The antidotes to lies are accountability and consequences. It does not matter if we are discussing Trump's, Putin's, or a six-year old child's relatively inconsequential lies in response to the "who did that" question. In every case the antidote to lies are accountability and consequences.
It is particularly important that when lies are so disruptive to the social fabric of our society that they become threatening to large numbers of us that accountability and consequences should be as swift and serious as possible.
Let us all hope that 2023 sees swift accountability and serious consequences for both Trump's and Putin's lies.
I think one of the characteristics of authoritarian governance is to force people to say things that they know to be false..The lie I tell is an index of the power that forces me to lie.
Timothy Snyder, I'm a huge fan of yours -- ever since reading "On Tyranny" back in 2017. (I gave it to everyone that year.) Every time I see the typos in your Substack posts, I wince in pain. You deserve better! I'm offering my copy editing services, should you ever require them. Happy New Year from your admirer, Jamie.
It seems to be lies and discrepancies. Watching the vote for House Speaker, Nicolle Wallace finally said the 20 members-elect are not ‘rebels’, they are coup plotters and insurrectionists who tried to overthrow our Democracy. Santos is such a sick liar he posted yesterday that he had been sworn in. Trump and Putin are pure evil manipulators, ‘The Road To Unfreedom,’ lays this out clearly. I recommend your book to everyone I know and meet. What a horror show we are in
Excellent, timely read. Republicans in the House, as the try to elect a Speaker, keep saying, “This place is broken,” referring to the House, and/or Washington. In truth it is the broken Republican Party that is doing all it can to destroy our government.
Side note: Thank you for your class on The Making of Modern Ukraine. A fascinating history!
Reading your essays and other learned historians like Sarah Kendzior and Andrea Chalupa, has made me smarter. The fact that Sarah and Andrea are not paid by a corporation, means that they speak the truth. Your books, On Tyranny and The Road to Unfreedom, speak truth to power. Missing is “The Fairness Doctrine” and more independent journalists to tell the truth.
I was in a Republican senator’s office in 2018 and called them out on a lie they were arguing. And ultimately I said, if we can’t agree on the truth there is nothing left. And that was it. Nothing.
I hate Trump, but I still say that for rural people at the poverty level Hilary Clinton would not have made any improvements in their lives. And that is something else Putin had a good understanding of exploiting. Had she simply campaigned in some rural and small town areas, that would have made a world of difference just like it had for Obama even with his very minimal small town campaigning. Just like it did for Trump. Yang's idea of $1,000 stimulus checks would be so beneficial to everyone at the poverty level. Especially rural Americans who could use a predictable, stable, and reliable income. Hilary really did not provide any positive ideas for improving rural life. And thus I still hold to the idea that Hilary Clinton was also a driving force of wedge politics. She also encouraged the urban vs. rural divide. And that is currently still a HUGE problem.
I appreciate that Professor Snyder closed his essay with some thoughts about the state of journalism and reporting; "We speak about the news all day, but pay almost no one to get out and report it. This rewards people who lie as a way of life. Every political career demands investigation at its beginnings, and most American counties lack a daily newspaper. That is where we are, and it has to change.'
For the past several years I've joined many folks supporting the Montana Free Press a digital newspaper that has grown from a one person operation to an organization with a dozen full time editors and reporters as well as a half dozen part time reporters. The Press' mission is to produce in-depth public-service journalism that creates positive change and helps move society toward justice and equity; to bring to light essential news stories that might otherwise never be reported. I began supporting the MTFP in earnest soon after I read "On Tyranny".
"Trump has trained Republicans, and a large part of the American people, in just these mental habits."
Trump walked right in when the job was almost done for him, if not already done. Putin took years too. Cognitive dissonance in regard to partisanship, not caring and lacking curiosity, laziness in thinking, ignorance or lack of education. To be trained in mental habits to me means having an opening to have a vacuum or need filled. Putin, Trump both know almost instinctively what they must do or through history perhaps (Putin reads). They "harvest" this by weaving tales ( lies) and soothing; they appeal to the lower nature in people and make them feel okay. They offer purpose and belonging as well as an outlet to hate others. So many seem to be easy marks for such selfish and destructive purpose. So many are habitually fearful and vulnerable and ready to have the wool pulled over their eyes.
The level of cognitive dissonance required to remain Republican in 2023 is astounding.
The antidotes to lies are accountability and consequences. It does not matter if we are discussing Trump's, Putin's, or a six-year old child's relatively inconsequential lies in response to the "who did that" question. In every case the antidote to lies are accountability and consequences.
It is particularly important that when lies are so disruptive to the social fabric of our society that they become threatening to large numbers of us that accountability and consequences should be as swift and serious as possible.
Let us all hope that 2023 sees swift accountability and serious consequences for both Trump's and Putin's lies.
I think one of the characteristics of authoritarian governance is to force people to say things that they know to be false..The lie I tell is an index of the power that forces me to lie.
Timothy Snyder, I'm a huge fan of yours -- ever since reading "On Tyranny" back in 2017. (I gave it to everyone that year.) Every time I see the typos in your Substack posts, I wince in pain. You deserve better! I'm offering my copy editing services, should you ever require them. Happy New Year from your admirer, Jamie.
It seems to be lies and discrepancies. Watching the vote for House Speaker, Nicolle Wallace finally said the 20 members-elect are not ‘rebels’, they are coup plotters and insurrectionists who tried to overthrow our Democracy. Santos is such a sick liar he posted yesterday that he had been sworn in. Trump and Putin are pure evil manipulators, ‘The Road To Unfreedom,’ lays this out clearly. I recommend your book to everyone I know and meet. What a horror show we are in
"Once factual truth is no defense in politics, all that remains is spectacle and force."
We are watching this play out on the House floor this week.
Side note: The photo of the soldier reading your book is Everything.
Excellent, timely read. Republicans in the House, as the try to elect a Speaker, keep saying, “This place is broken,” referring to the House, and/or Washington. In truth it is the broken Republican Party that is doing all it can to destroy our government.
Side note: Thank you for your class on The Making of Modern Ukraine. A fascinating history!
Photo of the year.
Incredible, indeed.
Reading your essays and other learned historians like Sarah Kendzior and Andrea Chalupa, has made me smarter. The fact that Sarah and Andrea are not paid by a corporation, means that they speak the truth. Your books, On Tyranny and The Road to Unfreedom, speak truth to power. Missing is “The Fairness Doctrine” and more independent journalists to tell the truth.
I was in a Republican senator’s office in 2018 and called them out on a lie they were arguing. And ultimately I said, if we can’t agree on the truth there is nothing left. And that was it. Nothing.
It was gutting.
I hate Trump, but I still say that for rural people at the poverty level Hilary Clinton would not have made any improvements in their lives. And that is something else Putin had a good understanding of exploiting. Had she simply campaigned in some rural and small town areas, that would have made a world of difference just like it had for Obama even with his very minimal small town campaigning. Just like it did for Trump. Yang's idea of $1,000 stimulus checks would be so beneficial to everyone at the poverty level. Especially rural Americans who could use a predictable, stable, and reliable income. Hilary really did not provide any positive ideas for improving rural life. And thus I still hold to the idea that Hilary Clinton was also a driving force of wedge politics. She also encouraged the urban vs. rural divide. And that is currently still a HUGE problem.
The death of local journalism may be the death knell for our country.
I appreciate that Professor Snyder closed his essay with some thoughts about the state of journalism and reporting; "We speak about the news all day, but pay almost no one to get out and report it. This rewards people who lie as a way of life. Every political career demands investigation at its beginnings, and most American counties lack a daily newspaper. That is where we are, and it has to change.'
For the past several years I've joined many folks supporting the Montana Free Press a digital newspaper that has grown from a one person operation to an organization with a dozen full time editors and reporters as well as a half dozen part time reporters. The Press' mission is to produce in-depth public-service journalism that creates positive change and helps move society toward justice and equity; to bring to light essential news stories that might otherwise never be reported. I began supporting the MTFP in earnest soon after I read "On Tyranny".
Love the photograph!n
This is very interesting. Thank you. Just a suggestion, though, to correct the typos. They are very distracting.
"Trump has trained Republicans, and a large part of the American people, in just these mental habits."
Trump walked right in when the job was almost done for him, if not already done. Putin took years too. Cognitive dissonance in regard to partisanship, not caring and lacking curiosity, laziness in thinking, ignorance or lack of education. To be trained in mental habits to me means having an opening to have a vacuum or need filled. Putin, Trump both know almost instinctively what they must do or through history perhaps (Putin reads). They "harvest" this by weaving tales ( lies) and soothing; they appeal to the lower nature in people and make them feel okay. They offer purpose and belonging as well as an outlet to hate others. So many seem to be easy marks for such selfish and destructive purpose. So many are habitually fearful and vulnerable and ready to have the wool pulled over their eyes.