"They joined what they joined."

[AverageOldGuy]

One day Trump’s attempt to establish a dictatorship in the US — supported by about 40 percent of the population – will be over and the rest of us will have to restore our democratic republic.

The question then will be how to deal with Trump’s followers. The example of Nazi Germany after WW II may be instructive.

“Historians have a word for Germans who joined the Nazi party, not because they hated Jews, but out of a hope for restored patriotism, or a sense of economic anxiety, or a hope to preserve their religious values, or dislike of their opponents, or raw political opportunism, or convenience, or ignorance, or greed.

That word is “Nazi.” Nobody cares about their motives anymore.

They joined what they joined. They lent their support and their moral approval. And, in so doing, they bound themselves to everything that came after. Who cares any more what particular knot they used in the binding?”

― A.R. Moxon

When Trump and his dictatorship are gone, and we are faced with dealing with his supporters, remember this:

“They joined what they joined.”

Then, treat them accordingly.

[CrispyQ]

1. I don't have any confidence we'll be tough enough. -nt

[Iggo]

4. That's because we're not coming off ten years of killing each other by the millions.

And I think I’m okay with that. (And by “that” I mean not hanging them from lamp posts.)

[rampartd]

16. they have each earned a lamp post of their own

but we are too easy on these people.

[cachukis]

2. Am reluctant to break friendships with this sentiment.

May have to.

[FoxNewsSucks]

3. Unless they can publicly admit they were wrong,

and sorry, fuck 'em.

[paleotn]

7. I'd have a really hard time accepting even that. They've gone too far.

[calimary]

9. THAT is the one redeeming quality.

They need to admit, publicly, that they were WRONG. And that they made a huge mistake based on what was pretty clearly the preferences of a segment of the public, NOT all the public. Not a large segment of the population. It’s a smaller group. And I suspect it’s already shrinking. Maybe not enough to be noticeable, but I bet it’s getting there. And I think it’ll be gathering momentum as the weeks pass.

[the nelm]

5. If what happened to the to the surviving Confederates after Civil War is anything to go by,

we're likely doomed to repeat the same mistakes once again. Bad as that may sound. Thing is we are still in some ways, a 150 years later, dealing with that same mindset.

[paleotn]

6. Some things are unforgivable.

Harsh, yes, but there are some things that are so far beyond the pale that forgiveness is impossible. Consciously shitting on our democracy, and the countless Americans who died to preserve liberty, in order to setup some half ass autocracy is one of them. And it's not even a remotely competent autocracy. It's led by one of the dumbest, most vile excuses for a human ever to live. The unpardonable sin. His followers, no matter how rank or file, should never be allowed to escape it.

[KS Toronado]

8. Told a Gropenfuhrer MAGAt a couple weeks ago......

" 10 years from now you'll be telling everybody you was smart enough not to vote for him "

[Martin68]

10. Exactly. they are just Nazis.

[moniss]

11. Excellent points and

"de-Nazification" was a hard lesson for many Germans and it lives on even today in the descendants in Germany. Although some are trying to bring back an influence of the hard right fascism the aftermath of it is so deep in the memory of older Germans that they have come out in demonstrations against the AfD where they had not been demonstrators about much before. Here is a link to some letters to The Guardian about the rise of fascism among some in Germany and excellent points about some of the factors used to "sway' people and some factors that seduce people. Also a link to an excellent article written by young journalists about this rise in Germany.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/29/key-factors-in-the-unstoppable-rise-of-fascists-in-germany

https://youth.europa.eu/news/fascism-rise-germany-whats-driving-young-and-old-streets-today_en

[popsdenver]

12. With trump starting to screw them

my feelings towards all the MAGAot Voters is:

You grew it, you chew it, MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH........

[czarjak]

13. Or,

The Klansmen will find out they aren't pure enough?

[3825-87867]

14. I believe England once sent their "problems" to Australia

Shame there are no empty continents to "deport" the American Nazis to. Of course, there's always the moon or...Musk's Mars!
Deportation of American Nazi Sympathizers and trumpers...has an "even up" ring to it.

Greenland? Maybe a deal with Russia to deport them to a couple of those rather frigid islands above the Arctic Circle?
Deport American Nazis and trump sympathizers...2029 ICE? Turn-about is fair play.
They can become "rational anarchists" ala 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" in the cold.

Just letting them know might be enough for some. However, there are others who will never capitulate. Miller, Vought et al. They can learn about cold weather survival. More humane than El Salvador.

[hay rick]

15. Treat them like adults who are responsible for their actions.

They betrayed their country. They betrayed you and me.