Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, click “About the Author” tab.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

BEGIN ENTRY #511: The last five (5) entries outlined ideas for starting to rebuild the US democracy.  Unfortunately, most ideas worth considering are longer term and will have no effect on the 2024 election. 

Over the past couple of weeks, I have struggled to find other practical ideas. What keeps tainting my thinking can only be described as the appallingly lack of understanding by much of the American public about basic laws and/or blatant disrespect for those laws, including those who should know better.

One frustrating aspect of this behavior is an unwavering unwillingness to learn. The attitude can be summarized by those who proclaim, “I don’t need no stinking laws. I’ll do what I want!”

No, son, that’s not how democracy works. Laws are the foundation of a democracy.

When people state we need to get rid of government, I ask several simple questions. “Do you think you own your car or your house?“ The response is usually “Damn right I do. And I paid for them, unlike some liberal slackers.“

My follow up question, “And who do you think allows you to own your car and house?“ A typical response, “I’ve got the title. The house and truck are mine. What more proof do you want, buddy?”

“And who grants the title?” I ask. The question is usually followed by the deer-in-the-headlights look.  After a few more questions, the person grudgingly acknowledges that the government guarantees the right of ownership.

What makes lack of knowledge of civics dangerous is someone like Trump. For all his long list of faults, one must say he excels at spouting BS that appeals to a shockingly high percentage of the voting public.

If Trump has been a student of anything, the subject matter has been self-promotion and cheating. What’s the issue with self-promotion? Entertainers do it all the time. So do politicians. Real estate people are the worst!

The initial mistake with Trump was his election in 2016. While he will never admit it publicly, dollars to donuts Trump entered the 2016 presidential race never expecting to win. He entered the race to promote the Trump brand.  By building name recognition and being perceived as a national figure, rather than a clown on a reality tv show, he could charge more for his hotels, golf courses and memberships at Mar-a-Lago.

Yet he won in 2016.  And he won for two reasons: (i) the quirky way presidents are elected in this country – the Electoral College, rather than the popular vote, which he lost; (ii) a gift immediately before the election from then FBI Director, James Comey. 

Comey violated DOJ policy by publicly implicating Hillary Clinton with no evidence of any crime.  The implication convinced enough non-affiliated voters that Trump was credible, even after Trump’s incredibly gross remarks in the “Access Hollywood” tape that had been made public a few weeks previously.

Anyone who conducted the most rudimentary research would have discovered Trump’s long history of deceit, corruption and childish behavior.  Unfortunately, basic curiosity and history are not subjects for his supporters.

Fast-forward to 2024.  Trump is now a convicted felon – 34 counts of fraud, conviction for slander and assault with a $500 million judgment. And, oh yes, the admitted adulterer continues to the darling of the religious right.  Don’t bother me with the content of the Ten Commandments, Trump is exempt…but not you liberals!  I guess the Fundamentalists love the sinner and overlook all his real faults.

What’s worse is Trump has his MAGAts so brainwashed they are willing to discard the US Constitution and other fundamental laws.  Trump and the MAGAts are already claiming that if Trump is not elected, MAGAts will claim fraud and again storm the Capitol.  Given the MAGAts on SCOTUS, and their recent rulings restricting DOJ and effectively giving Trump near immunity from prosecution, the insurrectionists will face few consequences.

The solution? When I originally drafted this entry a few days ago, I thought a good step would be to force every candidate for public office, certainly at the national level, to take a test about US laws as a requirement before the filing was certified. The test would be the same as that required for US citizenship.

The requirement for passing a test about the US Constitution would at least expose candidates to the rules of law. I realize the idea is not great. But I was so frustrated, I wasn’t sure what else to recommend.

The need for credible candidates was reinforced in spades during the first presidential debate, which I admit, I did not watch.  It was going to be a “sh*t show” no matter what.  And it turned out worse. 

Biden was awful and no matter how much the Biden family and staff try to claim the performance was an aberration, the public’s not going to buy it and every single MAGAt will discuss the performance until the election. 

The performance was not a surprise. In an entry made last fall, I suggested, and I was not alone, that Joe Biden step down before the primaries. I even wrote a letter to the former president Obama, through the Obama Library, suggesting General Mark Millie replace Biden as the candidate.

We’re still a bit early for a replacement but the announcement needs to come soon.  Having someone like General Milley would allow rational Republics, rational Democrats and Independents, already more rational, to get behind a candidate who can unite the country.  Without a Millie-like candidate we’ll have Biden stumbling and claiming he’s up for the job and, Trump continuing to spout lies and the usual unsubstantiated crap and being unable to demonstrate any cognitive skills.

The country can do better than the two clowns.  Without a new candidate, it doesn’t matter which side as long as the person is more in the middle, the chances of an armed rebellion just shot up again. END ENTRY #511

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