Three years of contrast: Democrats getting stuff done, MAGA focused on revenge & retribution.
Thanks to Democrats we are not only better off than we were three years ago, we are beginning to address longstanding problems in the economy, the environment, and in our social contract.
Three years ago, Donald Trump “summoned the mob, assembled the mob and lit the fuse of insurrection.” That was the conclusion of the bipartisan January 6th committee that examined the evidence. It is also the conclusion of millions of Americans who watched that terrible day in horror. Militias like the Proud Boys, armed thugs he had previously told to stand by, stormed the capitol, tried to capture and hang the Vice President and hunted for Speaker Pelosi. Their goal was to disrupt the procedure where the election would be certified.
The attack, an attempted coup by a sitting President, failed. After the battle, Congress reconvened that night and certified the vote.
Outside the U.S Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Shay Horse/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
Joe Biden and the Democrats are getting important things done
Two weeks later, Joe Biden took office and began to repair our nation. He, and what was then a Democratic Congress, passed an infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the American Rescue Plan. The results?
The strongest job growth in American history, with more than 11 million new jobs created and record low unemployment
Millions of Americans are paying less for health insurance
The income gap between workers and the fabulously wealthy is shrinking
Inflation is down
Murder rates are down
Nearly 80 percent of Americans have been vaccinated- so this year’s big COVID wave is not leading to higher death rates
America is now leading the effort to fight climate change
I could go on, but what is now beyond doubt is that we are not only better off than we were three years ago, we are beginning to address longstanding problems in the economy, the environment, and in our social contract.
The MAGA GOP focuses on rage and revenge
What has been the Republican response to all this? Rage and focus on retribution. They do not talk about policy or governing, but instead tell us that Democrats are anti-American, anti-Christian, and determined to destroy the nation. They say that Democrats must be stopped by any means. And they have fully embraced the leader of the 2020 coup in the hope that he can be returned to power.
What does it mean that Democrats must be stopped by any means?
In Pennsylvania, the GOP is attempting to invalidate mail in ballots if the voter forgot to put a date on the outer envelope. In their view, it does not matter if the ballot is secure, arrives on time, and is otherwise in perfect order. Twice, the Pennsylvania courts have rejected this view, arguing that the right to vote is big enough not to be forfeited by someone who missed the date part of the form. But the US Supreme Court voided those rulings, so litigation continues.
In New York, the GOP is in court (again) hoping to overturn the state’s universal vote by mail procedure. Over in GOP controlled states, increased restrictions on voting are now common.
Nor is stopping the Democrats only about voting. They want voting not to matter. In Wisconsin, the GOP fought every effort to undo the most radical gerrymander in the country, one that robbed voters of any real power over election results. They even threatened to annul the election of a State Supreme Court Justice to make their point. In Tennessee, the GOP expelled two legislators because they were black men who dared stand up for sensible gun laws.
Still, it isn’t enough for them to stop people from voting, and to stop voting from mattering. Republicans have united in an effort to punish the majority of Americans, whom they call the libs. That means banning abortions and banning books. It means giving more tax cuts to the wealthiest while increasing burdens on working people. It means using the force of government to stop efforts of private companies to successfully diversify their workforce. It means launching baseless impeachment investigations and phony oversight hearings.
Republicans ignored opportunities to ditch Trump and MAGA
As bad as this is, what Republicans have not done is even more appalling than what they have done. They had multiple opportunities to walk away from Mr. Trump. When he was found liable for rape, for example. Or when his company was found to have falsified property valuations to cheat both investors and the IRS. Or when Mr. Trump was indicted for misuse of classified documents. Or when he was indicted for trying to overturn the election. But no, they missed each and every opportunity to walk away from a man who promises to be a dictator on day one. Instead, they embraced him purged their ranks of any who would not bow down.
They also failed to use the governing powers they do have to address the problems they complain most loudly about. Immigration tops the list. Congress has not updated our immigration laws, preferring instead to grandstand at the border. This Republican House has passed fewer bills than any Congress since 1932. They have not passed the budgets needed to keep the government open. They have not even passed a farm bill.
Three years ago, America overcame an attempted coup. Since then, one party, supported by a majority of Americans has made the country better. The other party has rallied around the now indicted coup plotters and hopes to finish the job they failed at on January 6th.
We cannot allow them to succeed.