Post #1125467

2026-04-12 20:28 UTC

Now #Hungary has given us an answer to the claim that #electoral means are useless for ending a #dictatorship. Even a badly gerrymandered, deeply flawed electoral system can accomplish real change if public opinion is strongly enough against the #dictator. Keep that in mind here in the #USA as we approach the midterms. Do NOT discourage anyone from voting, even if you believe (as I do!) that our Constitution is fundamentally undemocratic. An electoral system does NOT need to be completely fair and honest in order to be a useful lever to overturn a dictatorship.

Replies (3)

@scooter@labyrinth.zone 2026-04-12 20:52

@dedicto I'm sorry to say this, but I believe we should pump the brakes on this mode of thinking for a little while. Fascists do not necessarily rely on electoral politics for power. While this is a clear repudiation of Orban and fascism generally in Hungary and Europe, it doesn't mean that they will not try to exert power by other means. This is a point of evidence in favor of voting our way out of fascism...but it is not yet "the answer".

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@cyberwitch@goingdark.social 2026-04-12 20:55

@dedicto I've also been thinking a lot about how many crucial special elections have been overwhelmingly blue, even though the regieme could have focused on supressing them. How will it be when they have to put their resources and focus into a whole nationwide election night when they can't even suppress the first lady from throwing their Epstein-related PR into a tailspin? My worries are more that the blue wave success will be underwhelming in action. We need some real bulldogs in our primaries.

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@MissGayle@urbanists.social 2026-04-12 21:15

@dedicto It only worked because Orban willingly conceded. Cheeto will do no such thing. And who, exactly, is going to physically remove him and his cronies from the white house? The capital police? The military? Congress? Seriously - who?

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