Minority Rule in the US

The norm of accepting defeat and peacefully relinquishing power is the foundation of modern democracy. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt Something is very wrong with America. Donald Dodo’s* BIG LIE about the 2020 election continues to have a dangerous, corrupting, and corrosive influence on our people and on our democratic institutions. It is absolutely astonishing … Read more

The Republican Assault on the Rule of Law

Our institutions of democracy and law have been under vicious attack for years now – that is from within, not from without the United States. And these vicious attacks are unsustainable and unendurable. They’ve already taken their toll on American democracy and American law in their impact, and the consequence of their impact, on the … Read more

Eight false beliefs voters cling to

Many Americans will be basing their voting decisions this year on strongly held beliefs that are complete nonsense. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that voters are stupid. I am saying that they often don’t do their homework thoroughly and are therefore easily deceived by simplistic slogans, false conspiracies, and fake outrage. Even worse, … Read more

Republican Liars and Crazies

The Republican Party has encouraged and exploited bigotry, extremism, and paranoia for decades. They have done this deliberately and unashamedly in order to acquire and keep power (and gain). Rather than present practical, useful, well-considered, policy proposals to better the lives of the American people, they have found it much easier to attract votes by … Read more