“But over time, the executive branch grew exceedingly powerful. Two world wars emphasized the president’s commander in chief role and removed constraints on its power. By the second half of the 20th century, the republic was routinely fighting wars without its legislative branch, Congress, declaring war, as the Constitution required. With Congress often paralyzed by political conflict, presidents increasingly governed by edicts.”
That’s my whole point. Might things be a lot worse in a couple of years? Yes. Are things as bad as this article is all about saying they are right now? No, clearly not.
“The American democratic republic is in danger of dying” is true.
“The American democratic republic has died” is histrionics, and histrionics are particularly counterproductive at a time when what’s actually going on is so serious.
The trajectory is pretty well set, though. There is no “might” get worse anymore, it will get worse without radical intervention. It is simply cope to believe that there is any reasonable possibility that this could just blow over.
It is worth treating with the gravity it deserves, even if there aren’t Right Wing Death Squads executing dissidents in the streets this very moment.
Don’t worry, someone else will surely stop this before it affects me.
Yeah fair, that’s a reasonable criticism. I noticed the melodramatic air to the piece too.