Democracy is delicate.

What has transpired in American politics over the past two weeks is nothing less than the greatest threat to American democracy in the history of the country. We do not have a history of tyrannical leaders in the United States of America specifically because of the constitution of the country. When I say constitution, I don’t mean the literal US Constitution, I mean the literal constitution of the United States of America. Our system of government means that we have 50 quasi-independent states that are able to control vast amounts of their own economic and legislative power. This concept, engrained in the American psyche, makes it much harder to rule from an overriding central authority. For the most part, this idea has worked well for the country. By and large, Americans are not used to the concept of a powerful centralising leader who seeks to undermine the very foundations of American democracy for their personal benefit. That is, until last week.

For the first time in American history, the President of the United States has not agreed to a peaceful transition of power. For the first time in the history of the country, the President of the United States has openly stated that he intends on challenging the results of the election if he loses and, for the first time in American history, the President has suggested that the only fair result in the upcoming election is his victory. On top of that authoritarian dumpster fire, he will be appointing a Supreme Court Justice just before his “contested election”.

Amy Coney Barrett will replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a powerful proponent of human rights, who died of cancer last week. Her last words were that her seat not be filled until after the November election. The pro-lifer that Trump claims to be, ignored her wishes calling it a Democrat hoax. Amy Coney Barrett has been a judge for less than three years, and while that is not unusual for some appointees, the timing will always taint her appointment to the court. She is expected to be pro-life, anti-choice, anti-public healthcare, and most importantly, pro-Trump when he challenges the election. If there has ever been a quid pro quo in American politics, this is it. A person who, five years ago had never seen the inside of the courtroom, will now sit on the most powerful court in America ostensibly to remove the healthcare rights for hundreds of millions of Americans and support Trump's desperate power grab. 

At a time where seven million Americans have COVID-19 and, more than 200,000 have died from the virus, the Republican party is preparing to appoint a person on the Supreme Court who will make it harder for people with pre-existing conditions to gain affordable healthcare. 

In the three weeks since my last post, America has fallen further into the territory of a vulnerable democracy. Again, this is not hyperbole. When Trump attacks the validity of the electoral process his supporters believe every-single-word-he-says. This kind of mindless mob mentality is very dangerous for democracy. If we have learned anything from this rage-filled summer it is that Trump's words enflame both sides of the argument; sometimes with dangerous consequences. Tens of thousands of Americans have died this summer but not all of them were related to Covid. Deadly clashes across the country have claimed the lives of too many. Ask yourself, what has Trump done to quell the anger across America?

Nothing.

Instead, he gleefully celebrates reporters getting hit by rubber bullets during protests. Stoking the flames of violence. *Note: he says tear gas in the clip but the reporter was hit by a rubber bullet.*

The remaining, spineless Republicans have nothing to say other than words of praise for the man who will be responsible for the most dangerous election in American history. With many Senate Republicans turning back on their position from 2016, they have pre-approved Trump's nominee before the next election. In doing this they have proven their word to be meaningless but, of course, that doesn't matter when you're winning. Republicans play the morality card time and time again but, fail to live up to their words when the cards are on the table. 

They have cleared the way for Trump to be installed as the President of the United States. Note, I did not say elected, I said, “installed”. They have cleared the way for Trump to lose the popular vote and, lose the electoral college but, still remain the White House. If that was not enough, Republican state legislatures are being pressured to override the popular vote in their own states and direct their electors to support Trump.

This is what you see in the final days of a free state. The Republican party is complicit in the destruction of American democracy, and if we survive through this point in history, the party should be disbanded. They have spent the past forty years stoking hatred and fear while encouraging right-wing extremism to become the norm. At the same time, they have been making it harder for people, specifically people of color, to vote because they know, the more people vote, the less they win. So, they have seemingly come up with a way to never lose again. Their rebuke of Trump's election threats has been as powerful as a breath of hot air on a humid day.

I never thought I would see an election this important in my life. I thought that American democracy was flawed but stable. I was so very wrong. We have been lulled into a sense of security where we assumed that everything is going to be ok because our votes don’t matter or the system just works.

Over 100 million people didn’t vote in the last election and I am assuming one of those reasons kept them at home. If you know a non-voter, direct them to this post. Help them understand that their vote is important. If they want to vote for Trump show them my last post. Trump is an anti-American authoritarian who will do anything to stay in the Oval Office. He needs to go and we have to vote him out in numbers that are too big to deny. The future of the country depends on it.