Assaulting Democracy

DEMOCRACY does not function automatically, like gravity or the speed of light. Democracy, a complicated machine of human invention, can and does, like all complicated human made machinery, gets broken, and can cease to function entirely if not repaired. Every democracy ever invented - and there have not been many - has suffered that fate. A democracy only works when we the people make it work, like a car. Democracies require elaborate planning involving many people, including elections, political candidates and office holders, a vast array of government officers and bureaucracies, a perpetually upgraded body of law and judicial system, and innumerable other components and parts which must be regulated and repaired for them to continue functioning. Democracies only function if a high percentage of we the people expend the necessary effort to make the necessary repairs to make them function. It has been sugested with good supporting arguments that the best, most efficient, most effective form of government is a benevolent dictatorship, emphasis on "benevolent". Above all else, a democracy will only work if we the people believe it is worth the effort required, worth the effort to participate, and to have faith in the value of this fragile form of government. If Donald Trump were younger, I would almost favor the death penalty for him, for the attempted murder of American democracy. As it is, I favor his indictment, conviction, and long term incarceration for that crime. In our present democratic emergency, every American should perhaps be required to sign a document promising to accept the results of the twenty twenty election. All who refuse should be deprived of the right to vote - perhaps. Refusing to accept the results of a verifiably fair and free election is a serious attack on democracy. If, after every election, a substantial plurality or majority of voters refuse to accept the election outcome, and then storm the capitol building, then proceed to advocate for new voting restrictions in order to reduce the number of people who vote, how long before democracy is replaced by chaos, anarchy, and finally, autocracy? Arguably, indeed demonstrably the United States is not and never has been an actual "democracy", but instead a plutocratic oligarchy, government of, by, and for the corporate wealthy. But, if nothing else, American democracy is aspirational, a lofty ideal not yet come to fruition. It is worth noting that the millions of people who still insist that the 2020 election was stolen do not really believe it, but want to believe it, in an almost religious sense, just as millions of fervantely religious folks deceive themselves into believing that very soon God, in the form of Jesus, is going to descend from the skky and rapture them into heaven. Humans have vivid imaginations, and are adept at self delusion. As Goethe said: "We are never deceived; we only deceive ourselves." People who refuse to accept verifiably honest elections are not good citizens, if ever they were. If you accuse someone of a crime, you must accompany the accusation with the identity of the accused, and strong evidence for the crime. People claiming that the 2020 election was stolen have failed to identify the party or parties who allegedly stole the election, and have presented no evidence to support their extraordinary accusation. All of their complaints and concerns have been addressed, with explanations given in detail as to why their complaints are unfounded. The votes have been counted repeatedly, and all accusations of voter fraud discredited. It is time, long past time for the "stop the steal" movement, to drop its accusations, stop damaging democracy and harming the country, and if its members can muster the basic decency, a doubtful prospect, to apologize. The future of the fragile, complex, sublime machinery of American democracy hangs in the balance.