Friends, The 2024 general election is now underway. Like most of you, I’ve found myself immersed in many conversations about the threat to our nation — and the world — posed by Donald Trump. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about conversations with Trump
Professor Reich, I fully agree with you that we must stay focused in regards to the upcoming election to ensure that primarily Donald Trump does not regain the presidency and second that we vote in a Congress that is functional.
In my view, I don’t think we’ve been sufficiently effective in driving home what it would mean to lose our democracy and how our way of life would change. Trump already has stated he would enact the Insurrection Act on Day 1 of his Presidency. He’s already spoken about rounding up his political enemies. Accordingly, we can’t relent in urging people—whatever their reasons for complacency or indifference—to imagine what America would look like were the President to start moving the National Guard around to put down our voices, our right to dissent, perhaps indefinitely detaining us. This is not without precedent. Trump had wanted to criminalize protests around Black Lives Matter for the murder of George Floyd.
Expanding upon rights and freedoms that would be ripped away, all of us must amplify our dire despair over Trump’s absorption of a party that applauds a High Court that would ignore 50 years of settled precedent in Roe and would overturn a fundamental right relied upon by tens of millions every year. Clearly, a court willing to do that with a protection, over and over again reaffirmed, would do it to other fundamental protections.
Ultimately, we have about 7 months, a small window to protect the key mechanisms of American democracy from a party committed to precipitating a fatal weakening of American institutions, let alone a presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Hence, it is our job to urge uncommitted voters to listen to the things Trump says and the people he admires. No one ever should doubt that whatever the freedoms we have in this country, whatever one likes about this country, dramatically would change were Trump ever again to hold office.
For a European spectator the electoral system is the producer of the problem.
I have learned that democracies govern with respect for minorities: that respect is the essence of the system. That essence is in danger: maybe since Newt Gingrich, but maybe longer.
The graph in Congress's new low shows that it is easy, when you have a common problem, but that polarisation occurs when there is nothing to fear. In Europe we fear the Russian monster, but the U.S. trust the military. Netanyahu did the same.
What might help is lessons in democratic attitudes. And change of the electoral system.
"I’m convinced that Trump can be beaten. But to ensure Joe Biden’s reelection, we must communicate effectively and concretely with one another about how to do so and what we’re going to contribute to the effort. We cannot be spectators."
If that's the case, please partner with Field Team 6!.
To protect American democracy, reach out to millions of unregistered likely Democrats using a dedicated database using every outreach method possible (phone and text, postcard, email and targeted ad, and in-person too), where new Democratic voters will make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts.
Let’s all of us who love our country and our freedoms make sure Trump ends up in the Dustbin of History! And hold his most anti American henchmen and henchwomen accountable!
Professor Reich, you always make so much sense, so thank you. There is just one favor I have to ask. It would make practical and financial sense for you to make ALL of your writings available free of charge, so that your immediate community could re-post them to their community - just for the next seven months. We would then all speak with clarity of message and you would reach a much wider audience. After the election, you will have a wider, deeper pond in which to fish.
I need to ask historian Timothy Snyder for permission to use Lesson 19 "Be A Patriot" from his book, "20 Lessons for the 21st Century". Dr. Snyder states in clear explicit terms, the best way to describe what patriotism is by clear statements of what patriotism is not, which lists over 20 examples of what Trump has done and said. I had to move back to Ohio from California over 15 years ago. My hometown, Middletown, in southwest Ohio is very polarized. There are many people whom I've known for a long time, some from childhood. The people I want to share Lesson 19 with are the children of hard right lifetime Republicans, many of whom fought in battle in World war II, and some of their fathers are decorated war heroes. I knew some of the fathers of childhood friends, and I would like to give thought that I'd bet if their fathers deceased Fathers were alive today that they would turn away from Trump because they would be appalled. These are the World War II war heroes that Trump mocked, and called losers and suckers. If they are determined to continue voting Republican then they're going to have to vote Democratic in the 2024 election if they ever want to be confident that they will ever have a chance to vote again and want their own children to live and vote in the land of the free and the brave, and count on in our not so distant future, that we will continue to have free and fair elections in the United States. Lesson 19 is precisely what I think they need to read for themselves and rethink the reality of democracy versus autocracy.
I'm very worried that the GOP might try to create election irregularities in enough swing states that nobody wins the electoral collegeand so it becomes 1 vote per state in the House of Representatives which will give us another Trump presidency. If Putin manages to prevail in Ukraine its a VERY short jump to world war 3. These are very troubling times.
I’m starting to believe that the election is over, and Trump and his fascist minions in Congress will be defeated handedly.
Trump’s schtick is getting old and mundane. His performances are weak, and only getting more unhinged and pathetic. His caucus in Congress have become more perverse and incompetent than ever; only managing to accomplish a few acts of renaming Post Office’s.
Bottom line: the entire Republican Party has no platform or agenda to speak of. Their hearings into Joe and Hunter have become more embarrassing, while republican stewardship in the house has reached to level of complete and utter failure and chaos.
When most Americans go to the polls this year, I believe they will have a “Come to Jesus” moment, and reject Trump and his incompetent buffoons in Congress; not necessarily because they like Biden, but because they hate chaos and uncertainty.
as you eluded to in your piece, your conversations have been happening with like-minded individuals ... i think the vast majority of the people reading this, writing comments & reading comments all adhere to a mostly similar political ethos ...
the problem that we are failing to address is : what about the "deplorables" ??? ... and let's be honest : most of "us" (myself included) truly do feel that maga nation is compromised of truly awful, deplorable people ...
the fundamental question is : how do we co-exist together as one nation ???
it has become so clear, that we are like oil and water : we just do not mix ... and it is not because we have differences of opinions regarding policies or even cultural issues ... it is because -- right now -- the fundamental difference between us is moral & existential : do we keep working to become a democracy, or do we wither into a full-fledged autocracy; there is no middle-ground ...
in a democratic system -- right now -- in america there is only one functioning political party ... neither of us wants to succumb to the other ... the elephant is in the room & the elephant is steering us towards authoritarian rule ... the question is not : how do we stop it; the question we must be assessing is : how do we deal with the elephant in the room, meaning -- how do we find a way to live together, as one country, when absolutely nothing (including a global pandemic, or a violent insurrection on our government) can bring us together ???
My thoughts, in regards to last night’s, “Congress’s new low”.
I have been saying for years that the opposite of Progress is Congress! It’s so partisan now that the only way to get back to some semblance of normal would be to vote out the worst of the Republicans, who continue to throw their support behind an insurrectionist, and start a new Conservative Party with a person who protects, defends and supports the constitution. Liz Cheney, a true conservative constitutionalist, could be the leader. But one thing is certain, America has to have two parties in Congress to balance our Country’s interests.
great article! We have to vote and encourage our friends to vote. I think the tide is changing around Trump's popularity. I agree with Marc Nevas about the new gilded age and the Supreme Court as wll. The 2025 congress and senate Democratic must think hard about Democracy and how to improve it so Trump can't do delays forever and some law about Supreme Court are in order as well.
Yes indeed your choice will be of great impact, the greatest mistake US will make is to allow money and wealthy groups to sway the voting direction. By the way choice peace and modesty as you docks to the election.
Yes we al must look past the summer of 2020 memory hole it where 6 blocks in Seattle a group of criminals took over and would not even let police in, or the riots throughout the country in which businesses were burnt to the ground. Many of those minority businesses were minority owned and never re opened. Or the fact that Kamala Harris started and funded a organization that bailed out rioters. We do not care about non politically connected people having their lives destroyed we only care about a few acres in DC. March onward!
If Americans are truly interested in Democracy they need to understand that it is time to get rid of the Electoral College and establish Ranked Choice Voting in all 50 states. The Electoral College, as well as counting slaves as 3/5ths of a person, were granted to the slave states in order to get their support for the Constitution.
Good advice Professor. Staying focused, keeping our eyes and thoughts on the goal are important. I only wish I could trust the DNC, DCCC, DLCC, DSCC would do the same. If you know anyone in any of thee organizations can you tell them to send NO money or aid of any kind to any Republican, retrumplican, or MAGA supporter. No repeat of 2020 or 2022.
Professor Reich, I fully agree with you that we must stay focused in regards to the upcoming election to ensure that primarily Donald Trump does not regain the presidency and second that we vote in a Congress that is functional.
In my view, I don’t think we’ve been sufficiently effective in driving home what it would mean to lose our democracy and how our way of life would change. Trump already has stated he would enact the Insurrection Act on Day 1 of his Presidency. He’s already spoken about rounding up his political enemies. Accordingly, we can’t relent in urging people—whatever their reasons for complacency or indifference—to imagine what America would look like were the President to start moving the National Guard around to put down our voices, our right to dissent, perhaps indefinitely detaining us. This is not without precedent. Trump had wanted to criminalize protests around Black Lives Matter for the murder of George Floyd.
Expanding upon rights and freedoms that would be ripped away, all of us must amplify our dire despair over Trump’s absorption of a party that applauds a High Court that would ignore 50 years of settled precedent in Roe and would overturn a fundamental right relied upon by tens of millions every year. Clearly, a court willing to do that with a protection, over and over again reaffirmed, would do it to other fundamental protections.
Ultimately, we have about 7 months, a small window to protect the key mechanisms of American democracy from a party committed to precipitating a fatal weakening of American institutions, let alone a presidency eager and able to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law could be subjugated to an individual. Hence, it is our job to urge uncommitted voters to listen to the things Trump says and the people he admires. No one ever should doubt that whatever the freedoms we have in this country, whatever one likes about this country, dramatically would change were Trump ever again to hold office.
Keith, but why two parties?
For a European spectator the electoral system is the producer of the problem.
I have learned that democracies govern with respect for minorities: that respect is the essence of the system. That essence is in danger: maybe since Newt Gingrich, but maybe longer.
The graph in Congress's new low shows that it is easy, when you have a common problem, but that polarisation occurs when there is nothing to fear. In Europe we fear the Russian monster, but the U.S. trust the military. Netanyahu did the same.
What might help is lessons in democratic attitudes. And change of the electoral system.
"I’m convinced that Trump can be beaten. But to ensure Joe Biden’s reelection, we must communicate effectively and concretely with one another about how to do so and what we’re going to contribute to the effort. We cannot be spectators."
If that's the case, please partner with Field Team 6!.
To protect American democracy, reach out to millions of unregistered likely Democrats using a dedicated database using every outreach method possible (phone and text, postcard, email and targeted ad, and in-person too), where new Democratic voters will make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Let’s all of us who love our country and our freedoms make sure Trump ends up in the Dustbin of History! And hold his most anti American henchmen and henchwomen accountable!
Professor Reich, you always make so much sense, so thank you. There is just one favor I have to ask. It would make practical and financial sense for you to make ALL of your writings available free of charge, so that your immediate community could re-post them to their community - just for the next seven months. We would then all speak with clarity of message and you would reach a much wider audience. After the election, you will have a wider, deeper pond in which to fish.
I need to ask historian Timothy Snyder for permission to use Lesson 19 "Be A Patriot" from his book, "20 Lessons for the 21st Century". Dr. Snyder states in clear explicit terms, the best way to describe what patriotism is by clear statements of what patriotism is not, which lists over 20 examples of what Trump has done and said. I had to move back to Ohio from California over 15 years ago. My hometown, Middletown, in southwest Ohio is very polarized. There are many people whom I've known for a long time, some from childhood. The people I want to share Lesson 19 with are the children of hard right lifetime Republicans, many of whom fought in battle in World war II, and some of their fathers are decorated war heroes. I knew some of the fathers of childhood friends, and I would like to give thought that I'd bet if their fathers deceased Fathers were alive today that they would turn away from Trump because they would be appalled. These are the World War II war heroes that Trump mocked, and called losers and suckers. If they are determined to continue voting Republican then they're going to have to vote Democratic in the 2024 election if they ever want to be confident that they will ever have a chance to vote again and want their own children to live and vote in the land of the free and the brave, and count on in our not so distant future, that we will continue to have free and fair elections in the United States. Lesson 19 is precisely what I think they need to read for themselves and rethink the reality of democracy versus autocracy.
I'm very worried that the GOP might try to create election irregularities in enough swing states that nobody wins the electoral collegeand so it becomes 1 vote per state in the House of Representatives which will give us another Trump presidency. If Putin manages to prevail in Ukraine its a VERY short jump to world war 3. These are very troubling times.
I’m starting to believe that the election is over, and Trump and his fascist minions in Congress will be defeated handedly.
Trump’s schtick is getting old and mundane. His performances are weak, and only getting more unhinged and pathetic. His caucus in Congress have become more perverse and incompetent than ever; only managing to accomplish a few acts of renaming Post Office’s.
Bottom line: the entire Republican Party has no platform or agenda to speak of. Their hearings into Joe and Hunter have become more embarrassing, while republican stewardship in the house has reached to level of complete and utter failure and chaos.
When most Americans go to the polls this year, I believe they will have a “Come to Jesus” moment, and reject Trump and his incompetent buffoons in Congress; not necessarily because they like Biden, but because they hate chaos and uncertainty.
IMHO…:)
as you eluded to in your piece, your conversations have been happening with like-minded individuals ... i think the vast majority of the people reading this, writing comments & reading comments all adhere to a mostly similar political ethos ...
the problem that we are failing to address is : what about the "deplorables" ??? ... and let's be honest : most of "us" (myself included) truly do feel that maga nation is compromised of truly awful, deplorable people ...
the fundamental question is : how do we co-exist together as one nation ???
it has become so clear, that we are like oil and water : we just do not mix ... and it is not because we have differences of opinions regarding policies or even cultural issues ... it is because -- right now -- the fundamental difference between us is moral & existential : do we keep working to become a democracy, or do we wither into a full-fledged autocracy; there is no middle-ground ...
in a democratic system -- right now -- in america there is only one functioning political party ... neither of us wants to succumb to the other ... the elephant is in the room & the elephant is steering us towards authoritarian rule ... the question is not : how do we stop it; the question we must be assessing is : how do we deal with the elephant in the room, meaning -- how do we find a way to live together, as one country, when absolutely nothing (including a global pandemic, or a violent insurrection on our government) can bring us together ???
Professor Reich,
My thoughts, in regards to last night’s, “Congress’s new low”.
I have been saying for years that the opposite of Progress is Congress! It’s so partisan now that the only way to get back to some semblance of normal would be to vote out the worst of the Republicans, who continue to throw their support behind an insurrectionist, and start a new Conservative Party with a person who protects, defends and supports the constitution. Liz Cheney, a true conservative constitutionalist, could be the leader. But one thing is certain, America has to have two parties in Congress to balance our Country’s interests.
great article! We have to vote and encourage our friends to vote. I think the tide is changing around Trump's popularity. I agree with Marc Nevas about the new gilded age and the Supreme Court as wll. The 2025 congress and senate Democratic must think hard about Democracy and how to improve it so Trump can't do delays forever and some law about Supreme Court are in order as well.
Yes indeed your choice will be of great impact, the greatest mistake US will make is to allow money and wealthy groups to sway the voting direction. By the way choice peace and modesty as you docks to the election.
Yes we al must look past the summer of 2020 memory hole it where 6 blocks in Seattle a group of criminals took over and would not even let police in, or the riots throughout the country in which businesses were burnt to the ground. Many of those minority businesses were minority owned and never re opened. Or the fact that Kamala Harris started and funded a organization that bailed out rioters. We do not care about non politically connected people having their lives destroyed we only care about a few acres in DC. March onward!
If Americans are truly interested in Democracy they need to understand that it is time to get rid of the Electoral College and establish Ranked Choice Voting in all 50 states. The Electoral College, as well as counting slaves as 3/5ths of a person, were granted to the slave states in order to get their support for the Constitution.
Good advice Professor. Staying focused, keeping our eyes and thoughts on the goal are important. I only wish I could trust the DNC, DCCC, DLCC, DSCC would do the same. If you know anyone in any of thee organizations can you tell them to send NO money or aid of any kind to any Republican, retrumplican, or MAGA supporter. No repeat of 2020 or 2022.