Most Dictators Self Destruct. Why?

Treisman notes that in 85 percent of the episodes he studied, democratization was preceded by mass unrest. Sooner or later, people tend to get tired of regimes in which they have little say. Then, it only takes a misstep from the one person at the center of such a regime. Dictators often overestimate the external danger to their power, the plots of foreign or exiled enemies. In the final analysis, they are the biggest threat to themselves.

Source: Most Dictators Self Destruct. Why?

Texas coronavirus deaths jump 12% after state changes how it counts them | The Texas Tribune

After the number of infections in Texas soared to new highs in June and early July, the rate of deaths in Texas has been accelerating. It took 53 days to get from the first death to 1,000 deaths and 39 days to get from 1,000 to 2,000 deaths. On July 10, the state surpassed 3,000 deaths — 24 days after 2,000 deaths were reported. And it took only 10 more days for Texas to reach 4,000 deaths.

Source: Texas coronavirus deaths jump 12% after state changes how it counts them | The Texas Tribune

Opinion | The Cult of Selfishness Is Killing America – The New York Times

I’ve long been struck by the intensity of right-wing anger against relatively trivial regulations, like bans on phosphates in detergent and efficiency standards for light bulbs. It’s the principle of the thing: Many on the right are enraged at any suggestion that their actions should take other people’s welfare into account.

This rage is sometimes portrayed as love of freedom. But people who insist on the right to pollute are notably unbothered by, say, federal agents tear-gassing peaceful protesters. What they call “freedom” is actually absence of responsibility.

Rational policy in a pandemic, however, is all about taking responsibility. The main reason you shouldn’t go to a bar and should wear a mask isn’t self-protection, although that’s part of it; the point is that congregating in noisy, crowded spaces or exhaling droplets into shared air puts others at risk. And that’s the kind of thing America’s right just hates, hates to hear.

Doctors fear ‘unacceptable risk’ on Melbourne coronavirus ward without specialist N95 masks – ABC News – Australia

“Respiratory and infectious disease doctors are having to buy their own supplies and bring them in or steal them from Code Blue trolleys which is a danger in itself, because they won’t be stocked adequately when required,” the doctor said. Source: Doctors fear ‘unacceptable risk’ on Melbourne coronavirus ward without specialist N95 masks – ABC News

Trump’s Suspension of Travel from Europe Sealed America’s Fate For Major Covid 19 Spread

Sealed the fate of Massachusetts and New York. Their outbreaks came from Europe – fool he was and still is.

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

That suspension meant that Americans in Europe needed to return home, and Trump gave them 48 hours to do so, packing them into airports like sardines for hours.

Trump has praised himself for his decision in January to restrict travel from China in order to contain the coronavirus, claiming that his decision saved millions of lives.  His response to travel from Europe however, opened the back door for Covid-19 to enter the U.S.  Many Americans did not want to be stuck in Europe and returned to the U.S. on the same weekend, bringing the virus with them.   Exposed travelers into the U.S. from Europe sealed the nation’s fate for a major spread.

On March 12, 2020, Trump suspended all travel to the United States from Europe for 30 days.  Americans had 48 hour notice to make travel arrangements back to the U.S.

We should never forget that it was Trump’s…

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“A Dangerous Precedent” – GERMAN-FOREIGN-POLICY.com

(Own report) – In individual talks with German and EU companies, the Trump administration is threatening repercussions, if they do not withdraw from the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. According to reports, up to twelve representatives of three US ministries have held separate video conferences with European companies, to coerce them into withdrawing from the Nord Stream 2 project. The latest US sanctions against the gas pipeline affect 120 enterprises from 12 EU countries. Should the construction of Nord Stream 2 remain unfinished, the direct damage could reach twelve billion euros. German business associations are calling on Berlin and Brussels to take harsh retaliatory measures, otherwise US reprisals could set a “dangerous precedent” that could be repeated at any time. Business representatives draw attention to the fact that the USA had tried to torpedo German-Russian energy relations, beginning already with those between West Germany and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1980s, but ultimately had to yield each time.
— Read on www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/8348/

Senate Republicans move to cut $600 weekly jobless benefit by two-thirds – (“Let them eat Twinkies!” Cruel and no that unusual for GOP)

Senate Republicans are moving to cut the expiring $600 weekly federal unemployment bonus to $200 per week in a new coronavirus aid package that is expected to be released as early as Monday, according to three senior GOP aides familiar with the details.

The $200 flat benefit would last for two months as states transition to a system that grants unemployed people 70 percent of their wages prior to losing their job, the aides said.

Source: Senate Republicans move to cut $600 weekly jobless benefit by two-thirds

Elon Musk tells truth about Bolivia, Tesla’s anti-democracy profiteering: ‘We will coup whoever we want!’ – (who needs to back dictator and coups?)

When someone named Armani (@historyofarmani) said, “You know what wasnt in the best interest of people? the U.S. government organizing a coup against Evo Morales in Bolivia so you could obtain the lithium there,” Musk responded with a shocking tweet: “We will coup whoever we want! Deal with it.” 

Source: Elon Musk tells truth about Bolivia, Tesla’s anti-democracy profiteering: ‘We will coup whoever we want!’

Alabama Republican lawmaker’s post praising KKK leader denounced by Democrats, GOP – al.com

“Will Dismukes has demonstrated yet again why he is unfit to hold public office. Americans don’t celebrate racists or traitors. Nathan Bedford Forrest was both. And a founder of the Klan,” Perry said in a statement. “The Alabama Democratic Party renews our call for Dismukes to resign. It’s 2020 and it’s time for racial extremists like Will Dismukes to go away.”

The party’s call on Monday for Dismukes to step down is the second time in as many months that it urged the Montgomery-area lawmaker to resign.

 

Source: Alabama Republican lawmaker’s post praising KKK leader denounced by Democrats, GOP – al.com

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