Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Deepspace's avatar

Notwithstanding calling for a constitutional convention rewrite by 3/4 of state legislatures (which would not be a good thing given the extremely delusional right-wing bent of our current state of political discourse funded by anti-democratic oligarchs), eliminating the Electoral College requires proposing a constitutional amendment, voted on by 2/3 of both the U.S. House and Senate, and ratified by 3/4 of the states.

By design, that’s a heavy lift. Today’s polarization, however, makes it impossible. But to save democracy from those who would destroy it by manipulating the system requires that we do the impossible.

Planting the seed comes first: The Electoral College must go! It’s an imperative. Never let up. Copy the Republican long-game tactic of constant repetition until the meme gels in people’s minds as a natural given of political reform. But unlike Republican propaganda based on ridiculous, outright lies, the push to eliminate the Electoral College (as well as the filibuster, gerrymandering, and perhaps someday reimagining the Senate as a true representative body) is based on enlightened truth, i.e., progressive thought, i.e., progress.

Trump’s “paper coup,” a throwback to medieval castle intrigue, is a shockingly clear, teachable moment for future generations of small-d democrats. Abusing the Electoral Count Act, creating fake slates of electors, lying about certified results, and all the other devious ways that Trump the Sore Loser and his court of jesters tried to deny the People, from whom all power derives, their rightful and legal votes, including inciting a violent mob that stormed the Capitol at Trump’s behest (everyone knows it) to stop a formal constitutional step in our heretofore peaceful transfer of power, will be the main chapter in the pitiful legacy of this disgraced, twice-impeached, one-term, wannabe strongman, who is “mentally sick” -- his own descriptor, a brand new one projected onto his legal tormentors trying to jail him (oh please, God).

Another prerequisite lesson on the rise and fall of the Trump empire is how so many supposedly sentient beings could so eagerly swill from his golden spittoon without retching their guts out. Good to the last drop. Never underestimate the stupefying gullibility of frightened, hateful, angry followers on an authoritarian binge. It doesn’t take much intellectual power to lead this sorry bunch. The “stable genius” sure proved that in spades.

Expand full comment
John's avatar

I think when Trump ends up in prison it will be at Mar-a-Lago; along the lines of Pablo Escobar's La Catedral. Let's hope not. He should be handed the harshest punishment within the law to those who commit treason. If not, let him atrophy in Fort Leavenworth until his end of days.

Expand full comment
6 more comments...

No posts