After the Capitol siege: Coexistence Is the Only Option

[Solly Mack]

5. Tell that to the republicans in Congress. See what they say.

It absolutely has to start with them. Because if they keep promoting Trumpism, and they are, then a willingness on our part won't make a dent.

As long as they continue the lies about the election, as long as they continue to promote division through their appeals to racism, classism - all their appeals to prejudice, as long as they would rather give tax breaks to the wealthy instead of helping everyone else - then nothing changes.

Because they'll continue to lie about their motives to their voters and those voters, with all their lie-based grievances, will believe whatever other lies they are told. And they will behave accordingly.

Republicans have to stop with the lying and they have to admit that they have been lying for years.

The truth is an appealing alternative because it is the only real alternative to where we find ourselves. Truth and accountability.

Otherwise, we'll still be combating the lies they tell that incite people to storm the Capitol. To be anti-government. To claim anything that helps people is socialism. To deny themselves healthcare because, somehow, that's un-american. To fear their guns being taken away by Democrats when that never happens. NEVER, ever, happens. Yet they still believe it because of all the lies. And that list of lies is long.

We can pretend it was all just Trump - but that's a lie.

Trump gained a foothold because of all the years of lying from republicans, conservative - whatever you want to call the right-wing.

Another Trump-like person will come along unless republicans have a come to honesty-truth-fact moment.

And they won't. The price to their hold on power is too high.

Tax-payers footed the bill for education that a lot of out-of-work miners wouldn't take advantage of because they firmly believed the mines would come back. Along came Trump who told them the lie that they already believed was true.

OOPS?

I'll happily help foot the bill for mental health care. Will they even go? They think we are the crazy ones. They think we are the ones living in a world of lies.

They think we're the enemy - and they have shown a willingness to kill us.

So? I extend a hand only to see my hand chopped off?

I gain a moral victory for the attempt?

No, thanks.