bu Charles Uphaus

That’s a retort often flung at those on the left by those on the right, when the former bring up shortcomings in our society, like obscene levels of income inequality, or rampant discrimination, or structural racism. Well, President Trump and his toadies – seventeen state attorneys general and 126 of the Republican “leadership” in Congress – are clearly unhappy with one of the fundamental tenets of democratic government, namely, that the winner is the one who gets the most votes. According to them, democracy is okay only as long as “your” side wins. Otherwise it’s “rigged,” “corrupt,” “hopelessly flawed.”

Fortunately, in the words of President-elect Biden, “The (Supreme) court sent a clear signal to President Trump that they would be no part of an unprecedented assault on our democracy.”

So, if those who joined in this seditious attempt to overthrow the election results don’t like the basic rules of the game, let them go where their version of democracy is the operating model – someplace like Russia, or maybe Egypt, where the outcome of “popular” votes is whatever those in power say it is. Where the courts are more malleable. Their shameful attempts to overturn election results would be unremarkable there. And their willingness to accommodate would-be autocrats would no doubt be welcome.