RIP American Democracy

Summary

The article laments the perceived decline of American democracy following the U.S. Senate's decision not to hear witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Trump, expressing frustration with both the government and the seemingly apathetic American public.

Abstract

The author of the article expresses deep sorrow and frustration over the current state of American democracy, which they believe has suffered a significant blow with the Senate's refusal to hear impeachment witnesses against President Trump. Despite overwhelming evidence and first-hand witnesses willing to testify, the majority of Republican senators, motivated by fear or complicity, chose to deny the truth and disregard their constitutional oaths. The author is equally critical of the American populace, chastising them for their silence and inaction in the face of the Trump administration's controversial policies and actions, which include family separation at the border, environmental deregulation, and attacks on democratic allies and domestic rights. The article draws a stark contrast with past American activism and the current lack of resistance, questioning the absence of mass protests and public engagement. The author calls for a resurgence of civic duty, urging Americans to voice their concerns and join the fight to preserve democracy and the values upon which the country was founded.

Opinions

The author believes that the U.S. Senate's decision not to hear impeachment witnesses is a betrayal of democratic principles and a failure to uphold the Constitution.
Republican senators are portrayed as either afraid of Trump or complicit in his alleged misconduct, prioritizing money and party loyalty over the nation's interests.
The American people are criticized for their perceived apathy, laziness, and cowardice in response to the Trump administration's policies and the erosion of democratic values.
The author nostalgically recalls a time when Americans were more politically active and engaged, citing protests against the Vietnam War and the resignation of President Nixon as examples.
There is a sense of disappointment in the lack of media coverage and public outcry during the impeachment trial, which the author sees as a missed opportunity to defend democracy.
The article suggests that the current trajectory of the country is regressive, favoring a return to a time when certain groups (non-Christians, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, and women) were treated as inferior.
The author condemns the public's contentment with temporary financial benefits, such as the "tax cut," while ignoring larger issues like healthcare affordability and the need for multiple jobs to make ends meet.
A call to action is issued, encouraging Americans to overcome their reluctance to

Born July 4, 1776, died January 31, 2020

Today our Founding Fathers are crying, Lady Liberty is broken and weeping and those veterans who gave their lives in all of our wars fighting for democracy lay in their graves having died in vain. This afternoon the majority Republicans in the U.S Senate voted 49–51 to refuse to hear the truth from witnesses in the impeachment trial of our country’s most dishonest, treasonous and corrupt President.

Even though a number of those Republican senators admitted Trump was guilty they still refused to consider the overwhelming evidence that was presented to them. They refused to hear from first-hand witnesses who observed Trump’s illegal behavior, even though one of those witnesses volunteered to testify. They chose to deny the truth and they defied their oaths to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

I can say that I am not really surprised that our Republican Senate chose to legitimize and crown a dictator. I’m sure that the vast majority of them are either terrified of Trump or complicit in his criminal activities and enriching themselves from his affiliations with Russia and our own oligarchs. They have chosen money and party over country. Now there is nothing we can do to them, or Trump, except for destroying them at the ballot box this November.

What does surprise me and pisses me off royally is the stupidity, laziness, apathy, and cowardice of the American people. While Trump’s team has been locking up children at our southern border and ripping them away from the arms of their parents there has been mostly silence. While Trump is rolling back or killing regulations protecting our climate and environment there is silence. While Trump is destroying our long time alliances with those countries we stood shoulder to shoulder with, in defending democracy there is mostly silence. While the rights of our fellow American citizens are being attacked there once again is only silence.

I can remember in my youth protesting an immoral and illegal war in Vietnam because we felt it was our duty. We did not stand for our government sending our fellow youth to fight and die in an unjust war. We protested en masse for our beliefs. We protested who we thought was a corrupt and immoral President. Eventually, Nixon resigned before he was impeached because Americans made their voices heard. Recently I have witnessed tens of thousands of residents of Hong Kong marching for pro-democracy, risking arrest, injury and even death. They were protesting for something they wanted and were willing to die for, and that was democracy.

Since Trump took office in 2017 there has been a steady erosion of the values and beliefs I grew up with. The United States I knew and loved is changing. We are going backward. Backward to the days when straight white Christian males ruled with an iron hand. Non-Christians, people of color, LGBTQ people and immigrants were not considered equal. Women were considered property. All of these people were considered inferior.

As this country continues this downward trend I ask where are the people? Where are the Americans, descendants of immigrants who shaped this country? Where are the sons and daughters of the greatest generation who fought the Nazis so that we may be free? Where are those Americans whom the world became to know as generous, empathetic and welcoming to those less fortunate? Most of them are sitting on their fat asses because they don’t want to be involved! They are content with the financial scraps Trump has thrown them in the guise of a “tax cut” that only made the rich richer. Hey, the stock market is doing great, even though they have to have three jobs to pay for housing and can’t afford decent healthcare. Marie Antoinette’s words, “Let them eat cake” sounds appropriate here!

During this impeachment trial, in which our democratic form of government is being destroyed and our Constitution is being shat upon, there is little resistance. One would think people would take to the streets in protest, but they haven’t, at least not in large numbers. Admittedly there have been protests but the media has managed to look the other way. Oddly, the media is partially responsible for Trump’s rise, but now even as they are being viciously attacked by him, they remain silent.

Not only haven’t Americans not demonstrated to take their country back, but they are reticent to even engage in a discussion of what is happening. On sites such as these people are afraid or are unwilling to have an opinion or take a stand. You don’t see very many articles about resisting Trump’s activities garnering many views or notoriety here. I guess that’s because that would mean they would be getting “involved”. How many times have I heard the phrase, “I don’t like politics”! What bullshit! These people are the same as those people in Germany who looked the other way during the Holocaust.!

I know I am not the only one who feels this passionate about our country and what Trump and his fascist cohorts are doing to destroy it. I hope there will be more intelligent and patriotic people who will take their heads out of the sand and join me and the founder of this publication, Sherry McGuinn in fighting for our democracy and all that this country stands for. Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and stand up for yourselves. We have so much to lose! Standing together WE CAN save our freedoms.