Tyranny of the Minority: A group of political 'assassins' is quietly threatening American democracy, a new book says

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

A group of political ‘assassins’ is quietly threatening American democracy, a new book says

Alternate CNN headline: A ‘tyranny of the minority’ is destroying American democracy, a new book warns

By John Blake, CNN
9 minute read
Updated 2:18 PM EST, Fri December 8, 2023

(CNN) — It started as a political protest in the nation’s capital over a disputed election, but it quickly turned into an all-out assault.

Armed right-wing militia and a mob of enraged demonstrators stormed the building where lawmakers had gathered to vote on a new government. The insurrectionists tried to break through the doors to the building where lawmakers met, but riot police stopped them at the barricades. As both sides battled one another on that chilly winter day, frightened lawmakers fled their chambers as the mob called for their hanging. Many people were injured, and some killed.

We’re talking, of course, about the insurrection of February 6, 1934 — an infamous day when thousands of fascists and militia members tried to topple a democratically elected government in France.

The French government survived that attack, but the political battle that followed proved to be more consequential. A committee was formed to investigate the insurrection, but right-leaning politicians rejected its findings and constructed an alternative narrative that cast the insurrectionists as victims of overzealous police and true patriots. No one was really held accountable, and politicians who encouraged or justified the insurrection that day remained in power.

A description of the 1934 riot comes midway through “Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point,” by Steve Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. Their new book, which argues that the US must reform its Constitution and political institutions because they are dangerously antiquated, offers a chilling postscript to the French insurrection.

-snip-

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/08/us/tyranny-of-the-minority-american-democracy-cec/index.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Wow. New historical point for me. /nt

[NBachers]

2. I'm scared that any attempts to "reform" the Constitution will open it up to the maggots and the puke terrorists.

[Cherokee100]

3. Just wondering

Just wondering if the Trumpsters, will bring back the Guillotine, after he becomes king.

[KS Toronado]

4. More likely the gas chambers, less messy and gets entire families at the same time.

[KS Toronado]

5. "US must reform its Constitution"

We're overdue with some reforms to the 2nd amendment, eliminating the Electoral College, to name
a few, and a ton of stuff to improve Congress so they get shit done!