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Comment by verdverm | Hacker News Reader

> What has he done that is any more undemocratic than previous presidents?

Can you recall any other instance where FoxNews boycotted the White House press pool in support of left wing media outlets?

That is unprecedented as far as I know. What did Trump do that inspired FoxNews to make this choice?

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The executive (1/3rd of the government) being capricious with the press is _undoubtedly_ embarrassing and unamerican, but is so far away from the behavior of a true monarch that the name "no kings" is still farcical at best.

That's one example, there are daily reminders to why "NoKings" has staying power as a movement, compared to the Indivisible brand. I suggest watching a full segment from the oval office, listen to the things that preoccupy his mind.

I do agree there is a ton of hyperbolics in NoKings / Indivisible / the left. I work within these organizations, enduring it, to temper their messages and opinions. Minds are moved in real life while biases are reinforced online. It's hard to forget there is another human with different experiences when you sit face to face.

Oh my parents and their partners go to all the no kings rallies. I can see the size of the movement dwindling over time. I'm very happy someone is attempting to temper though, because, as I've said for a decade now, the hyperbolics drive way more support for your opponents than they do for your cause.

Both extremes are shrinking, independents grow. This is a good thing. The far left and hard right do not represent the majority of people.

Occupy Oligarchy, we are the 99%

Heck yeah, I appreciate you!

The way out starts with community. I cannot understate how much getting involved has positively impacted my life. We have to interact with those different from us if we are to find collaboration and compromise.

'the press' is seen as a pillar of democracy, without which the rest of things fall apart.

it's more important than you make it seem.

the press still exists. they just dont let them sit in the special little room that they livestream from.

Here are some things Obama did that were unprecedented or very concerning regarding the press:

* Obama extensively used the Espionage Act to uncover government sources used by the press and also against the press directly

* Obama secretly subpoenaed the phone calls of AP reporters

* Obama didn't allow or severely restricted photojournalists

I don't think that it is good to ban the media from the White House, and I do think the much of the criticism is fair, but to then claim that this is undemocratic is wrong.

Both parties, the oligarchy, are the problem. Power continues to concentrate in the President, Congress does nothing. SCOTUS polls marginally better, the Press has ceased fulfilling their role. Wealth inequality reached an all time high in America. We The People are furious for varied and valid reasons.

Occupy Oligarchy, we are the 99%

I do think there's a problem and certainly agree with the general sentiment. I also do think we probably have it better than most other countries. So, perhaps we can deal with the oligarchy and fraud within our system. I do think that is what led many to vote for Trump, in that they feel failed by both parties and Trump was an outsider, similar to Bernie's ascendance.

I agree, I have not heard it put better than The Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel. It goes beyond party politics to the failures of Liberal Democracy stemming from its own success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp5qsEuUOWo

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