Cromey Online

The writings of author, therapist, and priest Robert Warren Cromey.

Friday, January 07, 2022

WE ARE NOT LOSING DEMOCRACY

 


Look at Our Strengths


Many people are frightened about losing our democracy. I’ll admit there are serious problems with Trumpist Republicans regaining power.


Here are what keeps me hopeful that Democracy will hold.


The Supreme Court is full of Republicans but of varying degrees of conservativism. Chief Justice Roberts has broken with his colleagues in the LGBT issue. These are smart men and women. Voting rights bills take a long time getting to the court. The court will be slow to cut voting restrictions and impede freedom of speech or religion.


The military does not want to go to another war. The Joint Chiefs of staff will not let a nutsy president start another war. Some have already said they will prevent that former president from pushing the red button. They will be slow to have their soldiers and sailors fight other Americans in a civil war.


Black and Hispanic Americans are in large numbers and growing in power. They have everything to lose if Democracy falters. They will unite to resist fascism.


American business wants peace. Business will resist fascism as it will be bad for profits. Free market capitalism needs freedom. It wants freedom from too much government. The munitions business in the Nazi era did well but depended on war needs. 


Labor will resist growing fascism as it threatens their power. In Nazi Germany labor unions were very weak. In the US labor in fact is growing in strength and power. Labor will lose negotiation and strike power if democracy fails.


I will add that much of the fear and worry comes from watching TV news. It is designed to stir emotions, divide opinion and sell soap. Television invades our eyes, ears, emotions, prejudices and our loves, hates and our intellect.


I only read the SF Chronicle, NY Times digit and The New Yorker. I find even in that media a lack of objectivity and tilt to the left, which happens to align with my views.


I do not think we are losing our democracy or that 

facism will prevail. We have too much to lose if we let that happen. Freedom of speech is too precious, for even loudmouth Trumpists, to lose.


rwc