A lot of replies here (obviously from people not already aware of The Discourse on this point) were genuinely confused variants on "But why, they're right, that's a valid concern." Let me leave a short thread for future readers explaining why that stuff is always unwelcome on here. (1/n)
It's totally understandable if you're dooming about any facet of the American experiment right now. So your feelings are "valid" in the sense that they represent real anxiety, and I get that. But to vent that anxiety in other people's spaces is wrong for three reasons.
First, it's factually wrong. There will be elections in 2026 and 2028 under Trump, just like there were elections last year under Trump and during his first term. This despite one of the two major parties now harboring a lot of anti-democratic elements and ideas.
I'm not particularly interested in convincing anyone on this point and won't try, the future is the future. But if the left side of the political spectrum is still the domain of scholarship and expertise, take note that you don't find scholars and experts you worrying about canceled US elections.
Second, and probably most importantly, it's tactically wrong. "No point discussing political opposition to fascism, there won't be elections anyway" cedes victory to your enemies. It's defeatism and nihilism.
Finally, it's wrong AS A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE. Entering a total stranger's discussion and leading with your private anxiety is as off-putting in social media replies as it would be in real life. If you wouldn't interrupt a stranger at a party to announce that America is doomed, don't do it here.
If you are anxious and sad about the state of the world, that's fine, and there are plenty of strategies for dealing with that. But I think you already know that drive-by online dooming isn't a strategy. It's selfish and adolescent. It's a contagion that only spreads the worst of you, not the best.
Take a second and think before posting the easy Eeyore reply. You might have something substantive to say instead. Or, even better, you can say nothing at all.
https://bsky.app/profile/kenjennings.bsky.social/post/3mbuedepurs2x
This should really be the only point that needs to be made. You can say the elections will be fraudulent or a sham but you can also say they've been that way for a long time. Its just a shallow and juvenile understanding of the situation.
You think there is a 0% chance trump suspends the election under a war he starts?
China would have to occupy the west coast for full suspension of elections. So no, you're right, its, not absolute 0.
He may have ICE agents at the polling stations but there will be elections. Look at the dictators around the world, they still have elections. Having the ritual preserves the legitimacy.
I'm not wasting my energy guessing what form their evil plans will take.
How? how??? Through what process will he "suspend" an election?
How? Through what process will he just barge into a country and kidnap their president??
That doesn't answer my question.
The answer is there doesn't need to be a process. He just does what he wants and the government lets him.
Its apparently incredibly difficult for a lot of people to realize that:
You can, in fact, just do stuff.
If there's no actual system to stop you... ???
There's no system to stop you!
... very, very difficult concept for a lot people, apparently.
So what you're saying is that he'd... Send in the military to do what exactly? Close polling places? Any court would give an injunctive order against that within tje day.
Yes, he would send ICE in to close or "monitor" polling stations.
Anyone not white, christian, conservative enough gets arrested. They can beat the rap, maybe, but meanwhile they don't get to vote.
Also, he ignores court orders. Like, recently and continuously
They've already 'successfully' got one judge with ice. Do you really think he wouldn't, one, ignore anything a judge says with full support of all his minions, and, two, not simply get rid of the judge by that point? He's had one year for his lickspittles behind the scenes to set the stage, and now we are seeing constant escalation by ice.
The military complied with orders to commit war crimes, from top brass to the lowest grunt. We. Are. Fucked. They would absolutely shut down elections, especially if it's claimed that they are 'protecting from fraud.' Talking about who to elect is good, we shouldn't stop, but we also need to be seriously considering what to do at each other point as we descend fully into our hell made of fascism, and not bury our heads in the sand about elections being the only (or most likely) win.
Where did say he would need the military? All he has to do is pass an executive order saying no elections. Is that legal? Nope. Does that matter? Also nope.
It literally matters if it's legal what are you smoking
I wish I had the blind faith in the US government you do.
I'm not even American but he's already "floating" the idea of cancelling the midterms and I feel pretty confident that's exactly what he's going to do. Every single abhorrent thing that Trump does starts with him basically outright telling everyone what he's going to do. For some insane reason, nobody ever takes it seriously because it's always "it's just a joke" or "he can't legally do that" but he's always serious and he will do it because nothing and nobody is stopping him
Yes I'm sure that him having thoughts is a meaningful argument for him being able to execute those thoughts.
What thoughts has he not been able to execute? He wasn't allowed to invade Venezuela but he did it. He wasn't allowed to tariff most of the world but he did it. He wasn't allowed to rename the Gulf, rename the DOJ, or anything else but he did it.
Courts have injunatively unfired a lot of people, given injunctions for deploying national guard to Chicago, etc.
For sure, but the damage is always still done and the injunctions are really just buying time in that when they reach the higher Trump-aligned courts, they'll just rule in his favour and allow him to continue whatever bat-shit thing he wants to do
By "declaring it". Then a bunch of red states play along and just don't do elections.
Then everyone is like "Only half the states had elections, this is unprecedented!"
Then Trump declares the election void. Everyone in power just goes along with it.
Dems in congress file lawsuits and Clarence Thomas buys a yacht, meanwhile Dumbtits just does whatever he wants.
Then congress wouldn't have any people from red states.
Sure.
And then Trump tweets that this Congress doesn't count because it got taken over by radical leftists. Then the entire executive branch will refuse to even acknowledge the laws passed by congress, the laws that they are the enforcement arm for.
Meanwhile, Clarence Thomas will buy another yacht.
Whatever "process" anyone had to keep Trump in check has been dismantled consistently over his two terms. The checks and balances don't work, no one is held accountable.
From my perspective in different western country, I'm shocked you still believe there are things he COULDNT change, ignore, replace, or destroy in any part of the government.
Bb,.. If trump had literally zero checks on his power the U.S. would look a LOT different. He still has checks on his power. It's just that.
This does not suddenly mean that states have no power, etc.
"I think my argument is superior, therefore you may no longer hold contrary opinions, and if you do we will collectively silence your voice."
Classic entitled professional victim behavior.
Word salad
They have been, they will be too, but I'll also say it's gotten a lot more blatant over time. Jan6 should have been the moment where people really woke up
It'll be even more blatant as the next election comes closer, assuming they don't pull the "martial law no election" shit which seems to be the current aim.
Tell me what you think would happen, for instance in Texas, if Trump issued an executive order saying "election is suspended"?
Are you certain that there wouldn't be any states that would go along with this? The election can't happen if the states don't participate, and if only some do, then you are entering into an unprecedented situation which potential gives Dumbtits the ability to make precedent.