We are watching the slow death of democracy

When our Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution establishing our nation’s democratic government in 1789, they likely doubted whether it would last 235 years.

However, despite being exposed to severe trials many times, it has survived. Despite its many pitfalls, it has been preserved and continues to evolve, improving the lives of its citizens.

The Civil War severely tested our strength, but the abolition of slavery made this country a much better place. Similarly, the Voting Rights Act gave more people a voice in government, and improving individual rights under the Fourteenth Amendment made life much better for many disenfranchised people. It became bearable.

But these days, we are faced with the unpleasant reality that government agencies can no longer function in our best interests.

There are many reasons for this. But the single salient fact is that unless both parties, Democrats and Republicans, are able to communicate and negotiate civilly and respectfully to solve the many problems we face, That democracy doesn’t work. Extreme political beliefs without respect for opposing views are a death sentence for democracy. These sentiments percolate from political circles to the general public, creating an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and even hatred towards those who hold different opinions.

There is much to condemn, but the sad fact today is that the leadership of the major political parties is actively and openly advocating a shift to an authoritarian and dictatorial form of government.

The Republican Party has not been a political party that has played such an important role in our history since the end of the Civil War. Traditional beliefs such as small, non-intrusive governments, strong defenses, loyalty to allies, and religious and personal freedoms without government intrusion are a thing of the past, all of which I fully support. To do. Their replacement is a shift toward white Christian nationalism, isolationism and non-engagement with other countries, abandonment of allies, and rejection of just immigration policies.

We tried this in the 1930s. It caused World War II and millions of people died. Donald Trump, the leader of today’s movement, is not capable of doing this on his own. He has many advisors, some of whom he inherited from his first administration. Although their first attempt to seize power on January 6, 2021 failed, they now have a deeper understanding of the fragility of democracy and how to succeed.

We can now add the Supreme Court, supposed to be the ultimate defender of democracy, to the list of partisan groups that have shown no willingness to defend democracy. Throughout history, any authoritarian form of government has only benefited those in power. To maintain power, leaders restrict the rights to free speech and the press, bring the military and police under their control, quickly silence dissent, and gradually seize state assets for themselves. We need to make it our own. wealth.

For me, I have only one goal in the upcoming election. Fifty years ago, I didn’t risk my life for this country just to watch a would-be dictator destroy our democracy and the Constitution that supports it. In November, there are only two conditions I ask of the people who vote. It means having a sincere desire to uphold democracy and pledging to carry out your duties with civility and civility. I do not intend to exempt some Republicans from these requirements. I know there are still great people out there. But if they are not strong enough to resist this slide into chaos and anarchy, I will not support them.

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