Toward Dictatorship

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Today I am posting this calendar that I am following along with. Near as I can tell, we are on a trajectory similar to what we saw in 1933 when the German Republic was dismantled and converted to the dictator led fascist state of Nazi Germany. Godwin's Law is well take in that hyperbolic Internet discussions can devolve into inappropriate comparisons with Hitler and Nazis. Godwin's Law aside, when the match is comparable in scale (Trump intends to deport more than ten million people), in severity (Trump/Musk actions are already killing people), and in kind (Trump has attempted to get Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia, and has credibly threatened to take over Greenland, Panama, Gaza, and even Canada). The project 2025 plan, which Trump disavowed prior to being sworn in as President, is well underway now. Its goal is, quite explicitly, to "... dismantle the administrative state" of the United States of America. 

Other people have drawn parallels between the ascendance of Donald Trump and Adolph Hitler**. In less than eight weeks, Hitler went from Chancellor on the 30th of January to an absolute dictator on March 23rd 1933. Trump's rapid consolidation of power has been remarkable. Trump was inaugurated on January 20th, 2025. As of March 13th he will have been President for the same length of time Hitler was Chancellor before he became dictator with The Enabling Act. As of July 2024, Trump became effectively immune to personal prosecution for anything he does as President. In February, he literally referred to himself as King. Trump has issued numerous Executive Orders that are the subject of lawsuits contending they are not lawful. In one case, he attempted to arbitrarily end birthright citizenship in violation of the the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Personally, I think that chances of Donald Trump lasting through the year 2025 are not very high. If they do, I think that things will become very bad indeed. Unlike the 1930s and 1940s, population numbers and determination alone may not be able to defeat him due to technological advancements that can amplify his power. 

**Mainstream Media Comparisons of Trump to Hitler

Several mainstream media outlets and commentators have drawn comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler, often focusing on rhetoric, policies, and leadership styles. Here are some notable examples:
  1. The Guardian highlighted parallels between Trump's rhetoric and Hitler's, noting instances where Trump reportedly praised Hitler for doing "some good things" and used language such as calling political opponents "vermin" and claiming immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country" 
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  2. The Atlantic reported on Trump's admiration for authoritarian figures, including a statement where he expressed a desire for "the kind of generals that Hitler had," reflecting his preoccupation with dictators 
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  3. MSNBC host Joy Reid compared Trump's deportation policies to actions taken in Nazi Germany, drawing a direct link between his administration's approach to immigration and historical events under Hitler's regime 
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  4. Salon discussed Trump as an "aspiring dictator," comparing his rise to power to historical figures like Hitler and Augustus Caesar, emphasizing the populist resentment and authoritarian tendencies that fueled his political ascent.
  5. The Globalist explored the similarities in how Trump and Hitler amplified their voices through media, with Trump leveraging modern platforms like social media to an even greater extent than Hitler's use of traditional propaganda 
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