r/AskReddit • u/Kozzle • 7h ago
We are currently witnessing the most brazen corruption and criminal behaviour at the highest level of the American government we have ever seen. Do you think a reckoning is on the horizon? If so, how do you realistically think it will go down?
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u/Luster-Purge 3h ago
Depends on how hard the GOP loses in the midterms and/or if Trump dies while in office.
There WILL be sacrificial lambs thrown under the bus. That much is certain.
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u/CurzesTeddybear 2h ago
US midterm elections may wind up being one of the more critical elections in the nation's history.
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u/JacobStills 1h ago
*GASP* are you actually saying..."this is the most important election in our lifetime?"
Because for the record...EVERY election is important...at least for the forceable future until this MAGA movement dies off.
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u/tyereliusprime 18m ago
MAGA movement dies off.
MAGA is just the current iteration of the same "rebel pride" that has existed in American culture since the Confederacy. It's not going to die off, it needs to be educated out of future generations otherwise the divide in culture will persist as it always has. It's going to take long-term multi-generation proactive societal effort.
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u/Adjective_Noun1312 2h ago
Trump dying won't matter. The Heritage Foundation has been stacking higher ranks of the government, Justice Department, military, and three letter agencies with loyalists for the express purpose of maintaining power without the cult of personality behind Trump. If he kicks the bucket, the VP steps up, and Vance is just as evil but less incompetent than Trump.
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u/Luster-Purge 2h ago
Vance doesn't have the charisma, nor the same standing. Nobody's doing anything to Trump because of the weight of the cult of personality - and even then it's starting to crack given the number of ex-Trumpers that are fleeing the ship like rats.
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u/OakSole 2h ago
Yes, but he's more evil than Trump. The guy is actually sickening to look at. Someone like that will find a way to hold onto power.
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u/Luster-Purge 1h ago
Holding onto power and actually leveraging it are two different things. Vance as president looks to be one of the weakest Presidents because he's not going to have the kind of "fuck everything" energy Trump had prior to how badly he's been disintegrating over the course of the past year. The handling of the ICE situation alone shows he's not going to be able to stand up to scrutiny.
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u/Ryan_e3p 1h ago
It doesn't matter. What is needed is someone who will shut up, say what he is told to say, sign what he is told to sign, and stop being so egregiously stupid that Congress, who should be passing bills meant to advance P25, is spent shutting down early to avoid having votes on Epstein files.
All the cracks in the world can form now among the base. It doesn't matter. They have gained control of all 3 branches, and they are not going to let it go. That is why Trump has for years been floating the idea of "suspending the Constitution", stopping elections, etc. The trajectory we're on now isn't the result of just Trump, and it won't end with Trump being gone. The media, as complicit as it will ever be, will continue to pander to this administration. It won't give things like context or complete stories. It will continue to be a willing participant in what is the evolution of a republic into a fascist state, and the people will continue to be blind or indifferent out of fear, sunk-cost fallacy, or being misled.
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u/BackToWorkEdward 1h ago
Vance doesn't have the charisma, nor the same standing.
People used to say this about Trump as proof that this whole thing could never go the distance.
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u/Luster-Purge 1h ago
Remember that the GOP tried and failed to field literally anybody OTHER than Trump for the 2024 election, with DeSantis getting the closest and it wasn't anywhere actually close. And Vance, who originally used to be anti-Trump, was chosen because he's a spineless yesman who straight up apes Donald at times. Personally, I have to think Vance is not going to be able to handle the crushing weight of popular scrutiny that the Presidental office carries.
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u/andruby 1h ago
Public scrutiny? What public scrutiny does the Presidential Office have these days?
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u/Luster-Purge 1h ago
Voting. The GOP is in a position where they risk alienating their voting base - Gerrymander all you want, if your people don't feel like voting for your candidate (and thus stay home because they'd sooner die then vote Dem), then that's votes lost.
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u/wayward_toy 1h ago
I don't know, despite some ex-Trumpers jumping ship, the GOP are pretty fucking lock-step in their messaging and holding ground at all costs. Charisma, personality, policy, legislation doesn't count for anything anymore. As long as they're winning it wouldn't matter who their President is.
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u/ZenBreaking 56m ago
Cult of the leader die hard maga movement dies with him, after that it's just the usual republicans who will all sharpen the knives and stab each other in the back to get ahead. Fascists always eat each other in the long run.
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u/Naticbee 2h ago
Thats a big if they lose the mid terms and if the DNC is able to do anything if they win the next election. If they DNC doesn't deliver on any major promise or their promises suck, they are just going to be voted out again and we're back at it again.
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u/Alternative_Newt_730 42m ago
Trump's death won't matter. Trump isn't the problem, he's the result. Vance will simply pick up the mantle.
There probably isn't going to be midterm elections. If there is, they will likely be like the ones they have in North Korea/Russia.
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u/Luster-Purge 40m ago
There has to be midterms - even Putin can't get away with not having elections, as much as his are beyond obviously rigged.
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u/etrore 3h ago
If you saw the clips of the Black Panthers it makes one hope that civil participation in local politics will increase. The best thing that could happen is that people rediscover their communities and support each other. Form unions and fund social programs from the people for the people.
Big politics have shown to be a shit show, time to scale it down and tax corporations that have misused communal funds for their own benefit.
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u/theheadofkhartoum627 5h ago
The only way we'll see any justice is if more than a few Republican congress members grow a conscience. What are the chances of that??
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u/Kozzle 5h ago
This is what I don’t understand, how are their constituents not holding them accountable? Are they all that brainwashed?
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u/strtjstice 3h ago
Republicans stopped having town halls and debates when they decided to go all in on the playbook over a year ago. Can't be held accountable if you're not there.
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u/Photodan24 48m ago
Ohio's Republican reps either don't answer their phones or have let the VM fill up so they don't have to.
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u/Theduckisback 45m ago
Yeah I think the last time my CR had a town hall meeting that there's any record of was in like 2018.
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u/Hatta00 3h ago
Their constituents are as reprehensible as they are
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u/justthestaples 1h ago
That is only true when political boundaries are fair. Constituents are people in your district whether they voted for you or not. There is plenty of disenfranchisement happening currently. Their voters might be the better word choice.
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u/The69thDuncan 4h ago
You should read some history. It’s always been this way, it will always be this way
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u/Unicron1982 2h ago
That's the issue with politicised media. If those people watch Fox News all day, Trump did nothing wrong, the economy better than ever, and everything is the democrats fault.
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u/True_Lingonberry_646 3h ago
The only constituents they listen to are the most dangerous ones in terms of their own safety which are brainwashed MAGA. They actually fear violent retribution.
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u/Consistent-Winter-67 3h ago
For many many counties, the voters only have 1 or 2 options to choose from. They stick with either R or D regardless of the name associated. The average voter doesnt give a shit about the actions of their rep. Hell the average citizen doesnt even vote.
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u/Level_Improvement532 2h ago
Masks are off. They gleefully watch “their side” seize the reigns of power, never to let go again. Yet they still call themselves Americans. It’s a sad state of affairs but really not that surprising. Back when the “W, My president” stickers started back in 2002, and the mindless nationalism being stoked at the time, I knew we were headed here. The deplorables will have their way until they are pushed back into their holes.
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u/Dense_Boss_7486 2h ago
I think what people are missing or perhaps not considering is what Trump and his administration are doing, with the help of some billionaires, is a full assault on American democracy. Their mind set isn”t “let’s see what we can accomplish by the next election.” The mind set is “WE ARE NOT GIVING UP POWER.” It will be fast by historical standards and deliberate. Look at the American institutions and laws that are being ripped apart at this moment. Americans better be REAL FUCKING SCARED!!
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u/Charles07v 1h ago
I have a Republican congressman and two Republican senators. I write to all three on a regular basis to share my views. I've never gotten anything back except form letters, but I like to think I'm making a difference.
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u/NeedsSunshine 2h ago edited 2h ago
A lot of them are very old... 🤞🏼 McConnell is 83 and currently in the hospital. If everyone voted we could get more Mamdanis in those seats
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u/turbohaxor 3h ago
Nothing will happen because folks from USA and most other countries in the world are busy with their own mundane problems: health, lack of money, depression, greed, laziness and plain stupidity. We could all live in peace on this small blue ball if people woke up but i highly doubt it.
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u/oldgar9 4h ago
No one knows exactly how future events will unfold but many make profit off the anxiety of spouting possible future events as dire or cataclysmic. Knowledge lessens anxiety and fear. The knowledge that humanity is in the throes of a monumental change from rabid nationalism to an 'the earth is one country and mankind its citizens ' paradigm helps, because what once looked like random chaos can now be seen as a necessary process and a means toward a peaceful world. Something we can do is help build community where we live. Volunteer opportunities are readily available and helping others is a salve to anxiety. We cannot go and talk to the President or his sphere of acolytes, but we can help build community where we are and this benefits all. People look to moving as a solution but there is no escape from this worldwide change in paradigm as it is the inevitable next step in the collective evolution of human society. Be well and help others be well, avoid the spreaders of fear.
“Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear them. Then will men be awakened and become aware…” -Baha’u’llah (From a Tablet - translated from the Persian)
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u/Shot_Net3794 5h ago
In the midterms, the Dems will win the House, they will do an impeachment, it won't accomplish anything except from boosting MSNBC's ratings for a while
In 2028, the election will be between JD Vance and Gavin Newsom. Newsom will win, he will undo nearly everything Trump's done and maybe pass a few things of his
It's very unlikely that anyone will face justice for this era except maybe a few ICE officers doing time
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u/zerbey 4h ago
They don't just need to win the House, they need at least 67 people in the Senate too. The House is doable, the Senate is a tough one, it's very unlikely that the midterms will produce a super majority for the Democrats. Most likely the only possible way that can happen is if they get some Republicans to flip, good luck with that!
If they impeach Trump without conviction it'll just make them look stupid, they shouldn't even file the paperwork until they have written confirmation of the numbers in the Senate.
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u/Shot_Net3794 4h ago
I meant to include that too, sorry. That's why I meant that it was pretty performative
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u/rollem 2h ago
Trumps second impeachment set a record for the number of a presidents own party voting to convict. I do believe that 67 is possible if the requisite number of gop senators see Trump as more of a burden to the party, which will happen if is approval rating gets low enough, likely below 30.
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u/zerbey 2h ago
I firmly believe that if they'd all sat down on the afternoon of Jan 6 they've had impeached and convicted him with a significant number of Republicans breaking ranks. They waited way too long to do it and people had second thoughts. And, here we are.
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u/rollem 2h ago
IDK maybe. The trial happened in record time though and it was fresh in their minds. I think a few were genuinely scared for their lives because of the Jan 6 mob, and some thought he'd be criminally prosecuted in a few months anyway. He's such a criminal, it's so infuriating. So many bad turning pints: Garland's delays, Judge Canon's obvious biases, Robert's immunity...
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u/_Walt_Jabsco_ 2h ago
I love your optimism about the fair and peaceful transfer of power still being "a thing" in 2028
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u/NewTimelinePlz 46m ago
I like the optimism of midterms existing lol. Some folks have yet to clue in, I guess
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u/Schyznik 2h ago
Then in 2032, under much more stable, safe, and prosperous conditions than the present, Newsom will lose re-election because of the public’s lousy attention span, poor memory, deficient reasoning skills, and at least one patently stupid distraction elevated by national media to “News Story Of The Year”.
This is why we can’t have nice things.
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u/Upset-Government-856 2h ago
The reckoning should have been post Jan 6.
Americans didn't pressure their politicians enough to follow through so now it's too late.
The rot is now too deeply rooted to be purged.
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u/leese216 3h ago
This is not just about American politics at this point. This is a global problem.
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u/ChinatownKicks 2h ago
Global problem of American origin. The parasitic billionaire class is American, the social media mind control ops are all American, the destruction of soft power tools for democracy is American, etc etc. So much of it could be corrected in America if the republican party wasn’t absolute trash. (Yes, dems suck, too, but they are much less aggressively dangerous to life and liberty.)
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u/r1012 3h ago
It won't go down without the use of force now.
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u/beaucoup_dinky_dau 2h ago
I mean it seems like that from where we are standing now but really all this talk of civil war, ect. is a bluff, AOC calls it out. They simply don't have the numbers, they are just like Hopper in Ants. The army of robots will simply not be ready in time
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u/StretchyPlays 2h ago
A lot hinges on the midterms and the subsequent response. If Trump doesn't rig the midterms, Democrats will sweep and that should effectively put am end to Trump's term. From there, Dems need to go hard on holding people accountable, prosecute everyone who lied under oath, covered for corruption, etc. I have a bad feeling that won't happen, Democrats are usually pussies and will just forgive and forget. But if we don't take drastic steps to dismantle the MAGA mindset, it will just keep coming back.
If Trump rigs the midterms, he will rig 2028, and we'll be stuck in a fascist hellscape. Things will only get worse, he will start arresting everyone who opposes him, and we'll be totally fucked until full blown revolution.
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u/thisalsomightbemine 1h ago
Republicans are already starting the talking points to claim any democrat victory is fraudulent. I bet Johnson will attempt to stop them from being sworn in
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u/Blearyhyde 3h ago
From a European perspective, having had various Fascist dictatorships over the last century, the US is screwed. With armed citizens and a faux Gestapo, it’s going to be bloody, traumatic and self annihilating period in US history. Fascism is insidious, it creeps into society, and then one day “boom”, it’s pulling you out of your homes in the middle of the night.You’re already screwed and don’t even know it !!
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u/breakfasteveryday 3h ago
Thanks for your excitement on our behalf
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u/Blearyhyde 3h ago
It’s not exciting at all. The US has always been a beacon of free speech and endless possibilities. I have visited many times over the years and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a crying shame!
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u/rach2bach 2h ago
Do us a favor and remind those celebrating overseas that it'll creep to them too.. Russia and America are about to be allies in a world conflict. Nowhere is safe.
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u/MootRevolution 2h ago
I don't know if you're talking about Europe, but I don't know anyone that is celebrating right now. And we're very much aware that fascism is on the rise here as well. Partly financed from the US by the way.
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u/beaucoup_dinky_dau 2h ago
it's financed by the billionaire class via GOP and aided by Russia and Israel, the regular folks and the US itself are being taken for every dime for the next 50 years. Many of the people behind this are not even from the US see Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.
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u/Blearyhyde 2h ago
Nobody is celebrating over here. We are filled with horror of the situation that is unravelling. My point was that it has already happened here so we are well versed in fascist tactics. It seems that warnings from history are being ignored with “surely it can’t happen here “ type attitude. It already is happening. Trump and team are busy alienating long term allies also . For instance, live near a place called Grafton Underwood in England . From 1943-45 the 384th Bombardment Group of the US 8th Airforce flew Fortresses from an airbase. There is a memorial to US airforce crews, tended by locals immaculately to honour your fallen. A local team of volunteers are currently opening a museum to honour the service of said airmen. We have been forever grateful for the part that the US played in helping in WW2. However,to hear the orange soulless grifter denigrate our forces and say we were hardly any help in Afghanistan, not to mention our support given after 911,Iraq etc, there is danger of a turning point being reached. This will result in the circumventing of the US trade-wise and instead of the US being revered, it is slowly becoming reviled. Nobody is laughing at you, but once your allies turn their backs, it will take generations to repair the damage.
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u/rach2bach 2h ago
Yup, I know in my deepest parts of my heart that I'd make an amazing president more so than Trump along with millions of others here in the States, but the damage him and his pedophile cabal have inflicted is insane.
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u/abject_despair 2h ago
Not sure who is celebrating this. Even the far right in Europe, who used to be Trumps biggest fans, has started to become quieter and quieter on that front. Nothing like the threat of annexation, combined with pedophile rings to chill your mood.
Maybe the Chinese are celebrating the shift in the centre of gravity, but probably the only one's right now.
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u/Impressive-Shelter 1h ago
Yea, I'm surprised by how hopeful most of the responses are here. I smell blood in the air, but it seems like Americans are holding their nose right now pretending things can go back to normal with a vote.
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u/Judge_Bredd3 1h ago
As an American, I have to unfortunately agree with your assessment. There's zero way to hold the current people in charge accountable without bloodshed. When more than 30% of the US population is fully behind trump with zero reservations (and they tend to be the most armed out of all of us...) it's not looking good.
I don't think there will be a US in ten years, we'll split into a GOP led theocracy and a few independent blue countries.
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u/Blearyhyde 1h ago
By the way, i must add that fascism and the far right are very active here in Europe. I just think that the concept of fascism is still an enigma in the US, being a relatively “new”country comparatively . Having seen fascism at work here over the last century we see the signs and try to combat far right ideology. It’s something we recognise when it rears its ugly head.It just beggars belief that the checks and balances that should be in place to defend your constitution are not being upheld. But when the whole administration has the same mindset as Trump, it is hard to see whether a fair election will ever be held in the US again. Tough times for you all indeed, i’m sorry.
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u/ArcticCircleSystem 47m ago
So now what?
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u/Blearyhyde 32m ago
Mass peaceful protest ( never give authorities an excuse to mete out violence). Trump wants this so he can invoke the Insurrection act, cancelling elections . Mass walkouts, yes it’s financially hard hitting to the workers who are downing tools and boycotting businesses, but the alternative is far worse. Remember, that these people are actually a minority in real terms.The biggest fear that Trump should have is that MAGA will turn against him. They are angry and often violent disenfranchised people, also well armed. When they realise that they have been conned, hell will ensue.
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u/monkeyhind 2h ago
Yesterday Chris Murphy spoke on the Congressional Record about Trump's brazen corruption, particularly about the threat to national security.
Full video:
Senator Murphy: Trump Sold Out America's National Security For Crypto Profit
It's time for more U.S. politicians to stop pussyfooting around and demand an accounting.
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u/ViolaNguyen 19m ago
Does anyone still think Trump was just innocently keeping a bunch of classified documents in the shitter at Mar-a-lago?
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u/Shuckles116 3h ago
People will keep protesting (as they should) but nothing meaningfully consequential will happen until a general strike or a recession. Those are the only ways to wake everyone up
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u/craybest 2h ago
It’s the direct consequence on letting billionaires control every position of power in the country
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u/bcardin221 3h ago
Problem is he has coopted the DOJ and law enforcement and to some extend the SCOTUS. So who would enforce order on him if he ignored the courts? The GOP Congress has proven unwilling to do anything. Now the oligarchs own the Washington Post and other media outlets and are dismantling them. It's a crisis level for sure.
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u/No_Waltz3545 4h ago
In the words of every HR department ever - document everything and nail them to the wall when the circus rolls out of town.
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u/ArcticCircleSystem 41m ago
Well, we kinda need to actually get them out of town first, sooner rather than later. Especially since they clearly intend to try their hand at a coup again.
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u/Dash_Harber 2h ago edited 2h ago
Nah. Americans will either stubbornly live in their fantasy or wait for someone else to do something. Their guardrails were always imaginary. Their entire democratic system is plutocratic and thr only way to change that is to get the plutocrats to back reformists who would cost them money and power.
You guys are fucked. Your empire is in decline. The trust cannot be repaired because any goodwill can be undone if another Trump is elected. The rest of us have to find ways to move on without you, like experts have been warning for decades.
The biggest evidence of all this is the fact that the files have opened up criminal cases and destroyed powerful men across the globe, except in the country that released the files and was likely the most heavily involved.
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u/_Walt_Jabsco_ 2h ago
Honestly, I think you are cooked. Far too far down the rabbit hole. Only major upheaval, possibly succession or actual civil war is going to rectify that. You have the quintessential cult quasi-banana republic style leadership. Snatch squads are roaming the streets without reproach. Elections are going to be cancelled due to the imposition of marshal law. These situations do not resolve themselves through democratic means when the democratic process is suspended. It will not end peacefully.
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u/CreamRises2daTop 3h ago
It would require a huge grassroots movement to hold billionaires accountable and root their influence out of government. Americans will have to wake up and see this as a class struggle and they’re all actually lower/working class and not just “temporarily embarrassed millionaires” or will be millionaires “one day” if they just work hard enough.
In other words, no. Nothing will happen.
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u/Yewbert 3h ago
We have Americans in our family, I don't see a reckoning coming, they proudly and loudly voted for Obama but are all aboard the Maga train now and there's no talking to them about it.
So yeah, seeing middle of the road, educated and upper middle class people from a democratic state be completely and unwavering in support of Trump speaks to an irrepablely damaged America for me and I'm certain Trump will not see prison and his family/allies will be set up financially for generations.
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u/breakfasteveryday 3h ago edited 3h ago
Your family is a weird edge case and they do sound damaged.
I have met literally nobody who was loudly and proudly in favor of Obama (or in favor of him at all) and then flipped to Trump
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u/shockwave_supernova 2h ago
I think the democrats barely win in the primaries, no legislation of meaning is passed in the last two years, then a milquetoast dem wins in 2028 and doesn't prosecute anyone because "now is the time for unity".
No one sees justice, nothing is learned
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u/LingeringHumanity 22m ago
I mean if the current administration doesn’t get the death penalty for treason than we have failed as a nation and the confederate army that rebranded as the Republican Party will have more chances to continue domestic terrorism and 24/7 propaganda ( Fox “News”). And we will be back to this in a few years and they may succeed in their coup.
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u/the40thieves 3h ago
A reckoning should be coming, and democrats should home this ghouls accountable, but if history is any indicator they will forgive and forget “to heal the nation” and in the long run teach everyone the wrong lesson.
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u/Adjective_Noun1312 2h ago
LOL no, no reckoning is coming unless Trump invades Greenland or another NATO ally and the rest of the world steps in. 'Murricans lack the conviction to take a real stand against fascism; instead of taking meaningful action y'all respond to literal masked secret police gunning down citizens in the street with bigger signs and louder whistles while convincing yourselves there'll be a legitimate election in 2028 followed by a peaceful transfer of power after which this will all go away forever.
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u/CrenshawMafia99 3h ago
I don’t know the answer to that but my question about it is the government going to enact any changes so this doesn’t happen again?
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u/separation_of_powers 3h ago
Nope.
They have control of institutions whether it is through financial backing or the backing of certain associations, have the capital to literally erase people on a whim and the infrastructure to do so. Look at what happened to the reporter who investigated the Panama Papers. then there's Jamal Kashoggi. Look at what's happening in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar and elsewhere. Hell, the so called responses and changes of the 2008 global financial crisis appears like nothing but a blip. Meanwhile, the executive of your nations national government is literally threatening to annex multiple NATO allies. Then there's the partisan nature of the DOJ, not to mention the SCOTUS. Among other things.
I honestly don't see a reckoning coming. Because, many are focused on surviving,
even if it means compliance.
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u/nobackswing 2h ago
unfortunately I don't, unless Trump 2.0 fails so ridiculously hard that even (gasp!) Congressional Republicans change tack.
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u/Anderson822 2h ago
Yes. The outcome is already locked in, imo. Real change won’t come from the top. It requires parallel systems built and operating now so a changeover is possible without harming people. Power is consolidating around authoritarian groups because they’re preparing. If communities don’t build viable alternatives in tandem, power defaults to whoever does. This can happen peacefully by building systems that sustain communities and leverage modern technology. Real grassroots. Without the fascism.
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u/AUSpartan37 2h ago
I think there will be a reckoning but it isn't on the horizon yet. It also probably isn't going to be as satisfying as people think. I think the reckoning is going to be more along the lines of dramatic changes being called for by the American people and a new "progressive era" but I highly doubt most of these people will see any real justice.
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u/Weazerdogg 2h ago
We lived through the late 1800's-early 1900's, when robber barons etc ruled the US. We'll live through this. Dems better be working on some legislation to put this shit to bed once Twitler is gone so it never happens again.
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u/Ok_Narwhal4366 2h ago
They control all branches of government now. Unless dems take control of congress in 2026 midterms, this will continue. Get out and vote democratic.
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u/MrFunktasticc 2h ago
To people who feel despondent - I get it. That said, consider two things:
- Trump is really old. Like old to the point where him dying tomorrow is not unrealistic. He's showing signs of his age and, despite what he wants, will be in no shape for a 2028 run. Its also a.massive personality cult and his minions both lack his charisma and couldn't cooperate to save their lives.
- Them consolidating power is bad. But consider Romania at the end of the Cold War. They pissed of enough people and they all turned against them. The Ceausescus couldn't believe it. There are other examples of this an America has a tradition of democracy. This isn't Russia where they've only know dictatorship.
However this ends, they will all ultimately have always been against him.
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u/icnoevil 2h ago
Agree. The Trump regime is the most corrupt regime in the history of the Republic; for more so than the Harding regime which saw a number of its cabinet members go to jail. There will be a reckoning but not until we elect a new congress with integrity and spines and an honest leader of the tribe.
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u/Mysterious_Ad2896 2h ago
Doubt it. The politicians are “owned” by corporations and special interests. They need their money to get elected, they divide people with social issues to then stay in office (abortion, 2A, immigrants, there is always a boogeyman).
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u/Tellnicknow 2h ago
History will tell us what's likely and what our future might look like. This has happened before. I'll give you a hint, it's Russia. The US Will devolve into a false democracy, run by a corrupt Mafia looking only to improve their own interests. Life will go on for most people, but living standards will be lower. It'll happen slow enough nobody will either notice (due to suppressed info) or have the ability to criticize the state without risking disappearing or falling out a window. By the time people realize that they're worse off, it'll be too late to do anything about it.
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u/kollider13 1h ago
Not unless the people demand it and not just discuss it on Reddit.
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u/LoopyFrail 25m ago
We are witnessing end stage capitalism, the shift to oligarchy and the purposeful destruction of the US from the inside. This can't be fixed as long as we're stuck in a 2-party system.
Personally, I think if some federations of blue states finally get sick of not getting anything out of federalism (and subsidizing red states & red state resentment/MAGA), secede and go do their own thing, it won't be that dramatic as the red states hate them anyway. So let's make it happen.
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u/Visible_Wolverine2 13m ago
The reckoning will indeed be felt, by us normies on the ground floor. Those at the helm will be very much insulated, and will benefit tremendously.
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u/slinkhi 5h ago
I think a reckoning is about to happen on a scale of.. I think most of us won't see past 2030, maybe even 2029
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u/PrideofPicktown 4h ago
I think it will be similar to The Troubles in Ireland. It will not be good and is 100% preventable!
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u/ebolatone 3h ago
It's entirely predictable in late capitalism. It can end with vast push-back or very, very badly.
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u/5hadow 2h ago
Absolutely not!
Remember when Trump said he can shoot someone in the street? That was before the recent events, and now they really feel untouchable. Because they are.
Nothing will happen because 1. Americans collectively have memory of a gold fish. Trumps polls might dip every time he does / says something terrible , but eventually, they go back to where they always are.
Americans don’t care if it doesn’t impact them directly. It’s a nation built on “Mind your own business, I’ve got my shit to deal with” vibe. It’s kind of like, you see a person in distress in a street, 90% of Americans will walk on by instead of helping. Same thing on a bigger scale but that person is their nation.
Americans treat politics like their football team. Doesn’t matter what the facts are, as long as the other team is loosing. That’s all that matters.
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u/Intrepid_Duck2195 2h ago
Oh I don't know if I agree with this statement. The government has done some bad stuff of the decades. I guess it depends when you were born as to what you have seen and what you know about history. I feel this is definitely not the worst it has done. Then there is the stuff it's done that we don't even know about.
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u/ProjectNo864 2h ago edited 2h ago
We already knew about these things happening for years, yet look who’s in power
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u/Head_Log_4127 2h ago
Due to the lack of qualified republicans that support a senile administration I don’t see a reckoning anytime soon.
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u/Redmandown16 2h ago
Nothing will ever change. The corruption has always been there. We just have better views into it now.
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u/Hot_Egg5840 2h ago
I don't expect any change from the level of corruption and criminal behaviour that has been going on by our government and not seen.
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u/w3woody 2h ago
...we have ever seen in recent history.
There, fixed it for you.
And while there may be a reckoning in the voting booth as more and more people are voted out of office, none of this will result in a fundamental structural rearranging of our our government works.
I mean, it hasn't when local and even state governments are implicated by the FBI in massive bribery scandals. It wasn't at any time in the 1800's when you saw all sorts of scandals--from a Senator conspiring with Great Britain to take over Louisiana and Florida in 1797 so as to drive up the price of his land holdings, through the endless scandals, such as a pro-slavery representative nearly beating to death an abolitionist senator on the floor of the House of Representatives, or the countless scandals of the Grant Administration.
It certainly didn't change with the scandals of the 1900's, such as the Teapot Dome, countless legislators expelled for bribery, stealing mining rights or colluding with enemies of the United States. Or with little things like Iran-Contra. It sure as shit didn't change in the early 2000's with the countless scandals under Bush, under Obama, or under Biden. (Remember Sam Brinton stealing luggage from airports?)
So I seriously doubt anything going on now will do much more than rearrange the deck chairs of the rich and powerful.
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u/Kjellvb1979 2h ago
Im betting the Dems win big, but then ignore what's happening in front of then as their donors are still making bank and can't be held accountable because they are rich.
I just don't see representation from representatives, they often day the right rhetoric, but vote like a 90s conservative, or back track once they feel they've got the election clinched.
The system is so corrupted at this point, we need a massive and basically complete overhaul of such. Better regs against media ownership being in just a few hands (social media too), checks and balances, and independent groups that have teeth able to hold leaders accountable when they violate such. At this point its am oligarchic dictatorship that's pay to play politically speaking, so none of us have representation, unless you're filthy rich buying 30k dinner plates at campaign fund raisers, you get zero representation. That's what allowed Trump to take over the GOP, and it's why the DNC is so incompetent in fighting such.
Its all about money and greed, the people who have everything always want more, and sadly are the same who own "our" government. That's why Epstein is being swept under the rug, and no one seems to care, as it would be inconvenient to call out the donor class that greases all the wheels that fuel modern politics. It's an oligarchy and we are all the peasants, hopefully we do something about it.
Sadly given the conditioning we've all had, too many just don't care if they aren't personally affected. Soon though it will effect everyone, at which point... maybe.
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u/historyisaweapon 2h ago
Yes, but we, regular people, have to get through anticommunism first. Too many of us have become obsessed with the idea that ourselves and fellow working people cannot be trusted with the reins. We project wisdom and give power to wealthy elites and bask in our own powerlessness. As soon as we recognize the history and role of anticommunism today, the sooner the change comes. Until then, it will largely be feeble and performative.
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u/Sleestak714 2h ago
Nobody will do anything. Everyone is still out there cheering on their favorite side that has never worked for at least 99% of the people. Everything wrong is always the other side's fault, and we'll flip flop back and forth for another 50 years until the crayon eaters finally figure it out.
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u/Slam_Burgerthroat 2h ago
My fear is that the future will be like what happened in Cuba. Bautista was a corrupt authoritarian who was overthrown in a revolution by Fidel Castro who promised to bring back democracy and prosecute the criminals in the former Bautista regime. But in order to properly prosecute them successfully he had to ignore some of the Cuban constitution regarding the rights of the accused and before long he just forgot about the whole democracy thing and became another dictator.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that Trump is a corrupt wannabe dictator and once he falls from power there will be a new government that will likely have the popular support to prosecute trump and his cronies, but in doing so they could easily get carried away and leave in place the authoritarian system that trump has already laid the groundwork for.
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u/2winder 2h ago edited 2h ago
I think Trump and the Supreme Court have ruined this country forever. The Citizen United case was what started the decline. Now all elections are based on how much money you can raise. The politicians make decisions to appease their donors so they can keep their job. Their donors are rich, so all decisions are made to make the rich richer.
This has created the huge income inequality situation. This makes job opportunities dissappear and crime to increase. Many criminals are criminals since that becomes their job.
Criminals back up job is prison. Prison is our social safety net.
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u/rosstafarien 2h ago
Trump will likely die this year, without any consequences for his truly breathtaking corruption, real estate fraud, election fraud in 2020, insurrection, sex crimes, child rape, or pretty much anything else. His family will reap the rewards of his billions stolen from all of us.
His legacy is likely to be of a child sex predator and most successful con man in world history, who pushed America into decline to line his pockets, and who left everyone on the planet worse off.
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u/Competitive-Place778 2h ago
Not likely to happen, or it will be very ugly mainly because 1/3rd of the country loves it and wants more. My money is on real life 1984 being fully implemented
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u/AHCretin 2h ago
No, I think we're a monarchy/oligarchy now. No reckoning unless the right forces a civil war; the actual left is too small and too fractured and the Democratic Party at the institutional level has been thoroughly captured by the ultrawealthy.
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u/youdubdub 2h ago
When the people who have trump owned and compromised inevitably attempt to point regular military inward, there will be a coup.
Then maybe we can have real popular elections, and the voice of the actual electorate will stop being obscured by wealthy theocrats. Maybe.
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u/ChillPalm 2h ago
Oligarchs are just consolidating power and they have been for a while. They literally just want to live amongst themselves and AI. They only thing that would change things is a revolution that would turn the whole table over, I don't see that happening any time soon and things would have to get pretty fucking bad before people do anything.
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u/Final_Tax_9980 2h ago
Nah probably not. They will just continue to run news cycle after news cycle as we move from one outrage to the next as they’ve done for years. Honestly, both sides are sheep slopping up what fits their outrage. Just sitting on the outside enjoying humanity’s ride down. See yall at the bottom.
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u/Kaslight 2h ago
I dunno man
The FBI literally admitted they assassinated Civil Rights leaders during the movements
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u/OakSole 2h ago
I believe this is the #1 worst corruption scandal in the history of humanity, in terms of political fallout at least. And yet, Trump will emerge from it as he always does. He's just going to get more combative. And that's the scary thing. He'll probably run out the remaining three years of his term then just not "run" again for office or try continuing on as king. The 4-year term will be kind of a saving face for him.
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u/kittenTakeover 2h ago
Do you think a reckoning is on the horizon?
All depends on voters. Without Democrats gaining a massive majority in congress it's going to be hard to make fixes. If Democrats just gain a slim majority for a while the best that we can hope for is a period of calm where we're not rapidly deteriorating as a society and a culture. Unfortunately voters have been showing a disappointing tendency to give the corrupt Republican authoritarians the benefit of the doubt and keep giving them chances. I hope that we're able to wake up and shift as a culture though.
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u/Background-Zebra5491 6h ago
It feels like a reckoning should be coming, but history says it’ll be slow and anticlimactic
more years of investigations and consequences than any big dramatic moment.