I participated yesterday in a “No Kings” demonstration in Carbondale, IL. I listened to speeches, stood along the street, and held my sign, along with more than 1,000 other like-minded neighbors. I wish I could do more, but at 85 with some health issues, I can barely stand and hold my sign for two hours. More than 2,000 No Kings demonstrations, large and small, took place in all 50 states. Early estimates of those demonstrating nationwide range from a few hundred thousand to five million.
I thought Trump’s federalizing of the National Guard and ordering U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, over the objections of the governor and local officials, might dampen the turnout. However, as I searched for a place to park and saw streams of people heading toward the Community Center, I knew the crowd would be much larger than at any previous demonstration this year. The official count at the beginning of the opening ceremony was more than 900, but later estimates ranged up to 2,000.
American flags were waving everywhere, in honor of Flag Day. The ceremony began with our pledge of allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stands. Unlike Donald Trump, many of us have served in the U.S. Military. We were reaffirming our oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States on the 250th anniversary of the Army. There was a prayer for the Minnesota legislators and their spouses who had been wounded and killed simply because they were Democrats. There seems to be a growing realization that our constitutional form of government is slipping away—at least among those who are still willing to think.
Trump has been systematically moving through the authoritarian playbook for taking over a nation. Key tactics outlined in the authoritarian playbook often include:
• Spreading Disinformation: Propagating false or misleading information through coordinated networks and media to manipulate public opinion, undermine opponents, and shield the authoritarian from accountability.
• Politicizing Independent Institutions: Attacking and attempting to capture institutions that are typically independent from partisan politics, such as law enforcement, the judiciary, and election administration.
• Aggrandizing Executive Power: Weakening or circumventing institutions designed to limit executive power (like legislatures and courts) through manipulating existing rules or stacking them with loyalists.
• Quashing Dissent: Silencing independent voices, such as the press and civil society, that challenge the ruling power.
• Scapegoating Vulnerable Communities: Intentionally targeting marginalized groups to sow division and rally support by blaming them for societal problems.
• Stoking Violence: Inciting or tolerating political violence to create an environment conducive to restricting civil liberties and implementing coercive security measures.
• Corrupting Elections: Maintaining the appearance of democratic elections while manipulating rules, suppressing votes, and interfering with or overturning results.
So far, Trump has succeeded in moving through the playbook with minimal opposition. He has stoked violence in Los Angeles as an excuse for using the military to suppress civilian opposition. His recent remarks at military events and his grand military parade in Washington, DC, to celebrate his and the Army’s birthday, confirm his intention of using the military to enforce his political agenda. The only meaningful deterrent thus far has been federal court rulings, virtually all of which are in the appeal process awaiting final rulings. Ultimately, the Supreme Court will decide whether Trump’s presidential powers will be limited by the U.S. Constitution or be allowed to rule the nation as a king or dictator. And in case the Supreme Court rules against him, Trump appears to be preparing the U.S. military to support him in defying the Court.
Difficult to believe more than 40% of people still support Trump. The U.S. has problems that need to be addressed. Some people who support Trump say: “He is at least doing something about them.” Drugs, crime, corruption, waste, immigration, the economy. Trump has tried Fentanyl, dismantling government agencies, DOGE, and trade deficits/tariffs, without much traction. Has decided to link immigration to crime, drugs, and the economy. Many people who continue to support him just see that he is trying to do something. They don’t understand, question, or perhaps don’t care whether what he is doing is constitutional or legal, and what it means for the future of the nation.
Others may think we can surely survive 4 more years of Trump. We can then elect someone who will govern as a president rather than a king. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” However, autocrats don’t give up power. It must be taken from them. When Vladimir Putin was first elected president in 2000, the Russian Constitution limited the president to two “consecutive terms.” However, after his second term ended in 2008, Putin was appointed as “prime minister” and essentially continued to govern until he was reelected as president in 2012.
Before Putin’s fourth term ended in 2020, he had drafted a constitutional amendment that allowed him to serve two more terms. By then, he controlled the Russian legislature and the electoral process and had no difficulty winning a referendum to ratify his amendment. He routinely wins elections with more than 75% of the votes. Perhaps Trump plans to serve a term or two as Vice President before returning to the presidency, but he has shown no respect for the Constitution thus far and is not likely to change. He still hasn’t admitted he lost the 2020 election. Trump could rule the nation well into his 90s if he is allowed to gain dictatorial control of the government.
Many of Trump’s opponents are afraid that he is going to succeed and understand the implications of being labeled an “enemy of the state” by a dictator. I have less to lose than most by opposing Trump. I am 85 years old, my family is raised, and my wife and I live on retirement benefits. I also have less to gain, at least individually. However, I want to help leave a better nation for future generations. I was born at a time when the American people came together and joined with other democratic countries to defeat an egotistical, maniacal dictator who wanted to rule the world. I could well die at a time when the American people are divided and are ruled by an egotistical, maniacal dictator who wants to rule the world: A nation that people of the remaining democratic nations must ultimately unite to defeat.
Maybe I can’t do much to change that, but I will do whatever I can, and trust that enough others will do whatever they can to restore the integrity of this divided and diminished but still-great nation. The American colonists were not united in their opposition to British rule. The people of the United States were certainly not united when they engaged in the Civil War to end slavery. Its people have often been politically divided, but the democratic republic of the United States of America has survived. We are once again engaged in an epic struggle to determine whether this nation of the people, for the people, and by the people can continue to endure.
John Ikerd
https://protectdemocracy.org/.../the-authoritarian-playbook/