Shards from the Embattled Republic

An occasional list of links to thought provoking commentary on the condition our condition is in. Some annotated by me.

New York Times Editorial Board: "the Republic faces an existential threat from a movement that is openly contemptuous of democracy and has shown that it is willing to use violence to achieve its ends. ... " Here's comes 2022 and beyond.

Jennifer Rubin: "Our politics have fallen victim to the primal scream of once-dominant White evangelicals. Having failed to capture the hearts, minds and souls of a majority of Americans, these communities are turning against democracy. They prefer an authoritarian theocracy to a multiracial society in which they are a distinct minority. ..."

Ed Kilgore: "Republicans are using every tool available to protect the independence of state governments they control, as the GOP-dominated federal courts work to dismantle rights guaranteed to all Americans. ..." Until the Supremes get into it, people in blue states will have more civil rights than people in red states. After that, who knows, but the omens aren't good.

Kevin Drum: "Georgia passed a bill that would effectively give a Republican commission the authority to overturn election results in Democratic counties. This, rather than routine tightening of election laws, is the real danger to democracy that we face. However, over the course of the year no similar bill was passed anywhere else. ... Don't just write this off as Kevin trying to make lemonade out of putrid lemons. It shows that there are real limits to anti-democratic actions from Republicans when we fight back."  Optimistic. There is some evidence that wildly energetic organizing can blunt run-of-the-mill voter suppression by bureaucratic restrictions. But if they just seize the polling process, what's left?

Jeff Schogol: "For those who have taken part in the post Sept. 11 wars, cynicism runs deep. Many veterans took part in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, showing the painful divisions among troops and veterans about whom they trust and which facts they believe. It will be up to the Forever War generation to begin the healing. Those who have survived have an obligation to succeed where the Baby Boomers failed and stop the United States from sending its sons and daughters into harm’s way for unattainable goals. Your task will be to prevent future generations from being treated as if they were expendable. ..."

The Why Axis

Paul Waldman: "Electing more Democrats is a difficult task — and it isn’t a particularly clever or innovative solution. It will take money, energy and commitment over the course of years. But if anyone has a better idea, let’s hear it. ..."

I hesitated to start posting an occasional feature like this. I'm imitating Fred Clark -- the Slactivist -- who offers "Postcards from the Culture Wars." I usually click on one of his many offerings and frequently appreciate the result. But link lists can be lazy fluff ...

If anyone finds this feature useful, let me know in comments.