General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat next? after the election
Start off with the best outcome. Biden wins, his coattails give us a majority in the Senate, or at least the tie braking vote with Harris, we also keep the house.
So what next, specifically what do we do with the genie that Trump let loose. Do we need a truth and reconciliation commission like South Africa? How do we put this country back together. I want to prosecute Trump to the fullest extent that we can, add in all his abetters in that pot. So that's not the question. The question is what about your Aunt Sue, Uncle Don, your co-worker, neighbor. How are we to react, rebuild. Jumping up and down yelling we WIN, you LOST, is not going to mend a fence, change a mind, start a healing process. We need to begin to think of the other outcome, we win, now what (again not the political agenda, that's already in the party platform).
Trump has united all the worst that we have in this country, people who were shunned for their opinions prior our racists, conspiracy theorists, and fascists. I don't think they will crawl back and lick their wounds, even it they did, I don't think that just hoping they will go away is a good idea.
I truly don't have a solution, so its a real question. I will say, some you will just remove from your life and never engage with again, but that still leaves around what 30% of our country that is a "problem" even if only 10% of that 30% continue on the way they have been, that a ton of people who can do a ton of damage.
So what do we do?
Thekaspervote
(32,762 posts)And do nothing to address their anger or recognize who fueled it to a fever pitch
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)But seriously, he's leaving a stain that is going to persist for some time. One of the things that has presumably attracted many of his followers is the sense of power they vicariously experience through him. He has made the weak feel powerful and better about themselves, and given gullible people someone else to blame for their failures. Perhaps, like happens in some cults, when the leader is deposed or humiliated or convicted of a crime, he loses some of his allure, and the followers disseminate back into the cracks and crevices of society, back where they came from, which is to say back to the fringes.
Now there are other factions involved here that won't go away: the Evangelicals, climate-deniers, and some of the racists and gun fanatics. These factions existed before Trump and used him to further their agendas. So probably the elements that pre-date Trump will continue to fight hard against anything we do, but without a central leading authority to coalesce around, they will be in a weakened state.
It goes without saying, we need to win the senate, because some of those forces will continue to coalesce around people like McConnell.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)with russia and ignoring our constitution. Thats the view I am taking so right off the bat:
- a select committee to investigate GOP politicians and operatives for direct collusion with Russia, this includes going back to 2016 for russian money that got to the NRA and other GOP superpacs. The charges should be brought under the UCMJ amd a military tribunal for charges of treason for starters with the appropriate punishment as deserved by traitors
- The immediate implemtation of a Fairness doctrine that covers all forms of communication to the people. Internet, radio, cable, over the air for both video and audio. Foxnews can run 12 hours of propaganda by rightwing as long as they offer equal time and for the counter point
- a FULL purging of all white supremacist, white militia members, american nazis from all publicly paid for jobs from police to military to govt and everything inbetween
- then onto taxcode, religious organization tax exemptions, Citizens United, etc
Calista241
(5,586 posts)the UCMJ does not apply to civilians, and politicians are civilians. I suppose if we control both houses and the Presidency, we could pass a law to change things, but do we want to be seen as implementing a real life purge of our political adversaries? The optics of that are more than terrible.
There isn't a law against being a white supremacist, and it'll be pretty hard to pass one. Especially one that cannot be co-opted by the other side at some later date to persecute us. You basically want to outlaw an ideology, and not really even a political one. It'd be like trying to outlaw people that believe in animal rescue. And then you're talking about firing people from their jobs because someone else thinks they believe a certain way. We tried to outlaw communism in the 50's and even had purges and the Red Scare, and that time is looked at with revulsion today.
The best way to deal with this is education. It's just like healthcare, people HATED the ACA when it passed, but now that they have it, they love it. I understand wanting revenge for inflicting Trump upon us, but implementing a political purge and punishing Americans who might not believe the way we do is not the way to do it.
RazzleCat
(732 posts)I was thinking of reintegration, how do we do it? Your post is all retribution (even if earned). Many of us myself included have neighbors, family etc who are "Trumpers", they may be bad on one side, but great on the other. Case in point, got one neighbor, voted Trump (I don't think he will again), long short, great neighbor, the one you ask to keep an eye on the house when you're out of town. The one that drops off his extra veggies from his garden, yes I have a "Trumper" next door who is a great neighbor. I also have in-laws that are on the q-anon side of Trumpism, (I don't really like them at all), again I will be involved with them for the rest of my life, I can't just go and yell at them, or tell them how dumb they are, no we have to learn to get along, so far the solution is little contact, keep talk to cooking, weather, and well it used to be sports.
The fairness doctrine, that can also lead to the both sides, as in the stupid talks about say climate change, you know the side that explains what it is and the other side that denies it exists, yes that's part of the fairness doctrine. No you need education as to the difference between news and opinion. This is a hobby horse of mine, I want the following instituted, every time any Television Station runs a broadcast that is opinion based so both Hannity and Maddow (love her), to run a chyron the entire time stating that this is opinion, not news, it is conjecture based on news items, not fact. Radio broadcast, how about a top, quarter and bottom of the hour drop, saying the same, what your listening too is an opinion show. Just like news papers have the oped page and the news page, you can have that opinion, but let it be known its not a fact or even news.
UCMJ, is not for civilians, nor should it be.
Purging? I am a retired Federal Employee (also State), in my experience in government positions you always have a chance of redemption, i.e. mentored training, think of it as 3 strikes and your out. (there are exceptions such as violence in the work place) It's not that being a racist will make you a bad employee, no its if they let their racism effect their job interactions (so a cop who abuses and only pulls over people of color, that's a chargeable offense, same with a supervisor who only hires and or promotes white men, again that is allowing their prejudices to effect their job performance). It is the same with religion, I have worked with many very devout persons, I don't care so long as they keep the Bible out of the office. Purging those you disagree with just because you disagree with them is wrong, even if what the believe is evil. Removing them from their job should only be done if they do not perform their job correctly.
Taxes, etc are all in the platform.
TheRealNorth
(9,478 posts)Otherwise, next time they will just hide it better.
jorgevlorgan
(8,291 posts)As opposed to a Biden run doj that would throw everybody in prison who is a criminal and energize their supporters towards violence. Of course the latter would be a lot easier and more likely than the former...
CaptainTruth
(6,589 posts)All the Trumpers will still be here, & I'm sure they'll be mad as hell because their Dear Leader lost & he will tell them the election was stolen, & they'll believe his lies.
For those who are here now, perhaps it comes down to a massive marketing effort, the marketing of ideas & truths, messages, that counter Trumpism. This is something Democrats should be doing, always, anyway.
For younger folks, we must improve our education system if we hope to improve our society. We must teach critical thinking. We must teach young people how to evaluate multiple pieces of information to determine which ones are true & which ones are false. Critical thinking is a skill that can be learned, but we are failing to teach it.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)shanti
(21,675 posts)How did you know that I have an Aunt Sue and Uncle Don (and they're married to each other!)?
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Addressing climate change will create a huge number of jobs. The workers dont even have to believe in it to get a living wage.
Enabling an education that doesnt make you poorer after graduation is also good for MAGATs.
A $15 minimum wage hike will ameliorate a lot of chronic poverty.
The fact is, though, that most of the MAGATs problems are self inflicted, such as racism, religious preferences, sour grapes and self pity. Some of that theyre simply going to have to deal with on their own. But this country will be a better place in a few hard working years.