In this episode of the Plutopia News Network podcast, Dr. Roy Casagranda shares his insights on the 2024 election, expressing concerns about Donald Trump’s authoritarian leanings and his potential to undermine democratic principles if re-elected. Comparing Trump’s rhetoric to that of historical authoritarian figures, Casagranda suggests Trump’s repeated claims, such as the election being “stolen,” are part of a strategic manipulation of public opinion, similar to tactics used by dictators. He discusses the troubling alignment of some Americans with Trump’s vision, attributing it to various societal and cultural factors, including xenophobia, racism, and the appeal of simplistic, nostalgic narratives. While acknowledging the influence of media and education on public consciousness, Casagranda also points to the weakened state of democratic institutions and the country’s polarized atmosphere. He warns of potential violence and civil unrest, regardless of the election outcome, underscoring the possibility of a divided America facing ongoing challenges to its democratic fabric.
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Roy Casagranda:
Trump has said he’s going to go after his enemies as soon as he becomes president. And he’s suggested that the military could be used like the National Guard could be used. And he said that if people vote for him in this election, it will be the last election you will participate in. And he has said on day one he’s going to trash the Constitution. Like he’s telling us every single thing you need to know just like Hitler did in Mein Kampf. All you had to do was read the book to know what he was going to do because he told it. And he repeated it, by the way, over and over and over again because he believed if you repeat the big lie over and over and over again, eventually people will start to believe it just like Trump does when he talks about the election was stolen. And so the parallels between him and Hitler are definitely there. I don’t think he’s as smart as Hitler was. And by the way, just for the record, I actually don’t think Hitler was particularly smart. I think people tend to overvalue his intelligence. Almost every decision he made in World War II cost Germany the war.