A Democracy in peril?

As primaries across the country have ended with the last being in New Hampshire, election deniers are the winners. The most extreme Republican candidates are now on the ballot for offices across the country.  

We are at a critical juncture, and it is time for all of us to seriously understand what is happening.  

The rule of law is under attack.  

Although we may be talking about a few strategically-placed individuals, one happens to be the former President of the United States who has openly stated, very recently that should he be reelected to the “top job” he plans to pardon those individuals who have been found guilty of crimes related to the violent attack on our Capitol where the seat of our democracy is represented.  In another jaw-dropping comment on Sept.15, the former President said, “something very bad would happen” should any of the current investigations into his activities, result in an actual indictment.  

“The American people would not stand for it,” he continued, during an interview aired on the FOX News network.    

These signs and indicators suggest that our democracy could, indeed, be in peril. Why might one ask? Eighty million Americans did not want the return of an administration whose leader told 20,000 lies while in office. Yet, we are learning, daily that there are those among us who relish the return of this, out of control, destructive behavior, and it’s devastating effects on our democracy. We are still reeling from the news about top secret documents being removed from the White House by the former President who is shamelessly arguing that the documents belong to him.  

Such madness.   

Now we are learning that law enforcement, political figures, and people in governmental leadership position are members of the extremist group, Oath Keepers, as names were leaked to the public, exposing their hypocrisy, according to an article recently published in the Washington Post, revealing this news to the public.  

In May, during as Aspen Institute conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the audience, “I want the Republican Party to take back the party, take it back to where you were when you cared about a woman’s right to choose, you cared about the environment…This country needs a strong Republican Party. And we do. Not a cult.  But a strong Republican Party.”  Pelosi’s comments echoed a sentiment that Joe Biden had expressed during the 2020 campaign; If Donald Trump were out of the White House, the GOP would return to normal and be amenable to forging deals and legislative compromises.  Nothing could be further from the truth as we see for ourselves, a national party in disarray.  

Although 80 million voted in 2020 to change our fate, the current GOP, with its cultlike embrace of Trump, his “Big Lie” and the acceptance of the fringiest players, is a break from the GOP as it was known. Our own state has a Trump endorsed candidate for Senate.

Locally, we need candidates who are willing to stand up against the status quo by doing whatever is necessary to bring about positive change. Our neighboring Chatham County, for example, is amid an economic boom with the recent announcement of a new semiconductor plant that will provide 1,800 new jobs for a county with a population of 73,000. Additionally, that county can also look forward to thousands of “HALO” jobs, new positions created to help support the new industry.  

That could be us. 

The powerful in our county, should not be able to use their influence to get individuals elected then, make demands that only benefit them. Candidates are not for sale and longevity is not a reason to keep a status quo candidate in office.

Although the current administration is extremely successful with many legislative successes, extreme Republican governors (Abbott in Texas and DeSantis in Florida) are misleading immigrants into boarding buses and planes supposedly for a better lives.  Instead, men, women and children escaping trauma in their own countries, are being exploited and used as pawns to politicize a failed immigration system (blame goes to many administrations, both Republican and Democrat) as evidenced by Gov. DeSantis having their arrival filmed and televised so that the world could see, as a way of gaining favor from voter’s who still want a “wall” built to keep out immigrants. I can only pray that everyone can see this abuse for what it is.   

Remember, this is a “sideshow” designed to distract us from what is important. The real message let’s not get distracted.   

We do, however, see what awaits all of us if we do not elect those who will protect our way of life as a democracy capable of embracing all of humanity.   

For now, let’s educate ourselves on the candidates. Support those who have a record of producing for the community and the state. Encourage everyone you know to vote.  

And, if you deplore gridlock and appreciate the legislative successes, vote for Democrats.