Update: November 1, 2022 The attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband by politically motivated man is just another example of what we can expect if voters do not slap down those who inspire violence to gain political power. For much of the mid terms cycle, the issue of keeping democracy as our form of governance has been expresses as democracy v autocracy. Ho hum. The gist of the column was that the consequence of Trumpism and the Trump base was not an autocracy, but more violence to determine the outcome of an election in th future. The question should be reframed as it is a choice of who will govern us, not as democracy v autocracy, but as democracy v violence, of vote in fair and free elections or be government by threats of terrorism and violence. Last night, Rachel Maddow framed the choice in those stark terms: democracy v violence.
There are still more voters who could grasp the importance of preserving democracy if the debate of democracy v Autocracy and the threat of Trumpism to democracy, but the argument needs to be framed in terms of real-life consequences.
One of the real fears I have had for the Democrats to argue the reason that they are defending democracy is the political science and history case (remember Hitler, Mussolini and how they rose to power) that it is not appealing to enough voters. There are still some voters on the fence but the argumentation is just too intellectual, long-term, and speculative for many. and that 39% still believe that Trump was no threat to democracy, per an August 2022 New York Times/Siena poll. 37% of independents believe likewise. The fear of autocracy and the potential subversion of democracy needs to be put in terms of how it will hurt them and their own daily lives. The Trumpsters, on the other hand, say they are defending democracy by fighting fraud at the ballot box. Evidence that not enough fraud occurred to change the outcome of 2020 gets explained away by believing in all kinds of theories without evidence, paranoid speculation, and delusions. Per the Siena poll, 76% of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen. What is disturbing is an undercurrent of belief now more openly expressed is that an autocracy, rule by a person instead of the rule of law, is just fine with some if it is "our" autocrat we like who supports our beliefs and goals, "It is Ok.. We will get our way faster and more certain, so bring it on." Voters inclined to prefer authoritarian government are around 26% of all voters per a June 2021 Morning Consult poll. 26% of Americans Are Highly 'Right-Wing Authoritarian,' New Poll Finds (businessinsider.com)
Examples of real-life consequences of an attempt to establish an autocracy could be presented like this: We have already seen what happened on January 6: violence and riots. We have seen what happened to the free and fair election process with an attempt to count only certain votes and ignore the popular votes. We have seen the death threats and intimidation of poll workers and election administrators who refused to lie or to violate rules and laws to tip the election results to the loser. Your vote may assume to be for "the other side" and may not be fairly counted. Is the use of violence, threats, intimidation, and chaos to determine who won and who lost what you want to see happen in the future.? That uncertainty, that fear of violence, that failure of trust in the election system means a destabilized country. That distrust was the creation of Trump backers in the last four years, The exhortation and acceptance of violence and threats of violence as a political tool is a recent development and new in the experience of those alive today.
The ability to go to the polls and be certain the process will be fair, your vote will be counted as reported correctly, and you will not be harassed and intimidated, or unnecessarily inconvenienced is a fundamental key to democracy. . The ability to be certain your vote still gives you the power to voice the direction of governance is your fundamental right in a democracy that has been taken for granted until now. Keeping that trust depends on more than just faith, it now requires assurance no one "fixed" the computers or no election officials gave access to the cast ballots solely to the supporters of candidates they favor.
For those who support Trump because it benefits their business interests, consider this: There is nothing worse than instability, conflict, fear, and uncertainty to damage the business climate. If you are willing to ignore the threat of democracy's end because you like Trummpist policies that help your business, a strong democracy equates to strong capitalism, where an element of fairness and rules and laws are followed by all. and observed impartially in the courts. Justice is not just for those who support and contribute money to a strong leader who determines the winners and losers in business as well as in politics..
How Educational Differences Are Widening America’s Political Rift - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Many American Voters Want to Upend System, Poll Finds - The New York Times (nytimes.com) The poll cited asked if voters thought Trump was a danger to democracy. '''Among all voters, 49 percent said the Capitol riot was an attempt to overthrow the government. Another 55 percent said Mr. Trump’s actions after the 2020 election had threatened American democracy. As with so many other issues, voters saw the riot through the same partisan lens as other issues" Siena Poll: 37% of independents still believe Trump was not a threat and 76% of Republicans also believe Trump was no threat to democracy.
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