In his book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, Martin Wolf writes, “How . . . does a political party dedicated to the material interests of the top 0.1 percent of the income distribution win and hold power in a universal suffrage democracy?” He means the Republican Party, of course.
Wolf describes how Republicans used three tactics to win the political trifecta. First, they got economic “experts” to provide a veneer of truth to long debunked “trickle down” economics. Second, with considerable help from the Republican Party’s de facto propaganda organ FOX News, they drove a wedge between segments of the population to foment distrust, even hatred, which Trump exploits. Third, Congressional Republicans and a compliant Supreme Court distorted electoral processes through vote suppression and gerrymandering.
As Wolf observed, the second and third of these tactics are modern versions of the Jim Crow South which replaced slavery as the mechanism of black suppression and blocked blacks from gaining political influence. They continue to suppress not only blacks but also immigrant and lower income whites. And, as his quote implies, all women are among those Republicans want to keep under their thumb.
Trump has coopted virtually the entire federal government to do his bidding. And Congress has shown no intention to do its constitutional duty as a counterweight to the President’s power grab. Though rife with Republican judges, so far, some courts are pushing back against Trump’s more egregious actions. However, he has found simply ignoring court orders has no real consequences.
It’s up to us to vote to save democracy, assuming there will be meaningful elections again. Doing so requires that we vote for politicians whose allegiance is to their constituents, the Constitution and the rule of law. Members of Mississippi’s Congressional delegation all pledged to do that when they took the oath of office. Sadly, either the five Republicans have changed their minds or, with their hands on a Bible while taking the oath, they lied. Either way, they have betrayed us. Next election, boot them out.
Make no mistake, our democracy and freedom are at stake. Each of us must decide whether we want to continue to live in a free, democratic republic or do we prefer despotic rule and kleptocracy. It’s that simple. Save democracy first; we’ll be free to argue about policy later.
On Memorial Day we paid homage to the nearly 1,200,000 soldiers since 1775 who have given their lives in defense of democracy. Have they died in vain?
Wolf wrote, “It is by thinking and acting as citizens that a democratic community survives and thrives.” Be a citizen, vote for democracy.
Patrick Taylor lives in Ridgeland.
