Democracy is fragile. It’s freedom allows opportunity for opportunists who seek to pervert it.
The first democracy in ancient Greece was ultimately
conquered by Alexander the Great who turned it into a monarchy. The same
happened to the ancient Roman republic when it was turned into a monarchy by
Julius Caesar. France’s brief turbulent unsuccessful first flirtation with
democracy was ended by Napoleon who crowned himself emperor. Germany’s
democratic Weimar Republic after World War I lasted about 10+ years until
Hitler took over and changed it into the most brutal dictatorship in history.
Around the same time, Mussolini turned Italy into a fascist dictatorship. Since
the end of World War II, most of Western Europe has formed democracies which
have stuck so far.
The most long lasting democracy in recent centuries has
been ours in the USA. It has not always been perfect. In the beginning it
allowed slavery for a period of around 90 years, and we are still working on
the after effects of that slavery. But our democracy has lasted and gradually
improved in quality over a period of about 245 years. The original framers of
our system of government took great pains to create a system of checks and
balances because they feared that a tyrant might someday try to overthrow our
democracy.
Now we are facing a challenge. A wannabe dictator (Trump)
was elected president 4 years ago by less than the majority of Americans
through the inequity of the electoral college and the help of a foreign
dictator (Putin) who has used his neo-KGB (his spies) to influence our
elections through social media in Trump’s favor. Trump has seized the levers of
government to consolidate his power by removing people of integrity from high
administrative offices in the government and replaced them with sycophants who
do not represent the interests of the American people and who hide facts to
benefit Trump (and Putin). Trump’s grab at tyranny has been supported by most
Republican senators who fear losing their elected seats if they cross him
because many true conservatives have left the Republican party leaving behind
Trump’s loyal Radical Right.
To my Conservative Republican friends, in this election put
country above party. Once we have removed the tyrant from the White House, next
time we can duke it out with a new and improved Republican Party. The upcoming
election is the greatest test American Democracy has faced. It is existential
for America.
VOTE!
VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS!
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