Yes, so well said!! I wish more people - who feel their vote does not count- would vote!! We need record turnouts to ensure there is a big win for Democracy!!!
You eloquently articulate how power asymmetry can lead to instability and highlight the importance of restoring balance through democratic processes. Through voting, we have the opportunity to express our values, beliefs, and preferences on a range of issues that impact society.
I have read through every comment tonight and I am struck by something I feel is dynamic.
Many of my fellow commenters are clearly on different sides of the blue/red spectrum of today’s government. This is good and shows that Elliot has a diverse readership not afraid of open discourse. This discourse for the most part has been respectful of each other. This is also good.
I just wish we could get the House and the Senate to have a respectful discourse as this is. An intelligent discussion without threats of any kind.
In the time leading up to and following the civil war, "the people" were not of one mind on the issue of power. While the South lost the war, they managed to substitute all kinds of discriminatory laws for the institution of slavery, effects which persisted for over a century thereafter. In fact, the residual of this conflict in values flares up constantly, as it is doing now. A despot needs enemies against which to build his case for un-tethered power. The "enemy" inevitably turns out to be a segment of the population with a different religion, different cultural norms, different skin color. Today, approximately 25% of our population are of a different mind about the value of truth as a criteria for selecting a leader. A guy who publicly lies literally every day of his life seems acceptable to that 25%. There appears to be something approaching 40% that doesn't seem to care one way or the other, and another 35% for whom it actually matters that we have a decent human being at the head of our government. Our democracy is cradled in the balance, dependent on the disinterested, distracted plurality to choose between liberal democracy and fascism. Talk about consequential times...nothing quite like this in our history since the 1930s...
It is imperative that each one who has the right to vote use that right. Furthermore , it means the vote should be for the best candidate not the Party.
re: An unelected Supreme Court, stocked with justices appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote because of the antiquated Electoral College, has done almost everything in its power to shift political and economic power to its right-wing allies.
-
One possible way to reconfigure the Electoral College is to make each state apportion its Electors in proportion to their popular vote. As of this date (2024) only TWO out of the fifty states do this (ME and NE). The other 48 are 'winner take all' which is unfair because the number of electors in each state = number of Representatives + number of Senators. Wyoming has as many Senators as every other state!
You forgot to mention judge(?) cannon putting the stop to holding Tfg accountable anytime in the near or distant future. Bet she gets a big thick envelops from 1100 ocean palm beach for appreciation for job not well done. I am sorry but I just can not see how anyone that cares about our nation can support him or the gop as it stands today.
Your eloquent articulate writing is so helpful in organizing the issues and I find myself quoting your choice of words in discussions, particularly when there is disagreement.Thanks for your hard work.
Thank you, Elliot, for what you have written. Our ability to vote is our most powerful tool - I fervently hope that people will maintain their belief in our system of government and vote their hearts in November (and always!)
I used to think that democracy worked most safely in the 2 party system when power is split between the executive and legislature, each party controlling one or the other; now I realize that if EITHER party chooses a strategy of obstruction and deconstruction of the institutions and traditions of civil society, democracy doesn't work. So, I'm hoping for a sweep of the executive and both houses of the legislature, as well as some serious re-modeling of SCOTUS, knowing full well that extremism on the progressive side has it's own demons and threats to our system of government.
Trump and his MAGA party have normalized authoritarianism to the point that it has become an acceptable tool for even our best leaders. The people are shamelessly ignored “for their own good.”
Thank you , Elliot, a great explanation of what we see today. You are correct of course, all the Virginia based founders of the Nation, were slave holders and white men of wealth and power. But, they also seemed to be aware of the wrongness of this status. They didn't free their slaves, as they should have, they didn't enfranchise even all white men, and they did consider females of any age or status, and young male children as chattel. But they also tried to set checks and balances. No matter their personal beliefs, they did insist on the separation of Church and State. They were sincerely opposed to authoritarianism. Unlike the men justices of the Supreme Court today, I do not claim to hold seances, or read the minds of those long dead men, I just read what they wrote in plain English, and believe the written word, whether or not I agree. All five men need to be impeached for failing to uphold the Constitution AS WRITTEN, that is what they swore an oath to do, and they have ignored that oath in every instance where the Constitution is involved. Nowhere in the Constitution does it give or imply that ANY American is above the law. Nor does it give or imply immunity for anyone, regardless of office.
Very thoughtfully researched. As you have recognized, Trump's modus operandi has been abusing any power that has been given to him. I just wonder why those who he throws under the bus, keep being replaced by even more dull hopefuls with short memories? Surely, if these people were more aware of the political survival percentage of supporting him, they would most certainly do better by playing the roulette tables in Vegas, instead.
I think the election system in America should be changed to one vote is one vote, and should be valued as thus. If you can change women's rights then change the electoral system. Listening to what is happening in court with Donald Trump is frightening..........that this evil man is considered for the post of President is just lunacy.
Thank you Elliot for one of the most succinct and eloquent descriptions of an imbalance of power in our nation’s body politic.
As a biologist looking through a science lens, the diagnosis of what is malfunctioning is easier than describing a path for how to correct the imbalance in the body politic. It is clear to me that bringing this imbalance to the awareness of many others is necessary but not sufficient. Too many individuals feel that their actions will not reverse this imbalance and it is not worth trying and failing. In the treatment of an autoimmune disease such as lupus that is killing the patient, only harsh measures aimed at dismantling the immune system provide hope for saving the individual’s life.
Yes, so well said!! I wish more people - who feel their vote does not count- would vote!! We need record turnouts to ensure there is a big win for Democracy!!!
You eloquently articulate how power asymmetry can lead to instability and highlight the importance of restoring balance through democratic processes. Through voting, we have the opportunity to express our values, beliefs, and preferences on a range of issues that impact society.
I have read through every comment tonight and I am struck by something I feel is dynamic.
Many of my fellow commenters are clearly on different sides of the blue/red spectrum of today’s government. This is good and shows that Elliot has a diverse readership not afraid of open discourse. This discourse for the most part has been respectful of each other. This is also good.
I just wish we could get the House and the Senate to have a respectful discourse as this is. An intelligent discussion without threats of any kind.
I applaud us all.
Thank you Harold for noting this and commenting with your own respecftulness. And thanks to all who wanted to share their feelings here.
Your welcome
In the time leading up to and following the civil war, "the people" were not of one mind on the issue of power. While the South lost the war, they managed to substitute all kinds of discriminatory laws for the institution of slavery, effects which persisted for over a century thereafter. In fact, the residual of this conflict in values flares up constantly, as it is doing now. A despot needs enemies against which to build his case for un-tethered power. The "enemy" inevitably turns out to be a segment of the population with a different religion, different cultural norms, different skin color. Today, approximately 25% of our population are of a different mind about the value of truth as a criteria for selecting a leader. A guy who publicly lies literally every day of his life seems acceptable to that 25%. There appears to be something approaching 40% that doesn't seem to care one way or the other, and another 35% for whom it actually matters that we have a decent human being at the head of our government. Our democracy is cradled in the balance, dependent on the disinterested, distracted plurality to choose between liberal democracy and fascism. Talk about consequential times...nothing quite like this in our history since the 1930s...
It is imperative that each one who has the right to vote use that right. Furthermore , it means the vote should be for the best candidate not the Party.
re: An unelected Supreme Court, stocked with justices appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote because of the antiquated Electoral College, has done almost everything in its power to shift political and economic power to its right-wing allies.
-
One possible way to reconfigure the Electoral College is to make each state apportion its Electors in proportion to their popular vote. As of this date (2024) only TWO out of the fifty states do this (ME and NE). The other 48 are 'winner take all' which is unfair because the number of electors in each state = number of Representatives + number of Senators. Wyoming has as many Senators as every other state!
You forgot to mention judge(?) cannon putting the stop to holding Tfg accountable anytime in the near or distant future. Bet she gets a big thick envelops from 1100 ocean palm beach for appreciation for job not well done. I am sorry but I just can not see how anyone that cares about our nation can support him or the gop as it stands today.
Your eloquent articulate writing is so helpful in organizing the issues and I find myself quoting your choice of words in discussions, particularly when there is disagreement.Thanks for your hard work.
Thank you, Elliot, for what you have written. Our ability to vote is our most powerful tool - I fervently hope that people will maintain their belief in our system of government and vote their hearts in November (and always!)
An independent Supreme Court is a cornerstone of a democracy. America does not have one.
I used to think that democracy worked most safely in the 2 party system when power is split between the executive and legislature, each party controlling one or the other; now I realize that if EITHER party chooses a strategy of obstruction and deconstruction of the institutions and traditions of civil society, democracy doesn't work. So, I'm hoping for a sweep of the executive and both houses of the legislature, as well as some serious re-modeling of SCOTUS, knowing full well that extremism on the progressive side has it's own demons and threats to our system of government.
Trump and his MAGA party have normalized authoritarianism to the point that it has become an acceptable tool for even our best leaders. The people are shamelessly ignored “for their own good.”
Thank you , Elliot, a great explanation of what we see today. You are correct of course, all the Virginia based founders of the Nation, were slave holders and white men of wealth and power. But, they also seemed to be aware of the wrongness of this status. They didn't free their slaves, as they should have, they didn't enfranchise even all white men, and they did consider females of any age or status, and young male children as chattel. But they also tried to set checks and balances. No matter their personal beliefs, they did insist on the separation of Church and State. They were sincerely opposed to authoritarianism. Unlike the men justices of the Supreme Court today, I do not claim to hold seances, or read the minds of those long dead men, I just read what they wrote in plain English, and believe the written word, whether or not I agree. All five men need to be impeached for failing to uphold the Constitution AS WRITTEN, that is what they swore an oath to do, and they have ignored that oath in every instance where the Constitution is involved. Nowhere in the Constitution does it give or imply that ANY American is above the law. Nor does it give or imply immunity for anyone, regardless of office.
We don’t have a democracy!
Its corptocracy.
Very thoughtfully researched. As you have recognized, Trump's modus operandi has been abusing any power that has been given to him. I just wonder why those who he throws under the bus, keep being replaced by even more dull hopefuls with short memories? Surely, if these people were more aware of the political survival percentage of supporting him, they would most certainly do better by playing the roulette tables in Vegas, instead.
I think the election system in America should be changed to one vote is one vote, and should be valued as thus. If you can change women's rights then change the electoral system. Listening to what is happening in court with Donald Trump is frightening..........that this evil man is considered for the post of President is just lunacy.
Thank you Elliot for one of the most succinct and eloquent descriptions of an imbalance of power in our nation’s body politic.
As a biologist looking through a science lens, the diagnosis of what is malfunctioning is easier than describing a path for how to correct the imbalance in the body politic. It is clear to me that bringing this imbalance to the awareness of many others is necessary but not sufficient. Too many individuals feel that their actions will not reverse this imbalance and it is not worth trying and failing. In the treatment of an autoimmune disease such as lupus that is killing the patient, only harsh measures aimed at dismantling the immune system provide hope for saving the individual’s life.