this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
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Donald Trump has said that he will not become a dictator if he becomes US president again except "on day one", after warnings from Democrats and some Republicans that the US was in danger of becoming an autocracy if he wins the 2024 election. Fuck, well at least he's honest on this statement

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[–] bappity@lemmy.world 195 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (17 children)

if the US actually re elect him they're fucked

[–] Enkers@sh.itjust.works 112 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (5 children)

Yup, and Trump doesn't have a choice. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to lose a lot of money and potentially face jail time. His only way out is to seize power. Since he's backed himself into a corner, he'll try everything to steal the next election, including another coup attempt.

I don't personally think it'll work, but on the slim chance it does many of us will be facing an existential threat which will require swift action. He's already publicly stated that he sees leftists as vermin which need to be eradicated, and I, for one, don't want to give him the chance to act on that threat.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 57 points 11 months ago

Yeah and Donnie’s definition of leftist is anyone that isn’t actively deep throating his boot

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 28 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (6 children)

Of course he has a choice.

He can choose facing the consequences of his actions.

If that's unappealing, he can also choose to, let's say, "pull an Epstein".

Let's not give him the benefit of saying this is the only "strategy" he has left, because that implies you can't blame him for trying. Like any reasonable person in his position would do the same thing.

And that's complete nonsense. He's not an animal stuck in a bear trap, he's a human being, who has been very open about his penchant for fascism long before he was charged.

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[–] Szymon@lemmy.ca 42 points 11 months ago

We're all fucked, not just the states

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is the “best” America can push forward, we are already fucked. We were fucked 24 years ago.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

We were fucked 24 years ago.

Exactly: that's when the first coup (the Brooks Brothers Riot) succeeded.

[–] MisterNeon@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago

As an American I think we're fucked already.

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[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 98 points 11 months ago (2 children)

You can only become a dictator one time, after that you are a dictator.
So he'll only "become" a dictator on day one, the rest of his life hell just be a dictator.
And let's not entertain the fantasy that his heath will catch up to him sooner rather than later, remember he has access to better healthcare than 99% of the population and it's entirely state funded.
We'll be stuck with him for at least a decade, but I wonder who will inherit the throne when he's gone?

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[–] MeekerThanBeaker@lemmy.world 95 points 11 months ago

"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy. I love the Republic. Once this crisis has abated, I will lay down the powers you have given me!"

--Chancellor Palpatine

[–] vitamin@infosec.pub 95 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (13 children)

Has there ever been a dictator who relinquished power after "fixing" things? Yeah guys, I'm going to need some extra judicial powers and have the military become my personal army, but it's just temporary, I swear.

[–] DaveDavesen@feddit.de 51 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Yes, the original roman ones. This is the origin of the word. They were appointed for emergencies with a lot of power.

They all gave up their position after a while except for Caesar. When Caesar was appointed as a lifelong dictator, he was shortly after assassinated by most members of the senate. But the turmoil led to the Roman Empire not being "democratic" anyway.

[–] Taako_Tuesday@lemmy.ca 27 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Slight correction, he wasn't assassinated by most of the senate. There were about 60 conspirators out of 200-300, and only a dozen or so actually participated in the assassination (and only 5 actually confirmed to have stabbed him while still alive). Regardless, it's still true that they came to that conclusion after Caesar was declared dictator for life and started taking away senate power

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[–] 100_kg_90_de_belin@feddit.it 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Despite his relatively old age, [Cincinnatus] worked his own small farm until an invasion prompted his fellow citizens to call for his leadership. He came from his plough to assume complete control over the state but, upon achieving a swift victory in only 16 days, relinquished his power and its perquisites and returned to his farm.

[–] Daxtron2@startrek.website 13 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Anyone who wants power, shouldn't have it.

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[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 15 points 11 months ago (8 children)

The original office of dictator as defined in the Roman Republic was exactly that,

It was literally the office of "we have tried literally everything else and still have a problem, you there, you seem like a not idiot person, you can do basically anything you want for the next six months or until you solve the problem, after that we'll make cool statues of you if you do a good job."

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[–] tegs_terry@feddit.uk 12 points 11 months ago (7 children)

I've heard the term 'benevolent dictator' before, but it might be philosophical. It doesn't seem to me that anyone capable of assuming the role could remain benevolent long.

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[–] captain_oni@lemmy.world 72 points 11 months ago

Ah yes, the "just the tip" of fascism.

[–] ConditionOverload@lemmy.world 56 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Lol and his fans are still totally fine with him saying dangerous crap like his. It's unbelievable.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 38 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't they be fine with it? A dictatorship is exactly what those traitors genuinely want.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Or think they want... Until they end up being part of a group that's targeted.

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[–] Kleinbonum@feddit.de 27 points 11 months ago

That's because they like the idea of a Trump dictatorship. They simply assume they'd be on the side that's going to do the dictating.

[–] anarchy79@lemmy.world 52 points 11 months ago (4 children)

You know your country is a failure when the perpetrator of a previous coup attempt is allowed to run for office again like nothing happened.

Can you use those 2A rights to defend against tyranny anytime soon or does that only cover school shootings and gang violence?

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[–] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 50 points 11 months ago

Slaps knee

Both sides, am I right? /s

[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 39 points 11 months ago

He will be worse than last time.

[–] TwattyMctwatterson@lemmings.world 35 points 11 months ago

Just the tip, I swear I won't put it all the way in.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 30 points 11 months ago (14 children)

Quoth the Privs: "bUt BiDeN sAmE!"

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[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 29 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The guy who says he should be allowed to serve three terms because the Democrats supposedly obstructed his agenda? The guy who says we should re-do the 2020 election after losing? That's the guy you're going to trust to be a 1-day dictator, huh?

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[–] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Remember: Trump mocked a disabled person on national television, he raped a 13 year old girl and settled out of court, he called for all of the violence on January 6th 2021 and the overthrow of the American government's peaceful transition of power, he ordered the use of MOAB, he wasted billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars building a sham wall that hasn't kept out undocumented immigrants, he moved the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he's cheated on every single wife he's ever had, he's currently charged with 91 criminal charges related to rampant tax fraud, he destroyed Atlantic City, he saluted an enemy general in North Korea, he asked for Russian hackers to perform cyberattacks on his political rivals, he illegally attempted to blackmail Zelenskyy by demanding dirt on the Bidens in exchange for military aid, he ordered law enforcement to open fire on protestors, he gave tax breaks to the rich and increased the taxes on the working class, he brags about sexual assault, and he just told everyone he will be a dictator.

Better vote for him? Don't Americans watch the news?

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[–] dbug13@sh.itjust.works 22 points 11 months ago

It's just diet dictatorship. So don't worry about it, it'll be fine...

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 22 points 11 months ago (1 children)
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[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Trump can't even be a decent person for one day, what makes them think they would be a decent dictator for only a day?

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[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

Dollar store orange Julius geezer

[–] tegs_terry@feddit.uk 12 points 11 months ago

At which point he can change the rules

[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Can we like ... put it in a contract?

And can we like ... add a clause that we are allowed to chop of his head if he refuses to give up his dictatorship after a day?

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