>Many people are reacting to the rise of Trumpism and nativist movements in Europe by reading history — specifically, the history of the 1930s. And they are right to do so. It takes willful blindness not to see the parallels between the rise of fascism and our current political nightmare.
>But the ’30s isn’t the only era with lessons to teach us. Lately I’ve been reading a lot about the ancient world. Initially, I have to admit, I was doing it for entertainment and as a refuge from news that gets worse with each passing day. But I couldn’t help noticing the contemporary resonances of some Roman history — specifically, the tale of how the Roman Republic fell.
>Here’s what I learned: Republican institutions don’t protect against tyranny when powerful people start defying political norms. And tyranny, when it comes, can flourish even while maintaining a republican facade.
>On the first point: Roman politics involved fierce competition among ambitious men. But for centuries that competition was constrained by some seemingly unbreakable rules. Here’s what Adrian Goldsworthy’s “In the Name of Rome” says: “However important it was for an individual to win fame and add to his and his family’s reputation, this should always be subordinated to the good of the Republic … no disappointed Roman politician sought the aid of a foreign power.”
>America used to be like that, with prominent senators declaring that we must stop “partisan politics at the water’s edge.” But now we have a president-elect who openly asked Russia to help smear his opponent, and all indications are that the bulk of his party was and is just fine with that. (A new poll shows that Republican approval of Vladimir Putin has surged even though — or, more likely, precisely because — it has become clear that Russian intervention played an important role in the U.S. election.) Winning domestic political struggles is all that matters, the good of the republic be damned.
"How Republics End" by Paul Krugman
Other urls found in this thread:
web.archive.org
contrakrugman.com
frontpagemag.com
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
twitter.com
>And what happens to the republic as a result? Famously, on paper the transformation of Rome from republic to empire never happened. Officially, imperial Rome was still ruled by a Senate that just happened to defer to the emperor, whose title originally just meant “commander,” on everything that mattered. We may not go down exactly the same route — although are we even sure of that? — but the process of destroying democratic substance while preserving forms is already underway.
>Consider what just happened in North Carolina. The voters made a clear choice, electing a Democratic governor. The Republican legislature didn’t openly overturn the result — not this time, anyway — but it effectively stripped the governor’s office of power, ensuring that the will of the voters wouldn’t actually matter.
>Combine this sort of thing with continuing efforts to disenfranchise or at least discourage voting by minority groups, and you have the potential making of a de facto one-party state: one that maintains the fiction of democracy, but has rigged the game so that the other side can never win.
>Why is this happening? I’m not asking why white working-class voters support politicians whose policies will hurt them — I’ll be coming back to that issue in future columns. My question, instead, is why one party’s politicians and officials no longer seem to care about what we used to think were essential American values. And let’s be clear: This is a Republican story, not a case of “both sides do it.”
based north carolina
>So what’s driving this story? I don’t think it’s truly ideological. Supposedly free-market politicians are already discovering that crony capitalism is fine as long as it involves the right cronies. It does have to do with class warfare — redistribution from the poor and the middle class to the wealthy is a consistent theme of all modern Republican policies. But what directly drives the attack on democracy, I’d argue, is simple careerism on the part of people who are apparatchiks within a system insulated from outside pressures by gerrymandered districts, unshakable partisan loyalty, and lots and lots of plutocratic financial support.
>For such people, toeing the party line and defending the party’s rule are all that matters. And if they sometimes seem consumed with rage at anyone who challenges their actions, well, that’s how hacks always respond when called on their hackery.
>One thing all of this makes clear is that the sickness of American politics didn’t begin with Donald Trump, any more than the sickness of the Roman Republic began with Caesar. The erosion of democratic foundations has been underway for decades, and there’s no guarantee that we will ever be able to recover.
>But if there is any hope of redemption, it will have to begin with a clear recognition of how bad things are. American democracy is very much on the edge.
web.archive.org
reposted with archived link
> Waaaah, I'm a wealthy influential kike and we only get to dictate 80% of the policy in this country instead of 100%
> Fuck the actual demographic majority of this country and their wishes
I'd love to hear what (((Krugman))) has to say about the actual definition of a republic.
>Paul Krugman
wew
Well he was right about the "growth" part, at least as it pertains to the amount of websites people actually use.
Most people just stick to Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, LinkedIn, Netflix, and socials now.
TL;DR
>a de facto one-party state: one that maintains the fiction of democracy, but has rigged the game so that the other side can never win.
OH GOLLY GEE WIZ I WISH WE WERE LIVING IN A 30% WHITE COUNTRY WHERE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICAN HAD AN EQUAL SHOT AT OFFICE.
OH FUCKING WAIT. THAT WOULD BE DE FACTO ONE-PARTY FOR DEMOCRATS.
a fucking Jew commenting on Roman history.
e-commerce is probably bigger at this point, mostly Amazon
Kek!
Paul (((Krugman)))
>I think I'm the demographic majority of this country
> on Sup Forums
kys
he didn't even win the popular vote for you to harp about a "majority"
Right, and there are far less e-commerce sites than in 2005, let alone whenever he said that quote.
But, of course, those few e-commerce sites are doing better than ever.
...
>popular vote
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
WE LIVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, TOOTHPASTE!
STATES ELECT THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE "PEOPLE"
KYS SENPAI
>states elect the president, not the people
>harps about -----demographic----- majority
tell that to him then before you spout regurgitated memes
>white people aren't the demographic majority in the united states
It's not 2050 yet, aquafresh.
Was talking specifically about whites as a demographic majority, if it were only for them than Trump would have won in a landslide
>white people didn't vote for clinton
try again dipshit
being an SJW and/or a liberal has no influence on the race you're born you fucking tard
you don't develop melanin if you vote Democrat as opposed to Republican
>I don't like Trump
>It doesn't matter that Republicans are in power federally and a ton of state
>We're going to replace you with mexicans anyway
Always remember, The Jew cries out as he strikes you.
>Adrian Goldsworthy
He must have missed the part where Goldsworthy denounces the idea of comparing Roman politics to that of the modern world, as the gulf between the two systems of governments and eras is far to vast make any solid direct comparisons.
>(Reagan|Bush|Trump) is literally Hitler.
You people are like a broken record. Every time a Republican wins, you call him Hitler. Every. Damn. Time.
see
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
WE LIVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, TOOTHPASTE!
STATES ELECT THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE "PEOPLE"
KYS SENPAI
Aren't these the same niggers that don't want any borders and spew that other one world garbage? Now they think shit flinging should stop at the border. Nice. Gold medal in Mental Gymnastics.
>Oh no, it's Hitler, again, somebody do something
>paul krugman
>libertarian
try again
>implying illegals actually can't vote in Cali
(((Krugman)))
>Ahhh, he's Hitler, Hitler I tell you!
Did anyone ever read you the story of the boy who cried wolf?
Krugman is a piece of shit
>muh republic
>muh democrats expanding federal government
>only worried about it when a republic gets control
>dumb kike thinks he can explain the fall of the Roman Republic in a few glib sentences
Yes, kikes really are this arrogant. I would bet $100 Paul Kikeman doesn't know who Edward Gibbon was.
>Republics die when they embrace their roots and go back to old values of a successful time
Clearly this is how Rome fell
I've read this article. Thanks for posting it here, friendo.
I'm ascared Paul Krugman has a 100% record for being right!
He's part of the current multinational western oligarchy's frontline. The people (((they))) put out to popularize and push their ideas to the public.
Are... are you a r-retard, senpai?
This post was objectively correct in referring to white people as the demographic majority. It may hurt your Islamic feelings, but its correct -- for now.
D-do you know what a demographic even is? Its not "people who voted for Trump," its "white people," "single moms," "homosexuals," etc.
>Consider what happened in North Carolina.
What, you mean where they firebombed Trump HQ? How about Arizona, and Chicago where the Democrats paid people to incite riots. Or the people killed in protests/riots after Trump was elected.
Majority of white people voted for Trump.
Majority of white men and majority of white women.
Try again, dipshit.
This. If Hillary had got in, she would have given amnesty to all the illegals and the Republicans would never have won an election again. The US would end up taking turns being ruled by the Democratic Party and the Socialist Super Cuck Sandernista Movement Party.
Now the Dems are gonna have to dial back the faggotry and stop pandering to illegal spics to maintain their chances, because in 4 years they'll be on the other side of the wall.
paul krugman is (((neurotic)))
frontpagemag.com
For fun, guess the year this image was taken.
Over half of white women voted Trump though. If only white people voted trump would have won all but two states.
...
(((Krugman)))
Just doesn't acknowledge the the corruption and decadence of old rotten republics is what leads to the rise of new states.
It is he and his ilk that are causing this.
>someone saved my gif
MUMMY
You think we forgot about this shit OP? Oh no no. Keep running your mouth. Jan 20 is coming and I'm going to enjoy watching your ilk hauled off to court/prison.
You have to be out of your mind to think the US constitution is going anywhere anytime soon.
Politicians come and go, natural rights do not.
>OP posts a Krugman article, therefore he endorses him
kys
The only thing ending is leftist/progressive BS.
Honestly, I don't even care. Let it burn.
American society and culture has descended so far that I don't even have any desire to raise a child here.
whites are the demographic majority of this country and the majority of whites voted for trump
I think it should be noted that I think the sentiment holds true regardless of your opinion on Trump. The divisiveness between the left and the right, and their inability to effectively communicate and discuss with each other the grievances each has with the other, seems the perfect breeding ground for the crumbling of the foundation of the country. A lot of conversations devolve into "you're wrong" or "more people agree with me" or "not as bad as _____".
>demographic majority
What a meaningless term.
bad whitey
Multiple paragraphs of intelligent, well thought out, clearly stated ideas make it clear that NC is taking the wrong path, Sup Forumsack responds with micro-sound-bite.
kys, PLEASE
>> Fuck the actual demographic majority of this country and their wishes
This is your daily reminder that the "silent majority" is less than 1/3 of America.
>STATES ELECT THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE "PEOPLE"
That's exactly what he was saying, retard.
Trumpets can crow all they want about winning (muh republic, not a democracy), but you tards can't claim to be the true face of America, you're a minority.
Most Americans either voted against Trump, or just didn't care.
Trump won the popular vote.
There are over 2,000,000 illegals registered to vote in California alone.
Factor in the amounts from other states + Hillary's zombie-voters, and Trump won the popular vote in a landslide.
Paul Krugman is a faggot and trash his opinion
>But now we have a president-elect who openly asked Russia to help smear his opponent
I'm surprised I got this far. Does this nigger have a single source to back this claim up?
why would you listen to anything krugman has to say? because he has a phd or a nobel?
just like the guys from LTCM that had phds and nobes?
krugman is a cuck with 0 skin in the game.
look at what he wrote about the economy in the days leading up to the election, in reality it turned out just the opposite
read more taleb and less krugman
>Trump won the popular vote in a landslide.
Sure, kid.
Trump lost the popular vote explicitly because of California.
Literally just that one state.
If it had voted on the same average of every single other state did, he would have won by over 3 million.
Considering California has the highest percentage of illegals in the entire country and has 0 voting registration or ID laws, it's not unexpected to see them vote so overwhelming against a man promising to shove them out.
thats still a fucking huge amount of people
>Krugman
AVE CAESAR!!!!
>Literally just that one state.
...and the 53 million people that voted for her in other states.
>read more taleb and less krugman
qft!
>Considering California has the highest percentage of illegals in the entire country an.. whah, wah, WAHHHHH!!!!!
Except that almost the exact same number of people voted for Obama against Romney in 2012.
Will Krugman die in the last day of 2016?
This is your daily reminder that whites still = >50% of this country, so piss them off at your own risk.
wrong
>Obama CA popular vote 2012: 7,854,285
>Clinton CA popular vote 2016: 8,753,788
t. en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
>but you tards can't claim to be the true face of America, you're a minority.
Okay cool, I won't. We still won though.
On that picture, it's funny but even in Canada in Vancouver where opinion polls had Hillary at 92% support if we could vote literally every guy at my gym was hoping for a Trump win. It's almost as if people that take initiative to better themselves preferred Trump.
>This is your daily reminder that whites still = >50% of this country, so piss them off at your own risk.
That's just cherrypicking.
Don't forget your guy was "elected" by 28% of registered voters.
Even if every single Trump voter was white (not impossible), that still means most white people did NOT vote Trump.
Stop pretending to be the "face of America", you're an embarrassing minority.
This guy is really fucking unhinged. The New York Times publishes shit like this these days?
>Roman politics involved fierce competition among ambitious men.
>But for centuries that competition was constrained by some seemingly unbreakable rules.
Whose rules? Nero's? Caligula's? Augustus himself, the author of Pax Romana, was a bloody murderous tyrant.
Krugman is seriously bent.
Whites are the majority if only whites votes whites Trump would of won
White are the true face of America based on every logical straw your grasping
If only whites vote*
>Whites are the majority if only whites votes whites Trump would of won
And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.
That doesn't change the fact that most white people didn't vote Trump.
He may only like whites, but that doesn't mean that most all (or even most) whites like him.
Plus, the dems could have run a randomly selected Democrat governor and beaten him.
>most white people didn't vote Trump.
But most whites that voted voted for Trump.
If you don't vote you're not exercising your rights as a citizen, and therefore shouldn't count.
your republics going to die if you follow the lawso f the republic.
So ignore them and listen to us instead, we'll preserve the republic somehow by ignoring the foundation of the republic.
.... honest.
Never he fucking mind that flooding these countries with muslim filth has nothing to do with the rise of the right on both sides of the atlantic.
Never he fucking mind the anti-white racism shown by the left these past four years.
>If you don't vote you're not exercising your rights as a citizen, and therefore shouldn't count.
OK, so most white people either vote Hillary or don't count.
Either way you can't claim Trump is the voice of white people.
>the rise of the right on both sides of the atlantic.
You're still a minority on this side off the atlantic, senpai.
>what is confirmation bias
The republic was permanently crippled in 1865 and was finnaly killed with FDR.
Paul "war with aliens is good for the economy" Krugman is an actual retard.
taleb is based
(greek ortho btw)
>The republic was permanently crippled in 1865 and was finnaly killed with FDR.
This user knows what's up. Although some would argue the final blow was under Wilson, not FDR :^)
>OK, so most white people either vote Hillary or don't count.
You're thinking about it wrong; most white that count voted for Trump.
there are far better parallels to make in terms of political climates and equivalents, but none match the unprecedented position of populism vs globalism.
Only an unintelligent and self-aggrandizing moron would immediately go to the 2 most salient political landscapes most people can somewhat recognise. What an uncreative and boorish diatribe.
t. PhD student faggot in History
Don't forget teddy sharpend the knife
Go on gentlemen. Give me your hot takes.
Fuck Paul Krugman and fuck jews.
this is the best comment
>and lots and lots of plutocratic financial support.
I like how Trump being outspent 2 to 1 in the election is just completely ignored here.
The Roman Republic lasted ~500 years, the Empire lasted ~1500 with expansion and Pax Romana going for about two hundred years.
The American Republic is about ~230 so far if we take the ratification of the Constitution as the starting point. A 690 year empire with a 92 year period of world peace sounds pretty good.