Saving democracy discussion with Politics Girl and Ruth Ben Ghiat
Long video but worth watching when you can. General summary: We dodged a bullet in 2020 but the fascists are still trying to take control of the US. We cannot afford to be discouraged or complacent.
Positive outlook is to think of what we have already accomplished.
1) At the polls on 2020 we booted out a demagogue from office.
2) The Women's March in 2016 brought women together across the country and inspired several to run for office in the 2018 midterms and win.
3) BLM marches and protests held police accountable for murdering unarmed POC and stood up to fascist attempts to stop the protests.
4) The judicial system held up against Trump's Big Lie.
5) The 2022 midterms bucked the trend of wins for the party not in power in the WH. No red wave. We held the Senate and the House majority is slim.
Bill Barr and other members of the Trump administration (and the SC) are members of Opus Del, the ultra RW Catholic organization.
Make it a habit to every day do something to preserve democracy. It can be getting a non voting person registered and committed to voting, running for office yourself, helping a candidate who is running. If you are up to it (not everyone is), you can build bridges with a RWer. According to Ben Ghiat's studies, they go deeper down the hole if you ignore them. She suggests reasoning with them, but I disagree since their views are not rational. Instead, focus in general on shared views and values if there are any. Don't argue. Just keep them socially involved outside of their political bubble so that they regain some sense of reality. Ask questions that make them think and then let them mull it over for themselves.
