On January 6, President Trump encouraged and stoked the violence of mobs that assaulted the capital, performing insurrection, sedition and destruction of capital buildings (militias..they were part of the mob).
President-elect Biden demanded that the President call upon his rabid mob to be peaceful and leave. President Trump’s video response: “They stole it… be peaceful… go home.. We love you… you’re special… great patriots!”
Meanwhile, the Capital and DC police… well… eventually, they finally showed up; but were turned out in full riot gear and weapons in advance for Antifa and BLM demonstrations.
At this point, countless articles have been written trying to explain why anyone would support Trump, or for that matter, do so in such a mob rabid fashion, refusing to see or recognize all his signs of insanity and the destruction of their own democracy. At last I came upon an explanation that makes some sense. Humankind has a group default position, and it’s autocracy. Meaning, when stressed or without goals, we revert herd-like to strong leaders, without concern for institutions, facts, traditions or law and order.
Maybe, the shift of population to the coasts… or the loss of factories… or the lifelong drift of the Boomers without any substantial involvement in their nation… drove their need for a Trump; but that support is a choice of evil and insurrection at the end of their times. The GOP effort to overturn the Presidential election wasn’t about a ‘rigged’ election. It was simply a bid for more campaign money and positioning for Trumps supporters for GOP future political offices. Those who supported it were clearly part of this generation’s herd default. What these GOP destroyers are also missing: there will be a lot fewer boomers in four years.
As a nation, it wasn’t that long ago, we were in the exact same national position. Goldwater’s (GOP presidential candidate) favorite Senator was Joseph McCarthy (GOP fascist). The hysteria that swept the nation then is still with us — for example, the two defeated Georgia GOP senate candidates pitched their entire position to their base of white Evangelicals as against the radical left.
Another thread of connection, McCarthy’s legal attorney was the same as Trump’s (Roy Cohn).
Today, the Republican-linked National Association of Manufacturers demanded Article 25 be enacted.
Ben Franklin said it best when our founders concluded forming our government: “It’s a republic, if you can keep it.”
Dave Blake
Chromo, CO
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