The Authoritarian Threat to America
The United States has always prided itself on being the bastion of democracy and the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world. But, in recent years, there has been a growing movement that threatens to undermine the very foundation of the country’s democratic experiment.
The MAGA movement, or “Make America Great Again” movement was originally characterized by its overt nationalism, populism, and contempt for political correctness. However, as time has passed, it has become clear that the MAGA movement’s contempt for democracy and disdain for democratic institutions and the rule of law poses a serious threat to the American democratic system.
While there have been instances of individuals on the left expressing admiration for authoritarian regimes or leaders, those views are generally not representative of the mainstream left in the United States. In the 1960s and 70s, some left-wing groups, such as the Weather Underground and the Black Panther Party, advocated for violent revolution and the overthrow of the government. Some progressive voices today have called for restrictions on free speech, particularly on college campuses. However, these voices are still relegated to the fringe of the Democratic party, while while the authoritarianism on the right — which was also fringe prior to Trump — is now mainstream and has come to dominate the party.
Contempt for the rule of law
The MAGA movement has shown a blatant disregard for the rule of law and a disturbing desire for a two-tiered system of justice that favors those who support the MAGA movement and punishes those who oppose it. This was evident in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election when supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the election results. Many MAGA movement leaders have opposed investigations and accountability for those who participated in the insurrection. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a member of Congress and prominent MAGA movement figure, claimed that the January 6th insurrectionists were “patriots”, compared them to “political prisoners” and called for their release from prison.
In contrast, during the BLM protests of 2020, several Republican lawmakers proposed draconian measures such as making it legal to run over protestors with a car and stripping protestors of their right to vote. There were also reports of federal law enforcement officers in unmarked vans detaining protesters in Portland, Oregon. The officers wore camouflage uniforms and did not have identifiable insignia or name tags. This raised concerns about the legality of the detentions and the potential for abuse of power. Many critics argued that the tactics were reminiscent of authoritarian regimes and violated the protesters’ constitutional rights to due process and protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Another example is when President Trump authorized law enforcement to use tear gas and rubber bullets to clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020, simply because they were in his way.
Disdain for law enforcement acting against MAGA
And despite proclaiming to “Back the Blue” and waving “Blue Lives Matter” flags, the MAGA movement’s support for law enforcement appears to be limited to those who target their political opponents. Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) made insensitive remarks about the death of Officer Brian Sicknick, who lost his life defending the Capitol on January 6th. During his testimony before the Jan. 6th committee, Officer Michael Fanone — who voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and was beaten unconscious by the Jan. 6th mob — was accused of being an actor by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Later, when Officer Fanone confronted Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) for describing the January 6th insurrectionists as tourists and denying an insurrection took place, Clyde refused to shake his hand and walked away.
Admiration for authoritarian strongmen
The MAGA movement’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and disdain for democratic norms also makes it more dangerous. While there have been instances of individuals on the left expressing admiration for authoritarian regimes (such as Bernie Sanders’ previous admiration for the Soviet Union and Fidel Castro), he was never a leader of the Democratic Party. In contrast, the leaders of the Republican Party, such as Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, have openly expressed admiration for Putin and other authoritarian leaders while attacking democratic allies like Germany and Canada (see “Trump Praises World Tyrants: Xi A ‘Brilliant Man’; Putin ‘Very Smart’; Kim ‘Top Of The Line’” and Carlson’s “Why shouldn’t I root for Russia, which I am?”).
Perversion of patriotic symbols
The MAGA movement’s distortion of patriotic symbols to promote their authoritarian vision is also alarming. An increasing number of MAGA followers have embraced a flag that perverts the traditional American flag into a fascist-looking black & white representation.
The MAGA movement presents a serious challenge to the American democratic experiment. Its disdain for democratic norms and institutions, disregard for the rule of law, and support for authoritarian leaders threaten the very foundations of American democracy. The movement’s selective support for law enforcement and the two-tiered system of justice it promotes are deeply troubling.
It is up to all Americans, regardless of ideology or political affiliation, to reject these anti-democratic tendencies and work towards a more free and fair society. Only by restoring our Constitutional system of government and strengthening our democratic institutions and values can we ensure that America remains a beacon of freedom and democracy for generations to come.
