Democracy doesn't require us to agree.

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

[Walleye]

1. We have a two party system here, the Democratic Party and the undemocratic party

[Demsrule86]

2. Stopping the Republicans requires all to vote for the Democratic Party period end of story...

so we must agree to that extent and if we don't...well then we will have many 2016 types of elections. I am not sure if our Republican survives. Also, every time, the GOP is victorious despite the idea that such a win will spawn a 'revolution', it pushes us toward the middle/right.

[KentuckyWoman]

3. My idea is that we have a civic duty to make public our disagreements.

I believe we have have a responsibility as citizens to cooperate with other as much as possible but be contrary when it is called for.

Honestly, if folks like that bobble head from Colorado are all about guns and nothing else, and that's what her voters want, then by all means advocate. I'll be proud to take the opposite stance and we can have a conversation, quiet or loud, I don't care.

The current trouble is that we DON'T have conversations. We have cosplay trying to intimidate, and toddler level hissy fits, and twitter wars, and insurrections. We have bullies, and mass shootings, and terroristic threats. We have a former president and his minions making every attempt to delegitimize government, justice, and elections.

Until we start having conversations again, it is only going to get worse.

[Tommymac]

5. Don't forget the Putin factor. He has been behind a lot of the Hate since he was in the KGB.

The Global Authoritarian movement is very organized, has been for years.

Bannon, for one, works/consults for a lot of the fascist assholes - not just TFG. That is why I cannot believe he was allowed to be freed to continue his hateful screed.

[KentuckyWoman]

7. I am of the humble opinion TFG is not a leader

but merely a useful big mouth with a rotten soul. His entire family could vanish from the world stage and it would make almost no difference. Bobo, Marge, Madison etc are proof there are plenty of those willing to step into the spotlight to rally the minions on behalf of Vlad and his friends.

It is a sorry state of affairs when Cheney is the hope of democracy ....

[essaynnc]

4. Thanks Robert...

That's a great essay, I believe it completely...

However, I see that as preaching to the choir. Have you tried it out on any of your magat friends? Ask those people in jail for participating in the insurrection whether they are fighting for the common good, and I bet they say YES! Although we probably have a huge difference of opinion as to what the common good really is, but Hell yes, they're fighting for it!

Not being a psychologist with a degree in changing deeply held beliefs and opinions, I can't tell you what "they" will respond to, and what will at least give them pause to think or consider. But I really don't think that an academic approach or moral appeal to their sensibilities will have much effect; it's just not what they respond to.

As a final note, I'm thinking that Pres. Joe has such a knowledgeable person(s) on staff, and helped to write his Jan 6th speech. I know just from the tone and other commentary that I've heard, it pissed off the former guy, it rattled faux news celebrities, and it may have actually started the process of getting through to some that aren't completely down the rabbit hole of QAnon and other conspiracy theories. If this is the case, I'm expecting that the tone will continue into the State of the Union speech later in the month, and will continue into the future.

[Uncle Joe]

6. As for me,

I don't view Robert's message as "preaching to the choir" so much as making public record for if nothing else posterity's sake while most assuredly having some measure of influence at the margins if not hard core of the electorate.

I believe in the fight to save democracy, no academic or intellectual message should be censored or restrained on the grounds of perceived public opinion or comfort bubbles. It's literally a call to words so as not to have one for arms.

I agree in regards to President Biden's January 6th speech, I thought it was one of, if not his best.