Last edited Tue Oct 18, 2016, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)
show just how toxic to American Democracy the campaign of Donald Trump has been. We are being encouraged to 'report suspected terrorism or criminal activity' to a Federal Police Force.
While in this case it may be fully justified, as with the video making the rounds of the masked Trump supporter seeming to threaten to 'take out' Hillary Clinton, it also makes for a level of discomfort for those of us remembering scenes in other countries of neighbors being required to spy on neighbors and families being torn apart by family members reporting each other.
There is en editorial in the WaPost talking about one of the cornerstones that has held American Democracy together for 240 years is the concept of 'the peaceful transition of power'. That every 4 years we hold an election for President. The winner assumes the office and the loser(s) gracefully accept the result and go off to do other things, even if that means waiting 4 years to try again. We have never had to question this peaceful transition, because it has happened every 4 years for 240 years.
But this election is different. Trump has moved from 'crooked Hillary' and disparaging everyone who wasn't a white Christian male, to overblown rhetoric claiming that the only way he can lose is because the election is 'rigged'. He is not willing to accept the peaceful transition of power. He has said that if he were President he would 'lock up' his opponent. He has repeatedly said that if he loses it is because 'the election is rigged'. What happens when a loser tries to delegitimize the election and refuses to accept losing? What happens when he calls for his opponent's assassination? What happens when he tells his supporters to go to polling places to challenge voters who might vote against him? What happens if he simply refuses to accept his loss?
We are reading daily of so-called 'militias' trying to recruit new members to 'take back' the country if Hillary wins the 'rigged election'. When the armed 'poll watchers' show up at polling places? What happens if the police arrive and a riot erupts, disrupting voting?
I will be very happy when Nov. 9th rolls around. I'll be even happier when Jan 20th comes around and all the unrest has settled (hopefully) and Hillary Clinton is sworn in as President.
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