We have heard the terrible truth again and again: Republicans are the end of democracy and anti-abortion party. Polls–if remotely accurate–indicate that the repetition is insufficient to accomplish what is essential: Unambiguously defeat Trump, an immoral, insurrectionist felon and with him, the resounding repudiation of what he and his allies represent.
We face an existential election. SCOTUS's radical corrupt, wealth-protecting majority knows that they cannot accomplish their goals by any standard legal means. The most recent Supreme Court ruling, granting presidents immunity from laws, is a desperate attempt to ensure permanent power precisely because that is not what most Americans want and value. As a result, undaunted and without shame, they gave their favored criminal candidate, Trump, the go-ahead to do so illegally with no consequence.
We can’t count on our elected representatives to stop it. We need to organize, vote, and keep organizing. That’s how we reject evil.
I reject the anti-democratic admonishment to shut and get with a Democratic program because critique will encourage potential voters to sit out the election. Cynical and disenchanted voters already have plenty of reasons to distrust both Republicans and Democrats. However, I believe the Democrats–with whom I have profound disagreement– must win in November. To run on saving democracy, they must embrace it. Without criticism, there is no democracy. Encouraging debate about the direction of the Democratic party and the best candidate to beat Trump is an invitation to trust.
I also reject the charge that choosing between the lesser of two evils is an endorsement of evil, when the victory of the greater evil will eliminate our ability to make any choices in the future. We owe it to one another and for our ongoing struggle for justice to vote for the Democrat who can beat Donald Trump. Whatever vociferous objections we may have about Democrats–especially his support for genocide in Gaza– if we do not vote or vote for a third-party candidate with no chance of victory, our ability to organize will be extinguished for the foreseeable future. Even our semblance of democratic, civil, and human rights can disappear. Things can get far worse. The Supreme Court gave the most extreme repression a green light. Make no mistake. Trump will use it. Not voting should be ruled out as a responsible option. Its only consequence will be empowering fascists with the imprimatur of a democratic election.
My choice is to:
Continue to organize for justice and criticize those Democrats who won’t.
Then, vote for Democrats in November to avoid fascism.
After November, continue to organize for justice and criticize those Democrats who won’t.
For at least a year, it has been clear. Most Democrats think Biden is too old to run for a second term. Groups of voters essential to his victory, including many African Americans and young people, are at best unenthusiastic about Biden. That, and his continued complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza will cause a critical mass of voters to stay home on election day. Biden's debate performance furthered his untenable ability to win the presidential election. The accusations that mainstream Democrats are out of touch have sticking power. Their refusal to change course reinforces that perception.
A different candidate must emerge. Biden's old age remains an issue, but for whoever leads the Democratic ticket, the economy tops voters' concerns. The oft-mentioned economic highlights: changes in the inflation or unemployment rate, perceived standing of the U.S. in the world economy, and increased stock prices don’t weigh heavily on people’s minds. Instead, it is the struggle of day-to-day living, the sense of being ignored, and the overwhelming feeling of constant violation of what is right and fair.
Trump is the “My friends and I get out of jail free" candidate; He is the "Throw the book at everyone else, especially at my enemies" candidate; He is the "I promise revenge” candidate. It is not just Trump. The GOP is all in to screw everyone else to advance wealth for the already rich. Republicans are the party of distrust and hate your neighbors who don’t look like you.
Good news: Most people think that is neither right nor fair. Most Americans want a ceasefire. Most Americans are aghast at the death and destruction in Gaza. To win, Democrats need to capitalize on all of that, demonize it, and most important, offer a stark resonant counter-narrative. Most Americans want a fair tax system and regulation to protect them. Doubling down on keeping immigrants out won't do it. Offering Israel all the arms they want won't do it.
The conventional wisdom of many pundits and leading Democrats is to run so-called centrist candidates to appeal to a polarized electorate. I think that is wrong. Staying that course of action has not improved Democrats chances of winning. Splitting the difference is a losing strategy. It is transparently self-serving pandering. First, the approach disrespects and ignores voters’ morals, needs, angst, alienation, and mistrust. Second, it reflects corporate and AIPAC campaign contributions, not voters’ preferences. It leads to thoroughly uninspiring rhetoric. Voters hear, “Blah, Blah, Blah! Same old, same old!”
The Democratic leadership won't change course without massive, impossible-to-ignore voter pressure. So, we need to keep organizing, get on the phone, show up at Democrats offices, and go into the streets to demand what is moral, right, and fair. We need to do it without delay, again and again.
Call your Democratic Senators and Representatives. Tell them: Shift gears or you will lose the presidency no matter who you nominate and Congress in the process. Acknowledge people's insecurity upfront before bragging about any accomplishments. Refuse campaign contributions from the wealthy and the attached strings. To make the case for democracy, tell the truth. Republicans reject real democratic control because they fear it will interfere with their goal: Deprive a decent life to as many as it takes to ensure it for the already wealthy.
Call your elected Democrats and candidates. Tell them: If you want to win say it like it is. Republicans want us to hate and distrust one another, so we don’t join together to fight for everyone’s wellbeing. We want regulations to protect people's health, workplace safety, the environment, better wages, and high-quality education for all. Republicans hate regulations because they cut into the profits of their sponsors: rich corporations.
The winning presidential candidate must convey respect and proclaim the moral and strategic necessity of interracial solidarity, especially with immigrants. Democrats need to claim the moral high ground by connecting with what voters value as right and fair.
It is all quite dismal and scary. We need many strategies to stave off despair and hopelessness, including antidotes to debilitating isolation. Most important, we need each other. We feel connected when we collaborate, build relationships, and engage in action with folks with whom we already share values. That is important but not enough. There are still too few of us to address the monumental challenge we face. We need concerted efforts to draw in the many, many people who oppose the slide to fascism and more inequity but are so far not engaged. Avoiding in-group language that does not resonate with others is a first step, as is coalescing with others with whom we share some, but not all, goals.
In my corner of the world, it has meant organizing with members of Community Voices Heard for decent affordable housing and protecting people from unfair eviction. It has meant joining with other members of Jewish Voice for Peace to organize with a broad coalition of people to pass local ceasefire resolutions and oppose U.S. military support for Israel's genocidal assault on Palestine. Those organizing efforts, win or lose, give people experience with democratic participation and build relationships across the lines that too often divide people. Bringing people face-to-face with elected state and federal officials to make demands demystifies their power and builds efficacy. That is vital and a long-term struggle.
That is how we fight evil.
In the short run, we face an existential election.
Let’s get busy:
Continue to organize for justice and criticize those Democrats who won’t.
Then, to avoid fascism, vote for Democrats in November.
After November, continue to organize for justice and criticize those Democrats who won’t.
Arthur taught and led science professional learning and curriculum and assessment development projects for 50 yrs. He writes about education and social justice. He loves spending time with friends and family, hiking, and gardening.
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