[GGG]

Originally Posted by TherapyforGlencross

Having faith in institutional democratic structures is how we got here in the first place. It started off with Trump denying mail in ballots, followed by him calling Governers to overturn votes, which resulted in Oence having to emotionally accept election results, which resulted in January 6 calling for the hanging of Mike Pence. Breaking democratic structures. The structures in place saved the day, but it was close. And here’s the start of the intentional breaking of democratic norms.

We started with presidential immunity given by the courts. Now we have Trump openly bribing for votes (see Musk and his $1,000,000 donations a day), plans of mass deportations without due process, openly calling for prosecution of his enemies, which could very well transition into demonizing people who voted democrat, and it feels as if you’re brushing aside legitimate (and perhaps over the top, but understandable) concern for the destruction of democracy. Does it really matter how long it takes the democratic structures to fall if we’re already experiencing it, with little to no solution, even if Harris wins the election? The republicans are hell bent on restructuring the US government norms, regardless if Trump is in power or not. He’s just the best avenue for it. The party has been fully taken over by extremists unwilling to compromise in most situations. We’re already here. The link to strong democracy is gone. And now Republicans, aided by Trump, are salivating over breaking every chain of it.

My contention wasn’t that democracy wouldn’t continue to be damaged. It was Trump wouldn’t get a third term. So yes it does matter how long it takes to destroy democracy in the discussion we were having.