It's easy to get caught up in the chaos.
So let's take a step back for a moment and look at the big picture.
Am I missing something? I mean if someone asked me the question, “Should we allow the destruction of our country, deletion of our Bill of Rights, burn it all down, and hand over the ashes to religious extremists so they can traumatize us all and wage war against the American people, resulting in huge profits and personal benefit for the aggressors, Y or N?” I just can’t imagine that being a difficult question for most of us to answer. And yet, here we are.
Yes - people are afraid of the wrath of the dark side. Twitter/X and other sites are cesspools of hate, and the propaganda networks that further right wing lies and conspiracies are well established at this point. That dark side just keeps snowballing and condensing in strength and violence, which is not good. But isn’t that the point of our government and its three branches? Isn’t that how living in this country works? We elect people to represent us in government, and they make laws to steer the ship and, when needed, step up to fend off attacks on our republic. Hello? These asshats, finally faced with a GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER after decades of planning by its instigators, are BOWING DOWN TO IT or climbing aboard.
US House representatives say they won’t bend on issues of tax unfairness and healthcare loss for their constituents, and then they vote for it anyway. Because their cult leader gave them signed swag? Are you kidding? Senators faced with a yes/no vote on confirming presidential appointments raise valid, important concerns about the nonsensical, offensively bad nominees, and don’t seem to care about any appointee lying to their face about those concerns during hearings. Then those “concerned” members vote to confirm them all. Now we’re left with a presidential cabinet from hell, a White House of white supremacists and anti-constitutionalists, and appointees running agency sections who aren’t only unqualified, they’re clear and present dangers to our national security.
I just don’t see how Republicans have no conscience, shame, or integrity. I’m not surprised by it, I mean they’ve been on this path for years now. I keep thinking logically that if we could just figure out what Republicans in Congress really WANT, that maybe we could collectively wiggle ourselves out of this logjam. That may sound simplistic and naive, but it’s also human nature. Something drives each of our actions in any given moment. And right now what’s driving Congressional Rs seems mysterious to me. Because the idea that they’re all just “afraid” of the ridiculous clown show in the White House — so afraid that Congressional Republicans are willing to lie or not do their job at all — blows my mind.
Skeptics claim we shouldn’t wait around for Republicans to wake up or act. I agree, insisting on holding our breath while waiting for the majority to engage isn’t a smart idea based on their poor record of resistance so far. At the same time, I am not willing to let them off the hook. We’re undergoing a period of “authoritarian breakthrough” by all accounts from experts on the topic. The aggressors don’t have the right to do what they’re doing, the way they’re doing it. Congress has a role to play here, but so far, the majority in Congress with very few exceptions have refused to do so. They must step up or vacate their seats. Right? Should they continue to be paid and wield power while not doing their job? If not now, when? Why is this so hard for so many?
To Congressional Republicans:
It’s not about you. It’s about We The People. Do your duty or step aside.
“Congress” is not necessarily the problem here, but partisanship and honor clearly are. So put party aside, put your truth-telling-thinking-cap on, and then ponder: which side of the Grand Experiment are you on? Were you lying when you took your oath? WHAT are you thinking?
1) Are you frozen with the fear of being challenged and ousted from your seat by out of control oligarchs and a cultish political party gone rogue? Feel sad that the Party has left you? Feel stupid for ever caving to support the dark side, and now you feel stupid and stuck, worried this predicament will come back to bite you politically? Are you going along to get along, just so you can keep your seat until retirement? [That’s a blue falcon (BF) move if ever there was one. Fellow veterans will understand.]
How embarrassing for you. Let me clarify: you work in public service. That makes you a servant to the public. You should see your professional role as expendable. Yes, you’re special, but you’re also expendable. Just like we all are who serve in the military. You know, that whole idea of serving “something bigger” than ourselves? You are one of many bricks that form a protective wall. That wall preserves We The People and our constitution inside, keeping the dark side, whatever “dark side” may mean at any given time in our nation’s story, on the outside.
A real public servant would proudly be part of a show of strength and resistance. They would lead, or at least follow, an attempt at collaboration and overthrowing the bad guy. They would get challenged for their seat or maybe they wouldn’t, and maybe they’d win or maybe they’d lose re-election. But either way a real public servant would maximize the power of their office, and our systems and laws, as a shield to slow down (or STOP!) a takeover and help the country. Strength looks like doing what’s right even in the face of threats, not yelling at and mocking your constituents.
Think of it as a metaphorical carnival game of legislative seats being set up and perhaps knocked down - ping! ping! ping! (Or maybe not — they can’t oust you all.) You’re supposed to be part of the fight, not complain about it.
Your job is to stand for what’s right FOR THE COUNTRY, and make political retaliation challengers have to work and spend dirty donor money to take you out of office. (Judging by the history of MAGA candidates challenging incumbents, you’d probably be safe anyway.) But by putting your elected office ahead of the needs of the country, you’re throwing the rest of us under the proverbial bus and you’re obeying in advance1 to this national assault. (If this is the issue, how did you get so off track that you’re pledging allegiance to a party and its insurrectionist figurehead instead of the US Constitution? What can we do to help you get back on track? What do you need so you can do the right thing?) It’s not about you. It’s about We The People and the oath you took. Do your duty or step aside.
2) Or are you most afraid of potential safety consequences from upsetting the wanna-be dictator and the minority of voters that put him there? He answers to some of the nation’s most greedy and underhanded organizations and donors, and of some of the world’s most ruthless dictators and killers. Now he is being used by other countries to bomb yet other countries. The only ideas he has of his own are failed ideas, over and over again. Meanwhile you’re still sacrificing yourself, your future, (AND THE COUNTRY) to do what he and his enablers say.
Appeasement doesn’t work. Bowing to him and his handlers does not make you safer. At all. It doesn’t save you, your family, and certainly not the rest of us. Why hand over your power like this? Tell him NO, you have a job to do, and you’re going to do it. You would have the backing of the United States Constitution and our rule of law — which is still holding on for now — to say, “hell no, we’re not helping you institute unconstitutional cruelty and unnecessary trauma on our constituents.” Lacking any other explanation it sure looks like you’re exploiting the situation for your own political ease or personal safety. And that’s disgusting.
Along with your own safety, you likely worry about that of your loved ones. I hear you. This country is in a terrible situation right now with lies and violence normalized, and even incited, by unstable people at the highest levels of society who also have the loudest microphones. That’s why it falls to you to SHUT DOWN the COUP. Ending this chapter of a corrupt fascist West Wing protects you and us. (How can we help? Millions of us want to help. What do you need so you can do the right thing?) It’s not about you. It’s about We The People. Do your duty or step aside.
3) If you’re actually not greedily putting yourself ahead of the rest of your constituents to preserve your own seat or safety, could it be that you actually agree with this idea floating around of burying the U.S. Bill of Rights? Are you on board with ending the rule of law, the constitutional republic form of government, our balance of powers, and our basic human rights? While as a veteran I personally see that stance as disloyal bullshit, how about you operate in good faith, pick a path, and own it? Because what is happening now is NOT working and is NOT acceptable.
Hiding, staying quiet, or running away just makes you look ridiculous which then makes the whole country look absurd.
Based on your inaction, dereliction of duty, and lack of explanation to the contrary, it appears from the outside that maybe you agree with certain dark forces that the Grand Experiment should be over and parts of the US Constitution should be dead. Or to be more precise, you want the US Constitution to be returned to its original version2, meaning a document that founded a white male landowners’ club in the “new” land. Is that what you think? This isn’t about policy. It’s about vision. Are you saying we should no longer be a melting pot? We should instead revert back to this white supremacy fever dream and just shut up and take it? You can’t back a traitor and still be a patriot yourself, so which side of history are you on? It’s not about you or a political party. It’s about We The People. Do your duty or step aside.
To recap:
If you are working for the end of the republic, it’s only fair to own it. Tell The People what your actual goal is, since it isn’t in alignment with your oath of office. Own it if you think you’re one of the good guys, carrying out a revolution. (In this current scenario, what in the world would make you think you’re one of the “good guys?” Maybe read a history book. Causing harm and spreading lies and hate is never the action of the good guys.) You’re not a revolutionary. But if YOU think you are, why not own it? Make the case and prove us wrong.
If you are not working for the end of the republic, and you believe constituents are misguided to think you are, then it’s on you to clarify that with words and actions. Right now most of you are complicit in the effort to overthrow the government. We the People who are dedicated to remaining a constitutional republic, and have even fought for it in uniform, are running out of patience with you and the USA is running out of time.
Either way, as it stands right now you are way past breach of your oath. Do you understand that?
Being on the right side of history is a choice. So many of us — millions — see the courage it requires to hold fast in this strange and unique situation. But isn’t that why you’re there? How is there any option other than doing your job? This country isn’t being reformed or revamped or improved. It’s being stomped out, and you’re helping.3
Snap out of the lies you’ve been told, and have told others. Do your job. Impeach, convict, and remove those individuals pressuring you into a corner and working to overthrow our constitutional republic. We’re losing our national security against foreign dictators and domestic confederate sympathizers. The world is watching, waiting, and rooting for us.
Do your duty or step aside.
For The People.
“Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance.” Timothy Snyder
“Heritage Citizenship: How They’re Rebuilding the
White Republic.” Tad Stoermer
***This story is in process. There are lots of things on the
record that Rs have done to screw over their constituents.
It’s taking a while to write.***
