I have long been horrified yet also fascinated by the way Germany fell into dictatorship and then launched a war that cost tens of millions of lives. Science and legitimate knowledge were done away with whenever they failed to support the Nazi agenda and civil rights for citizens disappeared. And while all of this happened a significant minority – or perhaps it was a majority, if people were honest – let this all happen. Indeed, many cheered it on. Fast forward to today and we are witnessing something similar in America where an amoral, narcissistic monster is out to destroy America’s democracy and institutions simply to satiate his ego and remain in power. It’s treason on a massive scale, yet the Republican Party, now controlled by racists, religious zealots and, of course the greedy, are fully onboard if it means power is retained and taxes are cut. Frighteningly, individuals who I once thought were decent and moral are onboard this nightmare train as well. I am terrified that we are witnessing the last days of the American republic and may soon face a fascist dictatorship.
When I first speculated more than 3-years ago that Trump would refuse to leave office if he lost the 2020 election, I wondered if I should even say it. Maybe I’d lost perspective? Perhaps I had Trump Derangement Syndrome? Now that worry is a commonplace, and even more firmly grounded than then. He has said, after all, he can lose only if the election is ‘rigged.’ By definition, then, his loss is invalid and the only defense against a corrupt dismissal is to stay in place.
Trump has no intention of going anywhere next January.
And, like Michael, I’ve been both surprised and saddened by those I know who have been seduced by Trump’s cataracts of malice and resentment. As the introduction to the old Shadow drama used to ask, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?”
Trump controls a craven and thoroughly emasculated GOP that is not going to step-forward and fulfill its Constitutional duty and check him. It’s up to us — We, the People.