Like millions of Americans, I did not watch President Biden's Valley Forge-Campaign-Kickoff-Save Democracy speech. Unlike millions of Americans, I pay attention to political news.
It's maddening to be a political news junkie. In some ways it's Groundhog Day: Either Trump bad or Biden good or Trump good and Biden bad, or wars and death and destruction, or floods, fire and climate change or the moving masses of starving or politically ostracized seeking refugees. Calling it weary and disheartening is almost an understatement. No wonder — I tell myself — I'm increasing watching Ancient Aliens on the History Channel as a retreat from MSNBC or CNN (though the BBC does give me some indication of what news delivery used to be like). Even making an exodus into The New York Times or Washington Post seems exasperating. So why would a Biden speech proclaiming that democracy is on the line in 2024 election heat my political passions?
I'm beyond being mesmerized by Trump's mental deterioration and being typecast as a narcissus. Long distance psychoanalysis of Trump is like playing Ping-Pong with yourself because the serve is unanswered. It simply should be accepted that Trump is a bad and mentality crippled man, and without his money, his celebrity background and the acquiescence of the media and political system, he would be a tinhorn car salesman chasing skirts by driving the newest car on the lot.
The big question isn't about who Trump is, but why he's still around. As Dr. Jason Johnson, political science professor and MSNBC contributor has repeated stated: Brazil took six months to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro and bar him from running for elective office by the Brazil's highest electoral court until 2030 because (quoting the AP) ". . . he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system." Sound familiar?
Yet here we are with Trump, who Bolsonaro buddy-up with, polluting the system after three years. Not mentioned enough is that Trump's criminal presence as a candidate reflects as much on the purblind nature of the electoral system, one that Biden delivered a clarion call on. The fact that Trump continues to play the justice system points to the two-tier way justice is delivered in this country — money talks, bullshit walks. And it nearly verifies the existence of the "deep state" through its wariness to hold Trump accountable. One can throw around all the legalese found in all the law books, repeat 91 indictments until hoarse but it still looks like we aren't a nation of laws, but a nation of politics.
Biden, like most all politicians and their ivy-clinging votaries, may talk with ordinary people but don't know them. Trump does or, at least, has people believing he does. That may be a source of trouble as Biden's "save democracy" inducement assumes voters accept America is a democracy. Those within the political system, a whole ecosystem of money, relationships, and power, may feel threatened by the autocratic landscape Trump would lay out if elected, but they would argue America is a democracy. But how much is for the whole and how much is for the individual and his or her position in the system?
Some 22.2 million people are in federal, state, and local government. Thousands lobby those people, either in a business capacity or as part of a nonprofit. While banding together under a particular organization or cause can be argued as a democratic pursuit, most people fall in the category of commenting via email, at a public meeting or stewing privately. The real motivated launch a quixotic aspiration for public office or embrace whatever power center open to them and their blossoming urge for power and status.
Voters don't necessarily rule, and a particular vote count doesn't stay fixed in all circumstances. In those states that offer citizen initiatives to make or change laws between 2010 and 2015, 21 percent of those initiatives were altered by lawmakers. In 2016 to 2018 that figure when up to 36 percent. Citizen activists also can expect their ballot language to be contested or changed, tying up the initiative in court and dampening the enthusiasm of supporters.
The elections of 2018, 2020 and 2022 were three of the highest turnout elections. In 2020, 66% of the eligible voters turned out. Except for the Republicans capturing the U.S. House by a very thin margin in 2022 the majority of voters rejected the Republican agenda of delay, damage, deflect and demoralize the country. In 2020 the Republicans ran without a platform except for fealty to Trump. The flatness and vacuity of that veneration became the branding of the Republican Party as the Authoritarian Party. It's expected the 2024 platform with be a rewrite of 2020 once Trump is the nominee.
The Democratic Platform for 2020 was thousands of words, a tome likely read only by those studying for their master’s degree. The sleep-inducing text preaches about ordinary working Americans and those suffering under the heel of racism, economic and environment injustices but its length and weighty pronouncements seem predestined to die in some congressional subcommittee or flounder in a court case.
The Biden campaign worries that it's losing support among Black and young voters. It's not idle speculation. The number of public pro-Palestinian demonstrations and such labor organizations as the United Auto Workers and American Federation of Teachers calling for ceasefire in the Israeli and Palestinian War should make Biden supporters nervous.
His speech before an audience at the Mother Emanuel AME Church, scene of the place of nine murdered by racist Dylann Roof, was interrupted by calls for a ceasefire. Those calling for an end of Israeli killing of civilians in Gaza, estimated at 22,800 including 9,600 children, seem willing to follow Biden anywhere. To some from Biden's generation its reminiscent of Vietnam War protesters following President Lyndon Johnson, which may have helped him refuse to run for reelection in 1968. Ignored by establishment politicians — and some would say the democratic pull — is the sentiment that Biden's refusal to run again, along with Trump's conviction and imprisonment, would be welcomed events.
Biden's places a lot of hope on Black Americans coming out to vote for him. Statistics indicated that nearly 14% of all eligible voters are Black, with 7 in 10 eligible to vote. His campaign depends upon an older Black generation to help give him a second term yet 60 percent of eligible Black voters are 19 to 49 years of age. Why not take his campaign to Black colleges and working-class neighborhoods? Appearing at Mother Emanuel AME Church is a thank you gesture to U.S. Representative James C. Clyborn who was crucial in helping Biden get the Democratic nomination. Clyborn is 84, part of Biden's generation. Those attending who protested Biden's unequivocal support of Israel’s bombing of Gaza were not. Charles M. Blow, New York Times columnist, notes that nearly half of Black Millennials and Gen Z "seldom attend or ever go to church." In zeroing in on Biden's theme of saving democracy, Blow wrote: "It focused on what his administration has done and not what it will do."
There's no doubt Trump and his sycophants would tear America's political system apart. HIs election would put Americans in the position of acquiescence to his rule or fighting. Considering this country's diversity, and growing diversity, civil war would not be out of the question and possibly military rule as the ending result.
Biden needs to expand his saving democracy theme beyond rhetoric and propose some real democratic pursuits: end partisan gerrymandering; expand voting rights; open the political system to ideas such as rank choice voting; increasing the opportunity for third party representation on the ballot; have a nationwide primary system and seek the end of the Electoral College with election of president by popular vote.
These are some concrete ideas that promote democracy. Just running a campaign on "saving" it has already been co-opted by Trump and will increasing be. Have him respond to "positives" about democracy — "saving" is a rear action and points to an election of Biden dependent up Trump's defeat.
How much you believe in this coming election as one to save democracy corresponds with how much you fear Trump. He speaks of fear and grievance. Biden needs to speak of fight and change.
Excellent essay, Bruce. Thank you for writing.
Interesting post, and I agree with most of your points. That said, I sympathize with Biden as he attempts to rein in Netanyahu while supporting Israel's right to defend its existence. The border situation remains a bipartisan embarrassment. Our republic has never been a pure democracy, but recent stalemates and inaction demonstrate its built-in flaws. And the 2024 election could make matters worse. Our problems are more easily worsened than solved, but it's up to all of us to keep ourselves informed, willing to speak out, and vote. As my aunt used to say: "This too shall pass."