The election is over. Finally, after what seemed to be a never-ending campaign. Some people are now elated. Some are sad, depressed, perhaps angry.
But now we all need to pull together as one nation, for the good of our country.
One of the hallmarks of our democratic system is that the losing side in any contest graciously accepts the loss and, if already in power at the time, peacefully transfers power to the winner.
That’s the way it’s supposed to work, and that’s the way it is working this time.
The only exception to the peaceful transfer of power over the 228 years since our first president, George Washington, transferred the power of the Presidency to his successor, John Adams, until now was January 2021, when Trump left Washington DC early on inauguration day rather than welcome Joe Biden as the new President, and that after having incited an insurrection by his followers against the country’s legally constituted government on January 6.
(Trump continues to falsely claim that that election was stolen from him, although he lost 60 court cases related to the election, and has failed to present any real evidence of theft.)
So, Donald Trump, Joe Biden is modeling for you the way you should have behaved after the 2020 election.
Instead of acting like an adult who recognizes that sometimes one wins, sometimes not, you behaved in 2021 like a toddler, who insisted he had to win (or at least be told he’d won) every contest. Like a small child, you had to cry, kick your heels, and generally make things unpleasant for all those around you.
That was then. This is now. Now we must deal with the reality of an actual Trump victory.
When the new Prez takes actions that are right, that are likely to improve the lives of people in this country, we need to applaud, offer what support we can. When he takes actions that are wrong-headed, unwise, perhaps even unlawful, we need to oppose those.
There are numerous ways to speak out in this country. Individuals can send emails or letters, and make phone calls, to the President or to another administration official, and can speak their views to pollsters and TV interviewers.
But perhaps a more effective way to speak out is to ally ourselves with other like-minded citizens in groups.
Some state officials are doing just that. Governors Safeguarding Democracy is an organization just formed and led by Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. The group, composed of governors and attorneys general from many states, will act in opposition to Trump when they deem it necessary to preserve their states’ rights.
Although most members will likely be Democrats, the group is non-partisan and will reach out to all governors and attorneys general.
Individual citizens can also join together in groups to make a real impact politically. We are stronger, and we feel more powerful, in organizations of like-minded individuals. One example: In 2016, in response to Trump’s earlier candidacy, the Indivisible group sprang up, and it is resurging in response to his current electoral victory.
Indivisible was co-founded by Ezra Levin and his partner, after both had worked as staffers in Congressional offices and had noted that letters and phone calls from constituents of Congresspersons could make a real impact in the way those officials addressed issues. Even a few such contacts could sway a Representative’s thinking and actions. Using that knowledge, Levin and others led in the founding of numerous Indivisible groups all over the country, emphasizing citizen action, much of it at the local level. Indivisible members attended city council and school board meetings, wrote Letters to Editors, and otherwise acted in lawful ways to influence the activities of public officials.
Can such citizen action in groups stop wrong actions by Trump and his minions after his January inauguration? There are no guarantees, of course, but there is precedent.
Following the uproar generated by Trump’s Muslim ban in early 2017, and the chaos that ensued at airports, Trump backed down and issued a statement “clarifying” that green-card holders were exempt. Five days later, a judge blocked the rest of the order from taking effect (www.vox.com/politics).
The pattern recurred at other times in the first Trump presidency: Trump would announce some outrageous policy, then would have to back down after seeing public reaction.
He is not beginning well. Even before he takes office, he has announced plans to appoint several people to cabinet positions who are clearly unqualified (Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard, to mention only two), and some of his appointees are credibly accused of crimes (perhaps not unexpected from someone who is a criminal himself). It remains to be seen if enough Republicans in the Senate grow enough spine to oppose these appointments.
It has been stated by numerous pundits that a second Trump term will be worse than the first because he now knows more about how and where to apply pressure on various governmental agencies and officials.
No doubt that’s true. But we also know more about how he operates and how little respect he has for traditions, laws, and the U.S. Constitution itself. So we’re more prepared to oppose him.
Armies of lawyers are on alert, having watched the election with eagle eyes and preparing now to go to court on behalf of our citizenry as needed. Governors of some states stand ready to guard their own citizens’ rights. And plenty of activists will contact their representatives in Congress, write Letters to Editors, march in protests, and generally raise H— if someone tries to bring this long experiment in selfgovernment to an end.
It could get ugly. But I hope, and expect, that it won’t. I believe enough of us will remember that we’re all citizens of this great and beautiful country, and that through most of our history we’ve managed to find ways to work together for the common good.
May that long tradition continue.