Opinion: A frantic warning from 100 leading experts: Our democracy is in grave danger

[LetMyPeopleVote]

This is scary

Link to tweet

“Our entire democracy is now at risk,” the scholars write in the statement, which I obtained before its release. “History will judge what we do at this moment.”

And these scholars underscore the crucial point: Our democracy’s long-term viability might depend on whether Democrats reform or kill the filibuster to pass sweeping voting rights protections.

“We urge members of Congress to do whatever is necessary — including suspending the filibuster — in order to pass national voting and election administration standards,” the scholars write, in a reference to the voting rights protections enshrined in the For the People Act, which passed the House and is before the Senate.

What’s striking is that the statement is signed by scholars who specialize in democratic breakdown, such as Pippa Norris, Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky. Other well-known names include Francis Fukuyama and Jacob Hacker....

And so, when these scholars warn that history is watching, those Democrats are the ones who should take heed.

[NH Ethylene]

1. That is the key.

If the GOP succeeds in suppressing and/or altering Dem votes, we will never win another election.

[FoxNewsSucks]

2. It's their goal, and they've almost reached it.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Nah, we're cooked

Filibuster reform will only delay MAGAts until they hold the majority again. It's basically over.

[griffi94]

8. I fear that you are correct.

But it was over when the Fairness Doctrine was eliminated. Lacking any kind of truth or fairness standards
there wasn't any real way to compete with the conservative juggernaut.
There have always been more uninformed, afraid, gullible people than people who critically think.
Mass media and social media have amplified the problem, but it's not a new problem.

[llashram]

4. 1/6/2021

[wnylib]

5. This is why there is no value in the argument

that we need to keep the filibuster in order to protect the power balance of the minority party. Dems will remain forever the minority power if we keep the filibuster now because the R use of the filibuster right now will allow them to continue voter suppression laws. And once the Rs have secured future elections for themselves via the suppression laws they are currently passing, THEY can eliminate the filibuster, denying us any ability to oppose them.

But If we eliminate the filibuster now, we can defeat the voter suppression laws and maintain our democracy by making future elections more inclusive and fair.

[Mr. Ected]

6. Stop worrying about enshrining the filibuster as some sort of sacrosanct constitutional mechanism

And realize that maintaining it will be an existential threat to our very democracy.

We staved off the fascists in 2020, but our victory was slim and their tenacity is unparalleled. Ignorance and hatred have been weaponized and we're George Floyd with MAGAts jackboots attempting to choke the very life out of us.

The time to play politics should be suspended until the other side starts to play along.

[Wild blueberry]

7. We cannot save the filibuster and then lose our democracy

Hello, Manchin and Sinema, we need HR1/SB1 For the People Act. Must!

[Escurumbele]

9. I have been away from the news for a few days, why is Manchin on the tweet photo?

I didn't read anyone write anything about that, so I am wondering...

Thank you

[Stuart G]

10. Kick

[SunSeeker]

11. K & R & Retweeted!