Now, it’s perfectly true that there was never a time in America when everyone just got along beautifully. Our history of racism and xenophobia alone puts the lie to that. But Trump’s intolerance truly is ecumenical in that it could be any group, any individual, any foe or (former) friend at any given moment. It’s entirely self-serving.

It’s making more and more people embrace political violence. The recent American Values Survey from Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with the Brookings Institution think tank found that one in three Republicans agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country” – up from 15% in 2021. (22% of Independents and 13% of Democrats agree, all numbers having increased since 2021.) The truly frightening number is that among those who believe the Big Lie, 46% believe they may resort to violence, as well as 41% of Trump fans and 41% who buy into the “Great Replacement Theory.” 39% of Christian nationalists are ready to take up arms to “save the country.” Those numbers represent tens of millions of Americans.

  • YoBuckStopsHere@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Trump is already talking about putting blue states under military control, arresting his opponents, and becoming a dictator for life. Does anyone see a second term for him being peaceful?

    • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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      Many Republicans see it being very peaceful after dictator Trump is reinstated and all “woke liberals” are jailed or murdered.

        • shalafi@lemmy.world
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          They don’t think liberals are armed and practiced. I have news…

          And if you’re liberal “vermin”, and you are not armed and practicing basic safety and shooting, why not? The largest gun purchasing demographic for the past few years has been POC, LGBT and women. And they’re asking in my liberal gun circles, “What do I buy? How do I practice safety?” And we go all out to help and advise.

          Y’all libs better pull your head out your ass. I’m a middle-aged white guy, an ally all the way, and I’ll do my damndest to defend you, but my family comes first, country second, and I’m prepared. Sounds like the crazy prepper talk I heard in the 80’s and 90’s. Well. Here we are.

          If “The Committe of Public Safety” comes knocking on my door they will meet a hell storm of buckshot and .45ACP. And yes, it will likely mean my personal extinction. But I’m not getting on a fucking train.

          • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Thinking you don’t need to arm yourself, because the police will help, is such a privileged take and it’s hilarious when it’s put forth. “Just take the guns away” say the people who aren’t being targeted by one of the political parties in the US.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Sorry, I do not think I have the courage to kill anyone and I have very little hand-eye coordination. I don’t care if you have a gun. Just don’t expect me to get one.

            • shalafi@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              My god no, my friend, I said that all wrong.

              If you do not wish to pick up arms, I do not want you too.

              You’re #1 weapon is your vote. If that fails, and the right is rigging it to fail, and if things go to hell, you can still be a pacifist and help.

              I invite you to read about Desmond Doss, a personal hero of mine.

        • frunch@lemmy.world
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          They don’t think that far ahead, or they assume they’ll remain part of the in-group. Either way, it’s gonna be a rude awakening

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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      Nope. But I see a lot of idiotic “independents” that are going to sit out, or vote third party or vote for the orange blob anyway, not realizing they are likely at risk, too. All because they are so principled, or want a tax cut, or claim they want it all to burn down, etc. I guarantee you the minute things hit the very worst, they will be bitching more than anyone, assuming they are able to survive the very worst.

      And I fully expect most of the “liberal media” to bothsider/horse race us right into the destruction of this country.

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        He’s 3.9% older than Trump! Now that’s old! Just ignore that their ages are 77 and 80.

        In all seriousness, along with tax forms, every candidate should have to present a clean bill of health that includes cognitive testing. I would tack on a psych eval as well, but I’m not sure most in politics would pass it.

        Edit:

        The first part of my comment was satire. Back in 2016 there was a lot of discussion about Bernie’s age of 72. Now either a 77 or 80 year old is going to be president. Biden is still the lesser of two evils, but he’s still far older than should be considered. Same goes for Trump. Age and term limits should be assessed for every political position.

        Also, let me know how a clean bill of health and cognitive testing would be a bad thing.

        “I sure would hate the my candidate to be out of the running for something as small as a team of doctors saying their basic. bodily and brain functions are dwindling.”

  • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    All the pearl clutching about Trump is ignoring all of the similar rhetoric coming from the right since the early 90s. Trump isn’t a new thing, he’s the end result of decades of conservative media. Rush Limbaugh - may he rest in piss - was calling liberals vermin for years.

    And every time you hear the phrase “Democrat Party” remember that it came out of a conservative think tank designed to make Democrats sound bad.

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      I started referring to them as the democrat party too after the Hillary shoehorn BS. They don’t get a free pass just because they arent gop. Fuck em both, we could do much better. This aint a good guys on both sides thing,the democratic party has failed democracy even if they arent a party of full blown facists

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        we could do much better

        I remember when I used to believe that. But having been consistently disappointed by my fellow countrymen I no longer think this is the case.

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    1 year ago

    He saw what the MAGA crowd was ready to do for him on January 6th. No doubt he’ll use this later. Never underestimate the destruction that stupid people in position of power can cause.

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    The South has been salivating over this for years and years. The Tea Party first formed because there was a black man that became president of the US. Enacting ‘The Day of the Rope’ will come in 2025 or soon-thereafter if the OrangeGodKing is put on the throne of the United States of America.

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      The Tea Party originally formed out of protests over the handling of the 2007 market crash. It was quickly seized on and astroturfed by conservative backers like the Koch brothers and turned into a racist movement that objected to a black president.

      • Uglyhead@lemmy.world
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        The guy who initially kicked everything off with his massively shitbagged rant against the 99% in America, specifically went after Obama in his rant; people glommed on to the anti-Obama very quickly.

        Not that the system was broken; but that Obama was the one and only problem; oh,…besides the ‘poors’.

        Here’s the kickoff that spread like wildfire through the ranks of the Conservatives at the time:

        https://youtu.be/bEZB4taSEoA?si=iNYYXr5-nobg_YdO

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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          And to think - the right wing kept trying to gaslight people like me (who had a memory) and say that it was a grassroots thing. Also, they kept telling me that calling them “teabaggers” was an epithet that was beyond the pale, childish, an insult, etc…when it was a word they used themselves - at first. Then they realized the world was snickering at them for saying they were going to teabag people…

    • spaceghoti@lemmy.oneOP
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      He does like to try to pretend he doesn’t bear any responsibility for this lawless, authoritarian trend we’re struggling against.

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    Nine times out of then, when a conservative opens their mouth- they’re wrong. The tenth time is when they happen to be quoting someone that disagrees with their bullshit.

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    I fully expect to see the 2nd American Civil War, all thanks to those dementia-ridden idiots.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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      Yup. Most of the country would rather just continue to live their lives; these fucking idiots would rather annoy the living crap out of everyone and/or literally shoot their own neighbors/co-workers/relatives that they think are somehow living their lives the wrong way.

      It’s so gross that it has come to this. The cons keep getting told that they should be ruling over others is the source of the problem, basically. And filth like Faux “News” and hate radio led the way.

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        Just took another long road trip through the Deep South.

        Mississippi is so broken, it’s heartbreaking. The poverty and failure, it kills me to see. Such a beautiful state, such fine people. If you haven’t been there, it’s something to behold.

        Go in a random gas station on a back-country highway. Black and white people truly loving one another, totally integrated in their lives. I’ve never seen anything like it in “liberal” parts of the US. My poor words can’t do justice.

        But the media tells us we’re enemies. And that’s mostly because of Fox News, but social media tells me we’re all hateful slavers down here. I catch plenty of hate here for Florida and the South in general. All so counterproductive.

        Libs keep saying people like me are evil racists, but it’s not true. And, predictably, conservatives fire back and revolt, go too far and refuse to listen. How did we expect them to react after being attacked non-stop?

        Sorry everyone, I’m ranting. Just thought about it a lot while driving Mississippi and Alabama this weekend. It’s not what you think. It’s not what you’re told.

        If someone reads this and is confused about who I am and what “side” I’m on? Good.

        • Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world
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          I’m a violent leftist. Your comment got my upvote. I wish the rest of the conservative world were as introspective and kind as you seem to be.

          I didn’t choose my enemy. They chose me. Nothing I say will change their minds that I am their enemy. They continue to insist on a violent solution to problems they invent. A peaceful solution just does not seem likely to me, but damn I hope I’m wrong.

          • shalafi@lemmy.world
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            Right with you. All the way.

            I’ll fight these fascists even if it means my own death. That’s what’s on the table anyway, right? No point dying on a fucking train to a concentration camp.

            Anyone think I’m being radical, talking crazy? I invite you to take a deep dive into pre-WWII European history. Meet me back here.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
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      Who against who and how? It’s not like we have defined lines to cross. Hell, on my street here in the Deep South, it would be neighbor against neighbor. But the blacks and liberals, all armed and outnumbering the fascists, would fold instantly.

      I’m thinking Brown Shirts organizing in small groups is how it begins.

      “Shalafi, look man, just give us your guns for your own safety. No one wants to hurt you, but you’re a threat to yourself and ‘country’.”

      Not this lib. Easy to say because I’ve lived a full life, but I still have much to lose. Despite my age, I got little kids I want to raise. But I’ll die before I raise them in a fascist hellscape.

      If fighting back means my death? Almost certainly will. I’d be scared shitless, but I won’t meekly lay down. I’m more scared of dying for nothing.