Not Yet a Coup, but….

Trump, flailing in the waning days of his Presidency, continues to do everything he can to maintain his hold on power. Though Republicans and Democrats at the local level have refused to be pressured into ignoring the votes of millions of Americans, Congressional Republicans at the national level continue to be intimidated or actually supportive of Trump’s active undermining of our system of free and fair elections. Though the Supreme Court threw out the Texas AG’s baseless case, more than 100 Republican members of the House signed on in support of this desperate attempt to invalidate the election results of four key swing states. They signed on after one of their number, Mike Johnson of Louisiana sent an email asking for their support and saying that Trump was ‘anxiously awaiting the final list.’

I am still confident that our democratic institutions will prevail, but the seeds of fear, hatred and suspicion that Trump and his allies continue to sow are an ongoing threat to this election and to our capacity to function under our incoming President.

One of my self-care practices is to occasionally read Robert Hubbell’s wonderful, informative and encouraging Today’s Edition Newsletter. In last Friday’s edition he wrote:

“An essay in The Atlantic by Zeynep Tufekci reflects on the fact that our language has no word for Trump’s ongoing efforts to overturn the election. See “‘This Must Be Your First’.” Tufekci writes that

         “Much debate has ensued about what exactly to call whatever Trump is attempting right now, and about how worried we should be. . . . Coup may not quite capture what we’re witnessing in the United States right now, but there’s also a danger here . . . The incoherence and incompetence of the attempt do not change its nature.”

Tufekci wisely counsels that “acting as if Trump is trying to stage a coup is the best way to ensure he won’t.” I agree. Despite the buffoonery of Giuliana and Sydney Powell, despite a litigation strategy that borders on incoherence, and despite the wink-and-nod charade of Trump hostages joining the Texas lawsuit, what they are proposing is the end of constitutional order.”

Trump uses the language of democracy to undermine democracy. His power is diminishing by the day, but he will be a severe threat to our country until January 20^th, when Biden is sworn in. And even then he will be a continuing threat to our country. Trump has a cult-like hold on a substantial number of his followers and a strong influence on many others who share some of his alleged discontents. I say alleged because it seems Trump will say or do anything that will enflame the fears and grievances of his base—not because he believes it but because he wants to stay in power.

So, it continues.

Over the past nine months, I’ve been talking about the two pandemics: the corona virus and the ongoing systemic racial violence of our culture. I’m considering adding Trump as a third pandemic all to himself. The damage he has done in polarizing the country and the danger he continues to pose to our democratic institutions is real and will take years to heal. Trump has undermined our ability to talk and work and live with each other—the very bedrock of our democratic republican system.

Hopefully we are flattening the curve of the Trump pandemic and things will not advance to a full-scale coup. But each one of us needs to stay informed and engaged. Our individual and collective actions to build the bridges of communication and respect are the only way to realize the great dreams on which this country was founded.

May our thoughts, words and actions move us toward genuine equality under the law and may they help re-weave a social fabric that supports each one of us to create a life of dignity, meaning and fulfillment.