I understand that a portion of our population thinks violence is okay. I wonder, though, if they truly understand what it would be like to live under fascism and that the violence might be turned on them. It would be interesting to have a survey that asks: “Are you ok with the US moving to a government run by fascists?” I would hope that the percent saying yes is less than those accepting violence. Maybes they are not connecting the two ideas.
Pollsters have to craft their questions very carefully, Shannon, with two purposes: 1) easy to understand and 2) avoid leading the respondent towards an answer.
I fear your question would not work on both counts. It’s too complicated for most people and may lead them towards an answer.
Besides, I also fear that those who find violence acceptable are not sufficiently capable of making such a fine distinction as you are.
However you slice it, I find the revelation – even if it is off by a significant amount – both shocking and frightening!
The increasing acceptance of violence should be no surprise. It has been stoked by a corrupt and dangerous ex-President and the complicit right wing media propaganda machine. The GOP is living in an alternate reality where violence is not a last resort – it is the preferred method of getting what they want. Who cares about free & fair elections? NOT THEM.
Thanks for articulating in such excellent detail the pre and post threat to our democracy surrounding January 6th. The truth and the lies, the facts and the alternative facts believed by nearly half the population on each side of the political spectrum continues to create enormous distrust amongst family, friends, legislators and voters. If there is no return to trust, decency and reasonable debate without violence what on earth will happen to this Republic?
From what we know now, there are only bad (or worse!) answers to your question about “what will happen to this Republic.” All the trends are moving in the wrong direction.
There are three essential steps I see that MAY reverse the growing resort to violence:
Pass federal voting rights laws (which means eliminating or getting around the filibuster);
The DOJ must investigate and vigorously prosecute ringleaders of the Insurrection, up to and including Trump and his family; and criminal prosecution of the Trump family business using RICO because it definitely is a crime syndicate just like the mafia.
Only then is there any hope to avoid catastrophe, coming first in the mid-terms in November and then in 2025 with a successful coup! I wish I could be more optimistic, but right now the outlook is bleak.
I understand that a portion of our population thinks violence is okay. I wonder, though, if they truly understand what it would be like to live under fascism and that the violence might be turned on them. It would be interesting to have a survey that asks: “Are you ok with the US moving to a government run by fascists?” I would hope that the percent saying yes is less than those accepting violence. Maybes they are not connecting the two ideas.
Pollsters have to craft their questions very carefully, Shannon, with two purposes: 1) easy to understand and 2) avoid leading the respondent towards an answer.
I fear your question would not work on both counts. It’s too complicated for most people and may lead them towards an answer.
Besides, I also fear that those who find violence acceptable are not sufficiently capable of making such a fine distinction as you are.
However you slice it, I find the revelation – even if it is off by a significant amount – both shocking and frightening!
Thank you for your contribution.
This article gets it totally right, but this story from The Guardian today goes one step further and it is a MUST READ:
The next US civil war is already here – we just refuse to see it
The right has recognized that the system is in collapse, and it has a plan: violence and solidarity with treasonous far-right factions
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/04/next-us-civil-war-already-here-we-refuse-to-see-it?
The increasing acceptance of violence should be no surprise. It has been stoked by a corrupt and dangerous ex-President and the complicit right wing media propaganda machine. The GOP is living in an alternate reality where violence is not a last resort – it is the preferred method of getting what they want. Who cares about free & fair elections? NOT THEM.
Scary stuff Warren - your article certainly brings the subject to light.
Thanks for articulating in such excellent detail the pre and post threat to our democracy surrounding January 6th. The truth and the lies, the facts and the alternative facts believed by nearly half the population on each side of the political spectrum continues to create enormous distrust amongst family, friends, legislators and voters. If there is no return to trust, decency and reasonable debate without violence what on earth will happen to this Republic?
From what we know now, there are only bad (or worse!) answers to your question about “what will happen to this Republic.” All the trends are moving in the wrong direction.
There are three essential steps I see that MAY reverse the growing resort to violence:
Pass federal voting rights laws (which means eliminating or getting around the filibuster);
The DOJ must investigate and vigorously prosecute ringleaders of the Insurrection, up to and including Trump and his family; and criminal prosecution of the Trump family business using RICO because it definitely is a crime syndicate just like the mafia.
Only then is there any hope to avoid catastrophe, coming first in the mid-terms in November and then in 2025 with a successful coup! I wish I could be more optimistic, but right now the outlook is bleak.