Do you agree?

12 May 2022, 03:03 PM

Amanda

Do you agree?

https://www.washingtonpost.com...reat-jan6-elections/

quote:
We’re in danger of losing our democracy. Most Americans are in denial.

A year after the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol, a CNN poll asked whether it’s likely “that, in the next few years, some elected officials will successfully overturn the results of an election.” Fifty-one percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Democrats said it’s not at all likely. Only 46 percent of Democrats and independents said that U.S. democracy is under attack, which helps to explain why Democratic candidates aren’t campaigning on defending democracy...

Republicans have succeeded in restricting voting rights in 19 states. Democrats have failed to protect voting rights at the national level because they can’t break a Senate filibuster. Meanwhile at least 23 supporters of the "big lie" — which holds that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump — are running for secretary of state posts to oversee elections in 19 states. Other election deniers are joining election boards...

Fealty to the "big lie" has become a litmus test for GOP candidates because it has become gospel for Republican voters. More than 70 percent of Republicans regard Biden’s victory as illegitimate. Despite all the damning details that have emerged...

The rest of this WP columnist's opinion piece is interesting too, though much of it is admittedly, one man's opinion (while including telling quotes from former"Trumpkins").

This CNN poll statistic (headline to letter) is both appalling and incredible to me. What do WTF members think about this risk?

(I was unable to turn this into a poll, so I just hope you guys will provide your thoughts in replies.)

*bolding and italics mine

12 May 2022, 03:28 PM

piqué

I can't read the article because of the paywall. (I recently cancelled my WAPO subscriptions because, well, I wasn't reading it). But to the general question of, are we in danger of losing our democracy? Absolutely yes.

If you aren't already reading Heather Cox Richardson's daily "Letters from an American" (you can subscribe for free), then I suggest you do so. A highly regarded historian, she provides an incisive perspective on what is happening, writing history as it is happening.

12 May 2022, 05:25 PM

rontuner

Far down the slippery slope...

12 May 2022, 05:56 PM

wtg

Here's a gift link for those without WaPo subscriptions.

https://wapo.st/3wnV90S

Can't remember if it's WaPo or NYT that limits the time that it can be read....but it's still like a couple of weeks...

12 May 2022, 11:04 PM

Steve Miller

We got through the 60’s.

We’ll get through this too.

13 May 2022, 12:25 AM

piqué

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Miller:
We got through the 60’s.

We’ll get through this too.

Well this proves the second part of the headline is correct.

13 May 2022, 11:52 AM

CHAS

quote:
Originally posted by piqué:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Miller:
We got through the 60’s.

We’ll get through this too.

Well this proves the second part of the headline is correct.

13 May 2022, 04:30 PM

Mikhailoh

So the choices are:

1. Agree

2. You're in denial.

Kind of a two-headed coin there.

13 May 2022, 05:09 PM

Amanda

Personally, I think we've already lost our democracy between the abuse of the electoral college, packing the Supreme Court, voter blocking, the (brilliant but awful) redistricting and gerrymandering and income polarization which has basically left us with an autocracy - perhaps as a prelude to a totalitarian state.

(And that's without even dealing with the specific events of January 6th and how the last election was handled.)

Worship of the Constitution when literal interpretations no longer make sense (for example the electoral college and gun control) has IMO paved the way to many modern undemocratic outcomes.