What’s happening to our federal government, I mean. I’m identifying it as a putsch, more specifically a Putz* Putsch.
It’s another thing I grasped from Babylon Berlin, which dramatically details the 1930 attempted overthrow of Hitler by the Nazi SA leader, Walter Stennes. That failed, as you might surmise.
The important thing I got from this was a reminder of what such an uprising is called: “Putsch.” Here is the definition I found through Perplexity.com:
Putsch
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Derived from Swiss German, meaning “knock” or “push”.
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Often associated with unsuccessful, clumsily executed attempts to seize power.
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Typically involves a minority reactionary group.
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Usually implies a sudden, violent action with less sophisticated planning.
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May involve paramilitary groups or armed militias rather than the official military.
Now, let’s contrast that with…
Coup (a/k/a Coup d’État)
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French term meaning “blow to the state.”
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Generally implies a well-executed, successful takeover.
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Usually conducted by those already close to power, such as military forces or political elites.
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Often occurs quickly, within a few hours.
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Requires broader cooperation from various sectors of society to consolidate power.
*For those who for some weird reason don’t know the definition of “putz,” here (again from Perplexity) it is:
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Yiddish Slang: Pronounced “putts,” it carries a negative connotation, typically referring to a foolish, contemptible, or inept person. In vulgar slang, it can also refer to a penis.
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Verb: In U.S. English, “putz” can also be used as a verb meaning to waste time.