The Heightening Intensity of Assaults on American Democracy
Here’s a quick memory test: Before the elections in November, 2016, what was the biggest threat to American democracy?It’s not that easy, is it? Your mind goes instantly to all the assaults of government-by-the-people that have come since: Trump’s day-to-day attack on the free press, his baseless accusation of massive voter fraud (“3 – 5 million ballots cast by illegal aliens” with exactly zero evidence), and the heightening of systemic voter suppression via a variety of tools:
• Impediments to voter registration
• Photo ID laws
• Purging of voter rolls
• Limitations on early voting
• Felon disenfranchisement
• Transgender disenfranchisement
• Disinformation about voting procedures
• Inequality in Election Day resources
• Closure of DMV offices
• Gerrymandering
• Jim Crow laws
• Off-year elections
The correct answer is the U.S. Supreme Court’s horrendous Citizens United decision. Today is the eighth anniversary of the ruling that enables a handful of big money donors to control who is elected and what is debated in Congress.
Yes, we need to rid ourselves of Trump and his full frontal assault on democracy, but we’d be foolish to think this will bring an end to our system-wide corruption.
The link above goes to the several dozens posts here on Citizens United, and how I erroneously believed as recently as mid-2016 that the decision would soon be reversed/overturned. Now, it’s all we can do to remember that it even exists, given the daily screed of hateful nonsense spewing from our president’s cell phone.
Craig,
The term “assault on democracy”, is misused to support political agendas. The term has lost all meaning becoming a trite cliche for “Not enough people agree with me, people should be compelled to do what I want !).
Citizens United was a great decision by the US Supreme Court as are all decisions which increase the participation of all elements of society in the electoral process. The more inclusive and overt the process of electing representatives, the more stable and effective the sytem of governance.
In reality, “democracy” is pretty hard to define. Most nations settle for elected representative government. Those who can’t gather enough votes to elect a majority of officials always cry “we was robbed” ! (Although the left tend to be more hysterical when refusing to accept defeat than conservatives).
All electoral processes should strive to accurately reflect the interests of all social elements. Obviously, such a task is impossible to achieve within a rigid format. .
In the end, it’s the voter and the voter alone, who will decide.
Little or nothing on your list of “assaults on Democracy”, originated or increased or as a result of the election of the current President. Most of the items on your list are State issues or practices of long standing. Blaming the President for issues beyond his control is disingenuous.
The US has a long history of electoral fraud occurring from time to time. (President Kennedy was probably elected due to voter fraud). The President ordered an inquiry which largely rejected the magnitude of his claims and the need for drastic action, that’s not an “assault on democracy, quite the opposite.
It’s hardly a new concept to require voters to prove identity, just a sad fact of modern life.
If the level of public discourse has degenerated in recent years, it’s not just the President to blame. The abusive language used against the President is equal or more vile than his own. (so far at least he hasn’t advocating murdering his opponents, yet several of his opponents, even elected Democrat legislators, have called for killing the president and his family !)
In your outrage, you have failed to notice how extreme and abusive your own language has become ! It’s an easy trap to fall into. The justification being your opponent is so nasty that you give yourself permission to act just as nastily. The problem is you may find yourself becoming a little nastier.
Today, America politics, American media and public discourse has deteriorated to childish political point-scoring and hypocrisy.
If the Democrats in Congress really want to secure permanency for “Dreamer rights” they have the power to do so with legislation. Enough Republican legislators have indicated support to ensure the existing bill will pass into law with President Trump’s publicly stated support.
Insistence by Democrats the President continue with an Obama era temporary Presidential Fiat, which probably can’t survive the impending Court challenge, is cynical political opportunism.
The hypocritical and cynical outrage of by Democrats at the President’s vernacular description of Haiti and some African nations, displays only a elitist willingness to cynically play politics at the nations expense.
The overwhelming majority of Americans agree with the President’s description and believe it accurate. There will be those who feel a President’s language should be less robust and more refined, while others will appreciate a President who not a professional politician and speaks the language of ordinary folk in private.
Once all the sensationalism has died down, I don’t believe the American public will endorse the behaviour of experienced Legislators pretending to take offense and run to the media crying “Oooh, the President just said a rude word, I’m telling mommy !”.
With the US economy reviving to an unexpected degree, opposition legislators risk incurring electoral displeasure for putting hypocritical political gains before the economic welfare of the nation.
It’s an opportunity for the President and Republicans to gain respect by standing firm.
BTW,
Love the picture of a Tasmanian Devil ! ( amazing little animal :))
Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)nearly drove the animal into extinction, but an intense effort by the Tasmanian, Feral Australian Government and the tirelessness of many, many volunteers has seen the population of immunized Devils rebound.
Sadly, in a different era when appreciation for conserving such precious animals, the other remarkable marsupial hailing from it’s last Australian refuge in Tasmania was driven to extinction. The thylacine was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. Commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger there are always those who hope against hope it still exists in the Wild forests in the South West of the Island.
mp – you state, “Citizens United was a great decision by the US Supreme Court” – thanks for that useful confession of your opinion.
Cameron,
Not a “confession”, just an opinion. ( Careful, I may send my tame Devil round to explain it to you ! 🙂 )