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BRATTLEBORO — Tim Kipp, a former Brattleboro Union High School history teacher, will be at the Marlboro Community Center on Thursday, June 5, to lead an open discussion about current political events and ask the question, "can it happen here."

Kipp taught history and political science at BUHS for 39 years and has been a political activist since the 1960s.

"Today the forces of wealth and power are wielding unprecedented weapons that threaten the fundamentals of the republic," Kipp said in a news release. "It’s not just policies and government departments that are under assault, but the very foundations of our democracy."

Organized by We Celebrated Democracy Civil Rights For All, the presentation will provide opportunities for discussion. The event will be filmed and made available on BCTV and YouTube. 

“Can It Happen Here?” is the title of the 1935 Sinclair Lewis novel about a fascist takeover of the country. In the throes of the Great Depression the economic and political system seemed vulnerable to extremist attacks. The question has emerged again. This presentation explores the current crisis confronting the political economy of the United States.

Kipp explores the coup fomented by the Trump and Republican regime’s assault on the foundations of our democracy, according to the release. While never historically a strong democratic system, he says the U.S. has embodied the principle ideals of self-governance and therefor has always held the possibility of real democratic potential.

This lecture will not examine the daily depredations of the current government but rather will concentrate on the assaults on the structural and principle foundations of our government. This is not a palace revolt that merely changes the people in charge. This is not an undemocratic attack, rather it’s an antidemocratic attack, according to the release.

Focus will be on the concentrations of economic and political authority, the ignoring of constitutional principles, the dysfunctional nature of the legislative and judicial branches, the executive disdain for legislative oversight and lawmaking powers, and the collapse of the already constrictive political party system.

This event is free and open to the public. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 534 South Road.

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