***. “Of all the evils that infest a state, a tyrant is the greatest; his sole will commands laws, and lords it ovr them.”
[ Euripides ]
This post presents excerpts from the New York Times editorial. “Trump’s Stifling Of Dissent Reaches A New Level”. [2/8/26. It is the first update since October, 2025]:
A]. “The crackdown on dissent and speech in Minnesota..follows a pattern that is common in countries that slide from democracy to autocracy..”
B]. “The wide-ranging abuses in Minnesota are the main reason for change….The true goal seems to be instilling fear in people who oppose Mr. Trump’s agenda.”
C]. “The acceleration in the stifling of dissent and speech is broader than what’s happening in Minnesota.”
D] “The clearest sign that a democracy has died is that the leader and his party make it impossible for their opponents to win an electin and hold power. Once that stage is reached, the change is extremely difficult to reverse.” {NOTE: The danger is what the Trump DICTATORSHIP will do to rig the November 3, 2026 and November, 2028 elections.]
Below are the 12 metrics of “The. Autocracy. Index” A 0-10 scale is used.
1]. “Stifling speech and dissent”. “4”. “The repression of speech and dissent is ‘central”. to an authoritarian takeover.”
2] “Persecuting political opponents”. “5”. “Mr. Trump’s Justice Department has become an enforcer of his interests.”
3] “Bypassing the legislature”. “4”. “When a democracy slides toward autocracy, the leader often finds ways to neuter the legislature..” {Trump has violated laws and gutted congressionally authorized agencies.]
***. “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and the. judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” [ James Madison ]
4] “Defying the courts”. “2”. “At times, the Trump administration has openly defied federal judges.”
5] “Declaring false emergencies”. “5”. “Autocrats often curtail democracy by declaring an emergency and arguing the threat requires them to exercise unusual degrees of power.”
6] “Using the military at home”. ‘2’. “Authoritarians frequently and performatively use the military for domestic control.”
***. “It is the old practice of despots to use part of the people to keep the rest in order.” [ Thomas Jefferson ]
7] Vilifying marginalized groups”. “6” “Authoritarians tend to demean minority groups, trying to turn them into perceived threats that provide justification for a leader to amass power.”
8] “Controlling information”. “2”. “Authoritarians seek to depress inconvenient truths.” [NOTE: this site disagrees with this low grade. the Trump DICTATORSHIP has taken numerous steps to control and pervert truth.]
9]. “Trying to take over universities”. “2”. “a signature policy of Mr. Trump’s second term has been his attack on higher education.” [NOTE: this site vigorously disputes this low grade for a “signature policy.”]
*** “Truth is the most precious thing. That’s why we should ration it.” [ V. Lenin ]
10] “Creating a cult of personality”. “6”. “Emperors and kings often glorified themselves by displaying their portraits everywhere.”
11] “Using power for personal profit”. “7” “Mr. Trump glories in his administration’s culture of corruption.”
12] “Manipulating the law to stay in power” “2”. “In Mr. Trump’s second term, he has shown worrisome signs of trying to entrench the power of the Republican party…” [NOTE: this site VIGOROUSLY protests this absurdly low grade – see l/6/21 !!!!!!!!!! See the persecution of ANYBODY trying to hold Trump into account !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]
*** “The aggressiveness of governments grows in proportion to the increase of their internal despotism.”
[ Leo Tolstoy ]
With Justice For All 