V spodnjem zapisu Martina Wolfa v Financial Timesu zamenjajte ime Trump z Janša, Orban itd., pa boste dobili ranljivo stanje sedanje demokracije v svetu. Dobršen del sveta je zašel v populistično, neliberalno smer, kjer avtoritarni voditelji kreirajo fiktivno realnost za svoje sledilce, kjer so poteptali vse standarde politične kulture, pokorili pravosodni in represivni aparat ter javne medije, bogati posamezniki in menedžerji (industrialci) pa jim pri tem asistirajo v zameno za davčne odpustke in subvencije. Tako kot so Hitlerju pred 90 leti.

Če se tiha, zmerna, sredinska večina ne bomo angažirali, nas čaka obdobje fašizma. Čas je zdaj!

Here is a political leader who has ousted anybody who opposes him from positions of influence in his party. He believes himself unjustly persecuted, defines reality for his followers and insists that a legitimate election is one he wins.

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Equally surely, he will use the pressure that he can then exert on the wealthy and influential to bring them into line. Crony capitalism is among the probabilities. Ask the Hungarians who live in an “illiberal democracy” under a man admired by US rightwing pundits.

“Americans — and all but a handful of politicians — have refused to take this possibility seriously enough to try to prevent it”, notes Kagan. “As has so often been the case in other countries where fascist leaders arise, their would-be opponents are paralysed in confusion and amazement at this charismatic authoritarian.”

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Just consider what happened during Trump’s intended coup against the 2020 election and how Republican legislators and supporters have since rallied round in order to prevent anybody important, above all Trump himself, from being held accountable. The only significant players who have been punished are those who resisted or condemned the coup. The Republicans have crossed their Rubicon already.

Why has this happened? The answer is a mix of greed, ambition and anger in a country that has grown increasingly diverse and an economy that has failed to give secure prosperity to a large proportion of the population. This has created a familiar coalition built on “othering” outsiders, glorifying the nation, protecting the wealthy and worshipping a great leader. Fifty seven per cent of Republicans consider a bad reaction to the vaccine riskier than Covid-19 itself. This is a measure of tribalism.

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Suppose Trump comes back to power in 2024, determined to exact vengeance on his foes, backed by Congress and the Supreme Court. Yes, even this might be just an interlude. Trump is old: his passing might be the end of the authoritarian moment. But neither the electoral system nor the Republican party will go back to what it was. The latter is now a radical party with a reactionary agenda.

Vir: Martin Wolf, Financial Times