dr. R! How brazen is Tucker Carlson’s behavior! If you pay any attention at all to international news you know that Orbàn is against democracy and for his version only of Hungary. Consorting with dictators is what the former President did. It was wrong then and it is wrong now. We are still in danger.
I cannot pretend any knowledge of Hungary's political landscape, other than what I retain of what I just read here. I find this as chilling as any of the LFAA I have read so far.
TCinLA adds a great piece to the history of Hungary and that the perception that it was a democracy that is or was dismantled is in name only. Never was a democracy in the same structure of ours in this country. Hogan in a post today brings up the very significant point that Orban freely put into place what “he” wanted because the structures of democracy that we have in this country to prevent that were NOT in place in Hungary.
So Carlson can go kiss Orban ring while he kisses the a** of the former. And Bannon can go on with his bullsh*t ‘til the cows come back to the barn that Orban is “the most significant figure” in wherever. It’s all for their fading base. It’s not working.
Can you imagine Stacy Abrams on Orban’s guest list? Pshaw!
It occurs to me that the greatest danger to our democracy may be our own conviction that it actually is a real democracy. When I say "democracy" I define it as having universal adult citizen suffrage with each person's vote having the same weight as each other person's vote, regularly scheduled elections (or other mechanisms guaranteeing frequent consultation of the electorate) and non-partisan drawing of electoral districts, all sitting on a firm foundation of explicitly described rights and responsibilities.
Others may choose to define democracy differently, and there have certainly been many instances of undemocratic "democratic" republics, but what we all learned in school about the meaning of "democracy" and generally practice on a much smaller scale in our daily lives is not what is in our revered Constitution. The US Senate and the Electoral College are both undemocratic institutions designed to prevent the people -- us -- from having the final word, favoring instead propertied white men over their fellow citizens.
The relative ease with which the likes of Donald Trump and the current GOP have brought us to where we are is the proof that we are not a real democracy.
Of course I agree with you that this needs to be done. The question is: how can this be accomplished when a minority of American voters can elect a Trump to be President and a simple majority in the Senate is not sufficient to pass essential legislation? If the number of Senators were proportional to the population in each State (as Reps in the House are), Joe Biden could have already passed his full load of useful legislation and America would be leading the world away from the encroaching climate-change nightmare. Affordable healthcare would be a right of citizenship. Poverty in America would be a thing of the past. Every other aspect of life in the USA would be better if we had a modern democracy regulated by an updated Constitution. If Trump and his band of thugs are not imprisoned in pretty short order, they will drag us into Fascism. Game over.
Yes, you're right that no small measures will suffice, especially now that Trump's attempted coup & the ongoing one in the states against voter rights have "unmasked" the reality that this is not just a historical intention, but a current one among those committed to cementing minority rule.
It's easy to look back & ask why some of these steps weren't taken before, as I suppose I've been doing. Hindsight being 20/20 etc..... The main thing, as you say, is to face forward and ensure that voting is unhindered, election control is *not* partisan, and rights of all citizens are protected. The filibuster has become an enemy to all those priorities at this point.
Good morning, everyone! I truly fear for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Once this form of control is asserted, it is very hard to remove it. And it has nothing to do with "the good of the people" or even Christianity (often used as a bludgeon in these circumstances)..it has to do with power...absolute controlling power. People, we all need to keep our eyes open and do whatever we can to keep these power mongers out of government at any level. We are facing this in the next gubernatorial election in VA...Youngkin is a huge Trump supporter and believes Trump's rhetoric. Fight every fire you can. Spread the word however you can. I'm afraid this fight will continue for a long time.
Hello from Hungary!
I'm here with my family for another few weeks before heading back for the start of the fall semester. Today's post hits harder than others (and many of these letters hit plenty hard).
My wife and her family are Hungarian. She and I lived here from 2004-2010. She earned her master's at Central European University, the institution Orban later forced out of Hungary by passing a law that targeted the University because its founder is George Soros - a powerful critic of Orban. So now, if my wife wants to visit her alma mater, a school that was founded in the city of her birth, she has to cross the border to Vienna where the school relocated.
Shortly after my wife graduated from CEU, I got a job at the school as a lecturer. I was teaching composition and professional communication to a multinational group of students. It was a wonderful part of my early career as an academic. I too was sorry to see the school leave Budapest, but we understood. Shortly after having our first child in 2010, our family decided to leave Hungary. The far-right was holding regular marches. Antisemitic and anti-Roma rhetoric was becoming commonplace. Members of Parliament displayed "Greater Hungary" stickers on their cars - stickers that reject the borders created by the Treaty of Trianon. Those stickers were particularly hard to stomach for those of my in-laws who are Jewish; the rejection of the present-day borders was a major motivation for Hungary's alliance with Nazi Germany.
And that's an important part of how Orban came to power. He courted the hard-right. They formed a political alliance that put him in the PM's seat. He has since put some distance between those radicals and his own party, but he couldn't have won those early elections without their help. He's cleaned up that part of his image a bit since, but our friends and family all remember how low he sank to rise this high.
We visit those friends and family every year. The country is still beautiful. Budapest is looking a bit rough around the edges this year, but people here say that's mostly because the city elected a mayor from an opposition party in 2019. People tell me the flow of funding for city projects has slowed since then. I can't confirm that, but it is certainly the belief on the street. The most commonly heard refrain is that if you want to succeed in Hungary, you need to be seen as Orban's political ally. Budapest's mayor is clearly not one.
There is some optimistic reporting about that mayor and the chance of a diverse coalition of opposition parties presenting a real challenge to Orban in 2022 (a right-left coalition similar to the one that defeated Benjamin Netanyahu this year). But the people I speak to are less optimistic than the reporting. Orban's control of the media is the first thing people bring up. He has provided a tremendous megaphone to rhetorically savvy pundits. Every day there's everything from foul-mouthed blowhards to professionally pressed-and-dressed analysts on the TV and radio, all of them presenting a one-sided view.
So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that Tucker Carlson was invited to speak and the Hungarian equivalent of CPAC. If there is one thing the Hungarians learned from the US, it is how to present a counter-narrative that is loose with facts but polished enough to look like news.
If I could offer one hopeful shred of an idea for the US, it would be this: Hungary doesn't have much experience when it comes to preventing power from pooling into the hands of the few. There simply was no democratic bureaucracy in place in 1989 when the Soviet-back government left power. And Orban was there in '89 to learn and understand the workings of Hungary's fledgling democracy. He didn't just know about the levers of power, he put many of them in place. That's not the case for the US. We have the means to stop this slide we are on, but we have to protect them.
Thank you for helping me understand that, Prof. Richardson.
References:
https://www.cairn.info/revue-francaise-d-administration-publique-2014-3-page-663.htm
https://hungarytoday.hu/govt-to-modify-lex-ceu-law/
https://time.com/5907735/budapest-hungary-mayor/
Good morning, Hogan, and thank you for your story. Good to see Hungary through the eyes of a family with that ancestry in its family perspective. My own niece lived in Hungary before pandemic. I just reveled in her stories of her time spent in the country that my own grandmother emigrated from.
In contrast, the stories of whims and winds of politics imposing an oppressing fascist will on the people and culture and traditions is disconcerting to say the least. For Tucker Carlson to be there on the dime of and representing the reprehensible obscenely wealthy white conservative movement through organizations such as the Heritage Foundation is disgusting. Their moral compass is trashed. And you on spot on, Hogan, in your observation of what I consider naïveté on Orban’s part. Being an apparent hero in the eyes of this movement in the United States to trash democracy and keep it in name only is boastful and plays to the ego of treason and Carlson is there as the mouthpiece of that ego. Fools. They suffer amnesia about the soul of our country, its people with a thousand ancestries and little interest really in a fading white men only club. A lot of color and culture and gender is no longer there in servitude of politics and greed. We have left the building and are currently remodeling a few broken structures of our own. Let’s remember our light sabers!
Thank you for sharing your story. Seems to me that fascism is our social corona virus and the variants are deadly.
It's time, long past time for those who haven't read it, for us all to read or re-read George Orwell's book from 1950, which is entitled "1984." Also read, the 1936 book by Sinclair Lewis called "It Can't Happen Here."
And “The Plot Against America” - Phyllip Roth
Yes.
Sadly, your meraphor is right on.
Perhaps a bit too darkly expressed. But there are those moments that do seem to feel like seismic pre shocks. This is why I am so grateful for HCR & LFAA & this community.
Hogan, thank you so much for your first-hand understanding of Hungarian politics. I also appreciate your optimistic opinion on this country's current predicament.
This letter is chilling. It brought back memories of visiting Hungary and its iconic Parliament Building and thinking that a country that was so outwardly attractive was actually a budding autocratic dictatorship. Reading here that its aims are similar to many of our conservative organizations, like the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, FreedomWorks, etc., many of which funded the Maricopa County elections "audit", and are well represented among the Supreme Court (Alito, Thomas, and Trump's THREE appointees), is the most chilling information we've seen since learning about Heather.
I recall that while taking interior design classes, we had a classmate from Hungary, a very attractive physician. She said that in order to practice medicine here, she'd have to go back to school for years, and wasn't willing to do that, so she wanted to be a designer. She went on to, very pleasantly, recount her experiences in Hungary, which led to a long rant about Jews. In addition to being in a class full of strangers, I was really taken back. She had no idea that, not only were many of the students Jewish, but certainly many who were not Jews were offended by her casual comments that reeked of anti-semitism. My guess is that Hungary must have plenty of anti-semites, in spite of their first hand experience with Hitler during WW II.
Putting this letter together with my small experience with one Hungarian and then learning about her restrictive government, and add in the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, etc., who are actively attempting to undermine the 2020 election and who also represent many members of our Supreme Court, is the scariest thing I've learned about Trumpism. I assumed that Putin was Trump's financier, but it seems that he was probably not alone, and had plenty of help from home-grown wealth. Also helps to explain the many racist, anti-semitic rioters at the insurrection and elsewhere in the country.
We Jews are blamed for everything.
I've been very aware of that all my life. I was born during WW II and, while I am not Jewish, I have always been acutely aware of prejudice against Jews. It's appalling, and I've never been able to understand it. To see it persist today is absolutely criminal.
...along with being at the root of evil. We also must remember that Jews are not the sole victims of fascism, communism, white supremacy, religious fanaticism, bigotry, greed, immorality and Lies, Lies, Lies.
You're correct, Fern. The bigotry and tribalism is at the root of our problems today, fanned by the uber-rich and greed for power - divide and conquer.
And why our government turned a blind eye to the hate.
Hogan, thank you for this first hand account and helping us understand a little more of the story, and for the links to further information, much appreciated.
Thank you so much for writing. That is my question: how do Hungarians feel about this transition? It is good to hear your thoughts about how the U.S. could fend of this type of power grab. I hope it's true. Causing the loss of confidence in elections is a very smart move by conservatives.
I respect your take on it, Kim, but you know what? I’ve always thought it’s the dang stupidest move they could have chosen. There might be people that pretend they have lost confidence, but the election we just had was strong, secure, and safe. It just wasn’t what one man supported by treasonous wealth and white color wanted.
If we were to have an upcoming election supported by all the suppression and vote manipulation being legislated now at state levels, I’d say yes, my confidence is trashed. However, that has NOT happened.
Nor will it when the Constitution of We the People holds.
And I firmly do not believe that the former and his idolaters will ever live to see the day that they will rewrite the Constitution as Orban did to their greedy, immoral, inept pleasure.
Oh, I so hope you’re right, Christine. I have been avoiding the political news for the past few weeks—at least not obsessively taking in every bit of commentary as I usually do —because it was getting me way too down. And that’s a danger. We can become so overwhelmed by the idiocy and the heinous anti-democratic behavior that we become complacent. That was me last week. Then this letter from HRC, who is not an alarmist. Now, I’m alarmed. Time to get going again.
Morning MaryB! I find you to be fierce! Do one thing, at least one, every day that supports the cause to rely on our democracy to foil the traitors and their gross stupidity. Write a letter, call a legislator, opine a retort to something you don’t agree with in the newspaper, be overwhelmed with love for our planet and it’s people. We are all in this together. There is enough to go around.
Blessings and Energy!
TY, Christine--as a fellow Floridian, I imagine you face the same daily stupifying news a I. I've written, emailed, demonstrated, etc. here until I'm blue in the face (no pun intended). After 20 yrs of doing this w/the FL legislature and regional boards (i.e., St. John's Water District, Alachua County School Board) w/little to no apparent results and watching my state legislature block the People's will as expressed in constitutional amendments, I'm just tired. I find my State & US senators & Reps totally aligned (read "bought") w/business, gun, and racist interests. All I find myself able to do these days is pray, and support those who have the energy and tools to continue the fight for freedom & democracy. I thank you for your brave and energetic response, and I have your back.
Thank you, Brenda, We have the wind, too, at our backs.
There is an HCR Substacker community here to support each other in activism. Floridians included! For more info, email
heathersherd@gmail.com
I love being called fierce. I’ll keep it up. I find at 80, I’m twice as passionate as I was in my 40s.
Twice 40 = passion beauty intelligence wisdom and courage!
HCR, of course
I become overwhelmed sometimes, too, but recover and try to spread the word, donate, support candidates, and try to keep the ball rolling. To be sure, everyone here will vote, and support democracy. We have the numbers.
There is an HCR Substacker community here to support each other in activism. For more info, email
heathersherd@gmail.com
I wonder if what Kim intended is along these lines - that while continuing to challenge the validity of the election with audits and screaming about the steal may not, at this point, persuade any more people that fraud is rampant, it will cement it in the minds of those who initially distrusted the results, and keep the fire of their anger and resentment burning til 2022.
Yes. I respect what Kim said. It’s a big “pot of people”. I keep visualizing the much bigger pot that we are all in.
Thank You Christine.
I agree that those calling the shots are shrewd, but still don't see it influencing anyone but their base. Lies and manipulation are all that they have - not policy, just hatred.
Thank you, Hogan. I appreciate hearing a new -- new to me, anyway -- perspective, and your letter teaches me things about which I was clueless.
Thank you for your inside story.
Thanks so much for a report from Hungary. The world is too big to follow and also too small not to.
Hogan, thank you for your informative reply! All the best to you and your family.
A cautionary tale, indeed. I fear for our democracy, but don't know how to help it survive and thrive... or where in the world I can go if it all blows up and goes to hell
Thank you very much for this informative post.
And for the essential difference you pointed out at the end. May we seize it!
Thank you for that nugget of inspiration at the end of your post. I’m going to try and stay positive , informed and engaged in the hope that Americans understand that Freedom is what we all stand to lose.Frightening.So sorry it happened to you’re family.Shalom.
Another apropos piece, Heather.
I know Orban well, since he's been in power, on (mostly) and off since the days Hungary was first admitted to NATO (literally, their THIRD day in NATO, when Orban infamously denied use of Hungary's airfields for NATO operations in Kosovo due to "special considerations" for ethnic Hungarians--nationalism first, since Day One). I was a young Captain in the Army then; I'm a five-years retired Lieutenant Colonel now--tells you how long this guy's been around. He's joined the Putin-Mubarak-Mugabe-Erdoğan Club, absolutely.
Orban has ALWAYS been looked at--State, DoD and the FP establishment--as pro-authoritarian and a threat to democratic growth in Eastern Europe. His bona fides in that regard are indisputable. For FC (Tucker Carlson. Think about it) to cozy up to this guy is unabashedly, exactly what you you're outlining--a man whose ideology and self-importance are bent on destroying our constitution and our country (all while telling himself he's saving it, of course).
Our biggest enemy in the next 2-4 years, is our own 5-minute attention span--made harder if we don't artificially stoke the fire (let's try not to). It's a grind, not a flash fire. We cannot flag in our vigilance and daily determination to oppose and turn back these efforts, bit-by-bit. Understanding these sorts of sideshows (I know FP ain't our thing in 'Merica) and that they really mean is important.
"Our biggest enemy in the next 2-4 years, is our own 5-minute attention span--made harder if we don't artificially stoke the fire (let's try not to). It's a grind, not a flash fire." I SO agree with this!!! That 5-minute attention span helped get us here in the first place. Thanks for the reminder, Robert!
That was the thought that struck me, too. I agree that it got us to the present point.
Please spell out abbreviations and acronyms.
Yes - it is a rule of JOURNALISM. First cite of an acronym must have the words to which it refers. (and for Europeans, acronyms are in upper case as the letters represent another word - but disregard as usual) :)
FP? FC? Acronyms do to prose what a dead cow does to the stream it's lying in. Please spell them out.
These days, "spelling them out" gets called out for being rude & crude! I got the FC tho. That was easy.
Well, I did not & can only guess at FP. Please provide full term then use acronyms.
Tucker Carlson, first initial "F"
Ooooh, I get it now! Thanks.
That was my take on it.
Same here. Foreign Press? Foreign Correspondent? Felicitous Pathology? I'm lost!
Foreign Policy? I am guessing too, and I wish I knew for sure what this writer means.
Family Planning.
Full Press, Fascist Pigs?
Yup, FC
Another jaw dropping letter. We have openly fascists TV personalities feeding lies to the devout. We should be worried. A way to stealing minds is thru their savior.
From Heather: “Orbán has been open about his determination to overthrow the concept of western democracy, replacing it with what he has, on different occasions, called “illiberal democracy,” or “Christian democracy.” He wants to replace the multiculturalism at the heart of democracy with Christian culture, stop the immigration that he believes undermines Hungarian culture, and reject “adaptable family models” with “the Christian family model.””
Mass psychosis?
FromWaPo#1:”The church is called Mercy Culture, and it is part of a growing Christian movement that is nondenominational, openly political and has become an engine of former president Donald Trump’s Republican Party. It includes some of the largest congregations in the nation, housed in the husks of old Baptist churches, former big-box stores and sprawling multimillion-dollar buildings with private security to direct traffic on Sundays. Its most successful leaders are considered apostles and prophets, including some with followings in the hundreds of thousands, publishing empires, TV shows, vast prayer networks, podcasts, spiritual academies, and branding in the form of T-shirts, bumper stickers and even flags. It is a world in which demons are real, miracles are real, and the ultimate mission is not just transforming individual lives but also turning civilization itself into their version of God’s Kingdom: one with two genders, no abortion, a free-market economy, Bible-based education, church-based social programs and laws such as the ones curtailing LGBTQ rights now moving through statehouses around the country.”…”a church that had grown so large since its founding in 2019 that there were now three services every Sunday totaling some 4,500 people, a growing Saturday service in Spanish and plans for expansion to other parts of the country”
From WaPo #2: “A University of Washington study posits that worship services at megachurches can trigger feelings of transcendence and changes in brain chemistry — a spiritual “high” that keeps congregants coming back for more.
“We see this experience of unalloyed joy over and over again in megachurches. That’s why we say it’s like a drug,” said James Wellman, an associate professor of American religion who co-authored the study.
The study, “’God is like a drug’: Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches” was presented Sunday (Aug. 19) at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Denver.”
From Ruth Ben-Ghiat: “The optics-obsessed Donald Trump knew how to cultivate good crowds and demonize dissenters. That helped him to remain popular despite election interference investigations, impeachment, and more. The need for a continuous stream of adoring crowd images is one reason Trump invested so heavily in rallies. He held more than 150 of them during his presidency, over 40 of which took place during the pandemic. "They say no human being could do that," Trump said of the number of rallies he held soon after his own bout with coronavirus. With evidence of his negligent handling of the pandemic accumulating, he had plenty of motivation.
Trump devoted equal effort to spreading fear about the presence of bad crowds in America, with right-wing propagandists like Tucker Carlson of Fox News acting as his allies.”
Who needs Trump when they have mega churches?
When will we listen to experts on the mind????
Minds are being stolen. What is the tipping point for authoritarianism? It feels as if the Pied Piper is real.
Wa Po #1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/11/mercy-culture-church/
WaPo #2 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/does-megachurch-high-explain-their-success/2012/08/20/97dc8ef4-eb07-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html
Thank you for an outstanding comment Christy.
Trump may be the ring leader, but we should never discount the fact that for decades, the Republican Party has cynically captured and exploited large swaths of Christianity in order to gain and control political power. They did it in plain sight and with the cooperation of church leaders. How better to invigorate and expand a political party than to tap into those who are already susceptible to faith-based persuasion?
Thank you Don, I’m usually on the lookout for your comments.
I’m not sure I would call TFG the ring leader. I’m beginning to believe he was the convenient personality needed, and likely somewhat cultivated by a few that came before him with equal evil intentions. The surprise was how easily the devoted let go of their dogma for tfg’s charisma.
We haven't seen someone like Trump since Roy Cohn which harkens back to the next darkest period in political history.
Wanted to also thank you for introducing me to Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Somehow, she has never popped up on my radar before now. I think I'll get a subscription to Lucid ASAP.
Have a good day! Seriously.
Speaking of Ruth Ben-Ghiat, she is out with this just today: “Orbán has arguably been among the most successful sitting leaders at creating an electoral autocracy - the 21st century way of being a strongman that entails keeping a veneer of democracy going while turning elections into sham events, taking judicial and press freedoms away, and suffocating society slowly. As Kim Lane Scheppele Lane writes, "the new autocrats come to power not with bullets but with laws," and "know how to game the system," rigging elections in technical ways, including threatening voting officials or harassing them with expensive legal proceedings.
This is where the GOP is heading, accelerating the agenda of the Trump presidency to undo our democratic freedoms and institutions. As I observed in 2019 on the occasion of Orbán's White House visit, the goal of the Trump presidency was also to align America with the global right.” I find her compelling.
Leave it to another historian to set the record straight and forwarn us of lessons that should have been learned long ago and remembered today. After Trump was illegitimately elected in 2016, I called on the NYT and WAPO to seek out the counsel of historians and psychiatrists. Through them, I hoped people would become sufficiently alarmed and put on alert that the country had a megalomaniac and a sociopath for a president, not unlike Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and many others going back in history. Both NYT and WAPO were very slow to recognize that the U.S. had an unhinged monster acting as president. It has been downhill fast since then.
Just finished listening to Ruth Ben-Ghiat interviewed by Lincoln's Bible in the utterly fantastic podcast "The World Beneath". Two of my favourites.
Handmaid's Tale scared the sh*t out of me when I read it in 1985--the Hulu series made it all too real and topical...
As a Christian, I've been devastated by the full-on Borg-like absorption of many evangelical churches into some malformed religious industrial complex, totally sold out to whatever it takes to gain & maintain political influence & raw power. They have bought into the error of Constantine- a mandatory "state religion" offering privilege while delivering death. Not only does a state religion of privilege change the heart & mind of no one, it fosters rebellion rather than freedom. I believe that, just as God made us in His image, our freedom to choose is an essential part of that image, and He draws us rather than locking us up or coercing us. Trying to impose theocracy outside a voluntary faith group is Pharisaism and eventually destroys the freedom of everyone. This background on Hungary and its parallels here is really disturbing and I hope enough Americans wake up and commit to fight the fascist, hypocritical spirit threatening our democracy.
Sorry to be off-subject. To date four members of the Capitol Police who were defending our Capitol on January 6th have committed suicide. Last week, my intent was to send the department a thank-you note for their service; to my shame I have not done that as yet. Please thank these guys: 119 D St NE, Washington, DC 20510. The card I bought last week finally goes in the mail today.
Thank you, Cheryl. This is an important gesture towards those that serve.
I believe it’s 3 members of the Metropolitan Police Dept of DC and one member of the Capitol Police who tragically have taken their own lives in addition to Capitol Policeman Sittnick who died as a result of injuries. All colleagues for sure but I think mailing addresses different?
This is other address if mailing our tribute of gratitude to both forces that protected our Capitol that day.
Metropolitan Police Department
Headquarters
300 Indiana Avenue, NW,
Washington DC 20001
Phone: (202) 727-9099
Email: mpd@dc.gov
Website: http://mpdc.dc.gov
Christine, thank-you so very much. Will do. My first husband was a medic during the Vietnam War. His mind was so troubled that I often feared for his life - which he took twenty years after his tour of duty. All folks suffering from PTSD are in desperate need of our outreach and support.
Oh geez, Cheryl. 💜 to you and his memory of the good man he lived. I hold my friends dear that suffer from PTSD and offer freely any healing I can give to them. It’s such a mind-bender.
I only can understand it by some of what our nation collectively suffers after this past year and a half.
Blessings!
My husband is a Vietnam vet also with PTSD. He has had his moments of despair. My best to you, Cheryl.
I’m sorry to ask this question but why did these police people take their lives?
It was so quickly after January 6. I thought perhaps they were involved with the insurrection. I totally understand the trauma that everyone experienced that day. But I’ve yet to read anything on it. Any information please?
Bonnie, there is never ONE answer to that question. It is very, very complicated.
I asked that question on here a couple weeks ago. I totally understand the trauma that law enforcement deals with on a daily basis but what could have been the trigger that caused these four to do the very worst thing they could put upon their families. As the investigation. arrests and convictions from the January 6th insurrection proceed, it appears there has been several service people as well as law enforcement individuals involved. I just can't help but think that maybe they decided that knowing they were on the wrong side of the insurrection would be worse for their families. Chances are we'll never really know the why of it. Unfortunately it just leaves us up to our own conclusions. So, so sorry for their families.
As the widow of someone who committed suicide, the “why” question hits a nerve with me. Again, there is no ONE answer. Ultimately, anyone’s “conclusions” are like opinions: Everyone has one.
I imagine those issues does hit a strong nerve with you. I wish you only the best.
Kay, that is tragic and I’m so very sorry.
Bonnie and Pam, did you watch the testimony of the four policemen who appeared before the House Select Committee hearing last week? Listening to the two Capitol Policemen and two D.C. Metropolitan officers was absolutely gut-wrenching. While the reasons for the suicides of the four officers have not been publicized, I believe that it is grossly unfair to assume that these people might have been involved in the insurrection. Listening to the testimony of the four who appeared before the Committee, their pain and trauma were so palpable that it is clear that, as Officer Fanone reported, it wasn't just something that they're able to move on and forget. In fact, several alluded to the officers who committed suicide, and it was obvious that was also weighing on them - something I doubt would have happened if the deceased officers had been involved. They also recommended that others avail themselves of counseling that is available, and I understand that they're calling out the Fraternal Order of Police for not reaching out and offering counseling.
I would imagine the lack of support & minimizing of the trauma suffered by officers responding to the 1/6 insurrection- especially by many of the very people they were charged to protect and serve- could have felt, at times, both unbearable and futile. Just heartbreaking.
As a matter of fact, the officers said that one of the most difficult things they had to deal with was the fact that they'd risked life and limb, only to find that many of the Republican legislators whose lives they'd protected are now trying to call the insurrection a visit by vacationers - totally benign, and even went on to say that there was no violence.
That idea came to me as well , but it is likely a very individual story for each. I understand the suicide rate for police generally is high compared to the population. Essential that cities have resources for them to stay healthy and get help without shame when needed.
Thank you. Also posted on fb
Thank You. Also posted on fb
Hungary has no "democratic tradition," so the current situation is unsurprising. The country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire till 1918, then the subject of a monarchist-communist civil war till 1922, when Admiral Horthy took over as Regent and set up a nice little fascist state modeled on Mussolini. They were quick to ally with Hitler in 1937, which allowed them to get back some of "traditional Hungary" from Czechoslovakia when the Germans finally swallowed the whole country in March 1939. They were allied with the Nazis throughout the Second World War, then the Red Army came in in the fall of 1944 and established all the exiled Stalinists Horthy had chased out as the new government, which with the exception of 3 weeks in October 1956 had a nice little Stalinist dictatorship till the fall of the USSR. The "democracy" they had for 10 years was mostly a play against the old Stalinists masquerading as "democrats" - Orban came along and just re-established what everyone had known of government for all their lives.
Much the same can be said for much of the rest of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.....excepting of course ......recently....Greece (despite often despotic control by brussels itself). The one shining light being the Baltic States.These countries either faced Ottoman oppression, Hapsberg domination, Tsarist violence, Nazi terror or Stalinist repression. Now the "Orban" system more or less prevails or is shaping up too in Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria. Where it is not yet evident either the countries are still suffering from the somewhat chaotic political infighting that can lead in that direction (the Balkans,, Ukraine) or are keeping a lower profile (Rumania, Czech Rep.). Belarussia I'll not even mention. The problem for the rest of us in Western Europe is that they are mostly in the EU already or trying to get there and we are funnelling boatloads of money their way hoping against hope that they will appreciate the gesture and become like us. Fat Chance! We are just feeding the monster......and they have seen also what a mess our Western European societies are getting themselves into and are thus forging their own models so as not to be like us.
Usually I avoid referring to the former occupant of the White House, but with the report that DT pressured Jerome Rosen “just say that the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me” I now understand what DT meant when said "I alone can fix it." It was the Election he was fixing.
B I N G O ! ! !
Aha! Thank you .
Whenever I hear someone identify their nation as "Christian" among their political ideologies, I know that they have no intentions of being Christian.
Matthew 22:22: Christ said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's"
Anyone who uses religion to enforce their politics is rendering unto Caesar what is God's.
I have been reading several books on the Jim Crow period of American history, recently finishing "The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921". Prior to that, I read several books on American Indians defending their land and treaties during US expansion westward. Americans involved in the most horrible atrocities throughout American history used the Bible and claimed Christian values as they slaughtered anyone and everyone that they identified as those others not Christian according to their politics.
Unless our churches and society identify the evil behavior of using Christian material for political purposes as evil, we will have crosses burning in the hearts and minds of Americans looking to turn our nation, using any means possible, away from God and democracy, away from the ideals of our Declaration of Independence and US Constitution, toward violent repressive one party authoritarian rule.
Throughout our nation are unmarked graves, nameless and missing Americans, that represent America's continuing unspoken holocaust. We are not a Christian or any other religious nation as long as this continues.
Which is why the Constitution includes, in the First Amendment, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”. Jefferson broke it down to the fact that there must be “separation of Church and State”. We, at least, have laws in place that should not be trampled on
But they have been trampled on in those states where abortion has been severely restricted if not effectively banned by the passage of laws based on the religious views of the “Christian” right.
The very people who believe that ‘the second amendment was handed down by Moses’ on the back of the Ten Commandments, readily violate and scoff at the words in the first Amendment! The gun, ammo and war industry protects Scalia’s version of the amendment with all their $$$$$$!
The mega church snake oil sales people have learned to make big $$$$$. Their tax exempt status MUsT be recindered!
Exactly
Read "The Outlier", a biography of Jimmy Carter that just came out. What is fascinating to me is to discover just how deeply twisted the Christian Evangelists have been when it came to Carter. They rejected him in the end for appalling reasons, in favor of Reagan of CA, who used a lot of racist dog whistle ads in his runs for President (welfare queens, anyone?)--and now they absolutely adore their adulterous, corrupt, Trump from NYC. These so-called Christians had supported Jimmy as a white Southern Christian man in 1976 because they thought he was one of their own. They abandoned Carter because he had the audacity to insist that being Christian meant focusing on helping the poor regardless of the color of their skin, and he refused to funnel Federal money in the form of tax credits to their Sharia Christian private schools. Despite being (and proving through his whole life that he was truly) a deeply devout Christian, a REAL Christian, Carter firmly believed in separation of Church and State. He also thought it an unwise fiscal policy in any case to fund rich white kids going to private schools. Carter, it turned out, was the best of the white South, a stubborn independent thinker raised by a mother (Lillian) who was a classic eccentric Southern woman who saw the racism but refused to take it in and adopt it. He was a very complex character with plenty of flaws, but in the end Carter was not what anybody thought he would be; he was better than they wanted him to be. Our so-called Christians have been mocking his Presidency and calling him weak ever since--but it turns out he was a highly effective President, he got a whole lot more done than people give him credit for doing. We should all wonder why they work so hard to erase his legacy. I think in a way Carter was more dangerous to their focus on the supremacy of white men than anything else that has come along in decades. We need more eccentric Southerners who are true Christians to run and win, not these fake ones who are only out to pad their bank accounts.
An interstate conspiracy to perpetuate fraud and assume and maintain power through control of elections ought to place these folks squarely in the the sights of the RICO act.
I keep that as a mental image, William. Methinks our current DOJ will support that.
Tucker Carlson is not in favor of "Christian Family Values" or "Christian Democracy" any more than Orban is, which is none at all.
Carlson is, however, in favor of all the money he gets from his wealthy, "conservative" right wing, donors who know that if they can take over the government, then, they can use the United States Fed to print money for themselves.
One thing that is clear to the Right Wing of this country. The Federal Reserve can generate great wealth (for them). That has been clear since Ronald Reagan generated $2 Trillion in debt while vocally claiming he would "cut spending". Welfare for rich people was Ronald Reagan's greatest gift to America while he simultaneously impugned welfare for poor people.
That $2 Trillion went almost exclusively to Military Contractors and private Hedge Funds and the stockholders of both.
Since that example showed the way, "Conservative", right wing groups have realized that all they must do is take over the government and permanent wealth, unimaginable before Reagan, is at their feet.
Those groups of right wing folks use the words "Christian", because, the Christian groups in this country, having been taught to "believe" in that for which there is no evidence from birth, have the right skill set to believe right wing lies. Christian groups are experts at believing that which they are told on Sunday morning. They are not experts in Critical Thought, experimental data, or any aspect of thinking that might give them pause when listening to Tucker Carlson.
However, forty years after Reagan showed the way, the right has yet to actually take over the government apparatus, although, they came close under Trump and "W" Bush.
Unfortunately, the wealthy HAVE managed to grab the majority of the money this country has printed since Reagan showed the way. Under Bush, those who bought Haliburton stock before the announcement of "no bid" contracts in Iraq?
Those wealthy investors in Haliburton, tipped off early, were made fantastically wealthy.
Orban is just where the USA right wing has been trying to move for forty years.
Bozo the Clown, Ronald Reagan was the first. He patterned in California. Donald T. Regan cleaned up after the elephant. Nancy fired DTR. She was wife #2. The first was a drunk like Reagan’s father.
Faux fascist dandy Tucker Carlson feels vaguely queer, and St. George’s School is the weakest of our prep schools. He’s a transparent public seducer, liquid goo seeking a container to shape him. Orban is his container.
It's been going down this pathway since 1980 IMHO of course. Gee, what happened in 1980?
The Wealthy in America curiously now vote overwhelmingly Progressive Democratic. Beware who you see as elite. The board game, like it or not, has changed and is significant to the state of play.
Absolutely. Their plan to infiltrate and impose their regime is now being prepared to be put in place. The installation of TFG demonstrated where they were going. The failed coup is not the end. TC in Hungary is how blatantly confident they are. Russia and China and technology and possibly grid hacking and mining of info is very concerning.
They are mistaken.
I don't know the history of the Church. The story you are telling sounds as though it may be foundational to the Church -- a centuries old story. Has it bee told? It would be instructional to know its roots as well as its twists and turns through this country's power structures.
Fern, I believe you--and everyone, especially all Americans--would enjoy and benefit by seeing the PBS series "God in America." It's six one-hour episodes about religions coming to America (the U.S.), and how they integrated into society and eventually began to play a political role. Produced ten years ago, it's still available online and free at: https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/view/. The first two episodes were especially relevant to my family's journey to the U.S. and millions of others who pursued Freedom of Religion. One very relevant event in achieving this freedom was the Baptists' constant prodding of Thomas Jefferson for freedom of religion which sparked him to support the cause. He wrote to the Baptist advocates that he didn't believe in their particular doctrine, but he understood and agreed with their push for religious freedom. He went on to support the issue enthusiastically, and it was then included in the Bill of Rights. "God in America" is quite a high quality production and a worthwhile view.
I am deeply grateful to you Heydon for recommending 'God in America'. I will watch the series as soon as I can by following up on the link you provided. We have all seen glimpses of this, if not more. The last one was provided to me by kimceann's recommendation to look into Norman Vincent Peale, a favorite of Nixon's, Trump's father Fred and of Trump.
Hey, Fern, this god in America series is really enlightening for me. Recommended.
Will do later this week or over the weekend.
My gratitude to you for sharing this link. I'm in process of watching it and am learning SO much. Had no idea it existed.
Not all of us. I read Anne Frank at 15.
The greatest enemy to democracy in America is not Tя☭mp and conservatives. The greatestenemy is apathy. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It is clear that when turnout in American elections is typically between 60% and 65%, the largest political party is non-voters. Apathy, distraction, and yes also voter suppression, these are the enemies destroying our democracy. It is essential we fight these and unite in speaking to those not engaged in the political process. It is far easier to turn a non-voter into a voter than trying to turn a conservative into progressive.
In response to your comment BruceC, there are three dynamics in play.
1) Keep people desperate to survive or improve their lives;
2) Divide and conquer;
3) Undermine reasonable governance and political norms in order to favor the wealthy.
All three of these dynamics are purposely and successfully promoted by the plutocrats.
Thanks, Bruce, for this reminder.
Excellent comment!
Dear HCR -- I love your columns and often "heart" them, but for today's post, I wish that there were some option that indicated agreement but anger at the same time... (even Facebook doesn't have this sophisticated an emoticon)
We need one to show Eyes open! Letters like this do that for us.
😳
Hahahahahaha. Those are the EXACT ones I picked.
Definitely chilling.
😡
Oh my, Dr. R! How brazen is Tucker Carlson’s behavior! If you pay any attention at all to international news you know that Orbàn is against democracy and for his version only of Hungary. Consorting with dictators is what the former President did. It was wrong then and it is wrong now. We are still in danger.
I cannot pretend any knowledge of Hungary's political landscape, other than what I retain of what I just read here. I find this as chilling as any of the LFAA I have read so far.
TCinLA adds a great piece to the history of Hungary and that the perception that it was a democracy that is or was dismantled is in name only. Never was a democracy in the same structure of ours in this country. Hogan in a post today brings up the very significant point that Orban freely put into place what “he” wanted because the structures of democracy that we have in this country to prevent that were NOT in place in Hungary.
So Carlson can go kiss Orban ring while he kisses the a** of the former. And Bannon can go on with his bullsh*t ‘til the cows come back to the barn that Orban is “the most significant figure” in wherever. It’s all for their fading base. It’s not working.
Can you imagine Stacy Abrams on Orban’s guest list? Pshaw!
or AOC
Exactamente. I can think of a entire guest list to crash Brat Carlson’s speaking engagement. Can you imagine Yoda leading the group in?
I'm available. Except I'll have to do it virtually, social distancing and all that.
Somehow I think Yoda can project the visual right in front of his thin lipped squawking face.
Why did I just flash on an image of a Three Stooges banana cream pie?
Morning Ally!
It really is.
If enough of US remain too busy to get involved in the politics of our society, then we shall indeed get the government we deserve.
It occurs to me that the greatest danger to our democracy may be our own conviction that it actually is a real democracy. When I say "democracy" I define it as having universal adult citizen suffrage with each person's vote having the same weight as each other person's vote, regularly scheduled elections (or other mechanisms guaranteeing frequent consultation of the electorate) and non-partisan drawing of electoral districts, all sitting on a firm foundation of explicitly described rights and responsibilities.
Others may choose to define democracy differently, and there have certainly been many instances of undemocratic "democratic" republics, but what we all learned in school about the meaning of "democracy" and generally practice on a much smaller scale in our daily lives is not what is in our revered Constitution. The US Senate and the Electoral College are both undemocratic institutions designed to prevent the people -- us -- from having the final word, favoring instead propertied white men over their fellow citizens.
The relative ease with which the likes of Donald Trump and the current GOP have brought us to where we are is the proof that we are not a real democracy.
Exactly what I was thinking, thank you for voicing it so well.
Yes. Get rid of gerrymandering and initiate automatic voter registration for citizens 18 and over.
Of course I agree with you that this needs to be done. The question is: how can this be accomplished when a minority of American voters can elect a Trump to be President and a simple majority in the Senate is not sufficient to pass essential legislation? If the number of Senators were proportional to the population in each State (as Reps in the House are), Joe Biden could have already passed his full load of useful legislation and America would be leading the world away from the encroaching climate-change nightmare. Affordable healthcare would be a right of citizenship. Poverty in America would be a thing of the past. Every other aspect of life in the USA would be better if we had a modern democracy regulated by an updated Constitution. If Trump and his band of thugs are not imprisoned in pretty short order, they will drag us into Fascism. Game over.
Yes, you're right that no small measures will suffice, especially now that Trump's attempted coup & the ongoing one in the states against voter rights have "unmasked" the reality that this is not just a historical intention, but a current one among those committed to cementing minority rule.
It's easy to look back & ask why some of these steps weren't taken before, as I suppose I've been doing. Hindsight being 20/20 etc..... The main thing, as you say, is to face forward and ensure that voting is unhindered, election control is *not* partisan, and rights of all citizens are protected. The filibuster has become an enemy to all those priorities at this point.
Good morning, everyone! I truly fear for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Once this form of control is asserted, it is very hard to remove it. And it has nothing to do with "the good of the people" or even Christianity (often used as a bludgeon in these circumstances)..it has to do with power...absolute controlling power. People, we all need to keep our eyes open and do whatever we can to keep these power mongers out of government at any level. We are facing this in the next gubernatorial election in VA...Youngkin is a huge Trump supporter and believes Trump's rhetoric. Fight every fire you can. Spread the word however you can. I'm afraid this fight will continue for a long time.
Except Devotion to Christ has become confused with the Golden Rule of Christianity and the fascists are using it to steal minds. Someone else here has said Christian leaders must speak up about what is happening in their flock. Certainly Jon Pavlovitz has tried. https://johnpavlovitz.com/2021/06/15/i-dont-like-america/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=John+Pavlovitz&fbclid=IwAR2-Tqwu5jD1432LDELoJ36rZCrEl01N7ipoONyHA3BHGiPrY0Zzbg8jV8M