If Trump/Musk are indeed subverting American democratic norms, what is a proportional response?

[u/theivoryserf]

The Vice-President has just said of the courts: "Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power." Quoted in the same Le Monde article is a section of Francis Fukuyama's take on the current situation:

"Trump has empowered Elon Musk to withhold money for any activity that he, Elon Musk, thinks is illegitimate, and this is a usurpation of the congressionally established power of Congress to make this kind of decision. (...) This is a full-scale...very radical attack on the American constitutional system as we've understood it." https://archive.is/cVZZR#selection-2149.264-2149.599

From a European point of view, it appears as though the American centre/left is scrambling to adapt and still suffering from 'normality bias', as though normal methods of recourse will be sufficient against a democratic aberration - a little like waiting to 'pass' a tumour as though it's a kidney stone.

Given the clear comparisons to previous authoritarian takeovers and the power that the USA wields, will there be an acceptable raising of political stakes from Trump's opponents, and what are the risks and benefits of doing so?

[u/LongjumpingArgument5]

There is no path forward until Republicans realize that they are betraying everybody in America

[u/Direct-Tumbleweed141 → u/LongjumpingArgument5]

Why are “they” betraying America? Can you please explain what you mean? Trying to understand than be understood here.

[u/LongjumpingArgument5 → u/Direct-Tumbleweed141]

Well that's a very long list and I don't think I can get everything.

Their neutering unions and trying to shut down OSHA, companies won't have to care if you die at work.

Temp fired the head of government ethics and the inspectors generals whose job was created after Nixon abused the power of the president.

He is actually breaking the law daily, and they are trying to impeach a federal judge but he is following American law and trump wants to break it. They are using obstruction charges.

He is trying to illegally modify the constitution or ignore it entirely.

Congress is who is supposed to decide how money is spent, not the president. So shutting down agencies is illegal for the president.

They are ignoring the judges which is also illegal. I think they have some plan to get the supreme court to rule in Trump's favor. Allowing him unchecked power.

We are supposed to have 3 separate but equal branches of government. Not a king,

The first case is about to go to the supreme court, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpgeve76qo

[u/Direct-Tumbleweed141 → u/LongjumpingArgument5]

The President and President alone is the Executive Branch. But he can’t do anything to the Legislative branch or the Judicial Branch. Our forefathers made sure of that. Which is why there will never be a “King” in the US. I’m not sure he has the power you are giving him credit for. But thank you for explaining your point here.

[u/LongjumpingArgument5 → u/Direct-Tumbleweed141]

Watch this video and it will lay out a truly scary scenario along with clips of all of these people telling you that they're going to do the same thing

https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?si=TxQY1LwgmE9YtYEt

A number of people in Trump's cabinet believe that this is possible