| > Do you think the constitution needs a change to address that? Yes, because only a constitutional amendment can set federal minimum standards that cannot be undermined by state or other, lower government. And given how state governments are already busy with trying to pass antidemocratic measures - not just the usual gerrymandering stuff, but giving legislatures the power to override Electoral College votes in case of fraud "allegations" - this is a real need! > Still, the power was peacefully (if scandalously) passed to the next elected President. It barely was passed peacefully. Had a sole heroic police officer not lured the crowd away, they would have gotten (and probably hanged) Pence - it was a matter of sixty seconds. And anyway, it's hard to speak of a pass of power when large parts of the Republican voter base don't see Biden as legitimate President, and a not-negligible portion is delusional enough to believe QAnon claims that Biden is serving in a replica White House and Trump is still President. > But I think one thing is worse: closing your eyes to not see them, while they continue doing the repulsive and dangerous things unseen. It's not about closing one's eyes to not see the pus. It is to pass a clear message to people on the fringe: this sort of opinion is not welcomed in society and you will get punished for it. And it is also a message to democratic people: democracy is worth fighting for, fighting against those that threaten its existence. |
That sounds an awful lot like China's new security law. Only patriotic people can run for office - we need to send a clear message that non-patriotic opinions are "not welcomed in society and you will get punished for it". After all, "democracy is worth fighting for" just as you said.