Donald Trump’s Plot Against America
An Analysis of the article: Donald Trump’s Plot Against America By Marc Elias, December 6, 2023
Introduction
Donald Trump is openly plotting to overthrow American democracy. His intentions for a second term are clear and alarming, echoing historical authoritarian rises to power. This article explores the details of his plan and the existential threat it poses to American democracy.
Trump’s Intentions and Actions
Targeting Political Enemies:
Trump has referred to his political adversaries as “vermin” and promised his supporters that he would act as their “retribution” if re-elected. This rhetoric mirrors the dangerous demagoguery seen in historical authoritarian figures.
Undermining Civil Service:
Plans are in place to replace tens of thousands of career civil servants with MAGA loyalists, undermining the non-partisan nature of the civil service. This move threatens to politicize the entire federal workforce.
Control Over Justice System:
Trump aims to take personal control of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute political rivals and protect himself from prosecution. This would include using the Insurrection Act to convert the military into his personal police force.
Attacks on Free Press:
Trump has shown contempt for the free press, branding it the “enemy of the people” and suggesting that the government should censor or shut down media platforms he dislikes. Such actions undermine the fundamental democratic principle of a free and independent press.
Post-2020 Election Actions
Election Interference:
After losing the 2020 election, Trump advocated for discarding lawful ballots, tampering with election certification, and disregarding entire states’ results. His supporters were encouraged to intimidate voters and suppress votes, particularly in cities with significant minority populations.
Voter Intimidation:
Recently, Trump unveiled a new “guard the vote” strategy, urging his supporters to monitor the vote-counting process in blue cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This strategy is a clear attempt to intimidate voters and election officials.
Federal Overreach in Elections:
If re-elected, Trump would likely use the federal government to seize voting machines and ballots, exerting control over ballot counting and certification processes.
Legal System Manipulation
Pardoning Insurrectionists:
Trump would almost certainly pardon all the January 6 insurrectionists, undermining the rule of law and encouraging future acts of violence.
Blocking Prosecutions:
Trump would fire all prosecutors in the federal cases against him, using the DOJ and military to end all criminal cases in which he is a defendant and initiate retaliatory investigations against his opponents.
Historical Context and Risks
Authoritarian Parallels:
The rise of authoritarians often comes from democratic elections, not coups. Hitler, for instance, gained power through democratic means before dismantling democratic institutions.
Pascal’s Wager Applied to Politics:
Considering the risk of Trump’s potential actions, even if the likelihood of him destroying democracy is low, the consequences are severe. Therefore, the risk is not worth taking.
Call to Action
Defend Democracy:
Americans must act now to prevent Trump from being re-elected. This includes combating misinformation, preventing voter suppression, and ensuring free and fair elections.
Unified Effort:
The task requires unprecedented resources and people. Every gesture counts, and the most critical action is to vote. Supporting President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, is crucial as a vote for third-party candidates effectively aids Trump.
Historical Responsibility:
As Vice President Kamala Harris stated in her 2020 acceptance speech, future generations will ask what actions were taken when democracy was at risk. It is our responsibility to protect democracy from Trump’s threats.
Conclusion
The danger posed by Donald Trump to American democracy is clear and imminent. His plans for a second term threaten to dismantle democratic institutions and norms. It is imperative to act decisively and collectively to safeguard the principles of freedom and democracy.
