It shouldn’t be. The vast improvements in America since 1776 shouldn’t be up for dispute. Freedom of religion, equality for all (however poorly applied in practice), the end of slavery, effective treatments for countless diseases — these should be the baseline. Instead, there are right-wingers such as racist, misogynist preacher John MacArthur and Joel Webbon (who believes America belongs to white people) who would happily undo it all so they can feel being white with a penis makes them special (as I’ve said before, patriarchy makes you stupid and mean; so does racism). Plus anti-vax crackpots such as RFK (or this guy). As someone said many years ago, if slavery became legal again tomorrow there’d immediately be people driving around with chains in their trucks looking to make money.
Defending the gains humanity has made wastes a lot of energy we could be spending making things better. But it has to be done. The same is true of keeping Republicans out of power. The Felon has made it clear he’s done with democracy, freedom of speech, everything if he gets into office again; Republicans are there with him. Assuming we beat them Tuesday (and in whatever violence and court cases follow—though Cheryl Rofer thinks that’s overstated as a threat) we’ll have to keep doing it. Endless struggle to maintain a functioning democracy isn’t anything I look forward to. For the moment, it’s a necessity, so if you haven’t voted, do it tomorrow (assuming you’re not voting for Trump).
There’s no guarantee anyone now fawning on Trump, such as Kennedy or Musk, will get a post in his administration. Trump has no qualms about stabbing his toadies in the back. But it will be someone bad. They’re now advocating for the economy to crash and getting rid of vaccines. Not to mention ruining Obamacare (“Free market” seems to be a euphemism for letting insurers charge more for pre-existing conditions). And for networks that criticize Trump to lose their broadcast license.
While religious conservatives lie about Harris suppressing Christianity, they’ll happily do it to Christians who disagree with them. To say nothing of the increased calls for violence, including from Trump (which Newsmax thinks are awesome). To Republican fascists, everyone who disagrees with them is the enemy within.
Trump is definitely losing it mentally, but that just gives more of an opening for JD Vance, “the most unqualified man ever to run for vice president” to seize power. And Vance is one nasty piece of work.
I have no idea of the outcome Tuesday. And given all the factors, including just the work of counting ballots, it may be a while before we know for sure. But I agree with Jennifer Rubin, it’s not hopeless. Harris has run an amazing campaign; Trump has been incompetent. Between the electoral college and the voters who think Trump will be better for their wallet or actually want to persecute immigrants or establish a Christian state, that may not be enough … but maybe it will. Don’t give up, ever.
