Putin Won
As heretical as it may sound to some, I don’t believe the Russians worked the 2016 election to get Trump elected. I believe Putin thought Hillary would win, just as did almost every other “expert” who predicted the results. I believe his objectives were threefold: weaken the presidency of whomever was elected, denigrate democracy as a political system, and increase his clout on the international stage. He achieved all three aims in spades. Numerous politicians and bureaucrats have worked assiduously (whether for good or ill) to constrict Trump’s power; our partisan landscape is as poisonous as it’s been in 50 years; and Putin is punching well above his weight on the world stage.
What can each of us do to fight back?
First, get outside the partisan cave occasionally. Take your team’s talking points with a grain of salt and consider the possible validity of the other team’s talking points. Subscribe to The Economist. They don’t like Trump, but their objections are well thought out and they are prepared to acknowledge his accomplishments.
If you are not a cave dweller, get active. The center will not hold if centrists don’t work at holding it. Find politicians who are consensus seekers and support them. No candidate will be perfect (the only person whose political views will exactly match your own is you). Pick the best ones on offer who have a chance to win. Send money! Nobody gets elected without funds to spend campaigning. Volunteer! Every campaign needs foot soldiers. Express your objections to biased media coverage. Democracy thrives with a freewheeling press/media. However, the process only works well if there is a wall between reporting and opinion. When you see the wall breached, write a letter to the editor or send an email to the cable station. If media detects a loss of audience, it responds.
Specifically, I suggest a contribution to Susan Collins. She is probably the most moderate person in Congress. Due to her vote on the Kavanaugh appointment, she has been targeted for a hatchet job by leftist activists using tactics that are well beyond the pale.
Vote in the primaries. One reason we have such a large partisan divide is that partisans show up to vote in primaries and the rest of us don’t. If more moderates voted in primaries, congresspersons would have less to worry about when taking a moderate position.
Support some moderate Republicans in House races. The Democrats need to be punished for trivializing the impeachment process and ignoring the nation’s business in pursuit of their jihad. If they end up with a thinner majority, they will get the message.
Democracy is a delicate flower. If we do not water it and fertilize it and prune it, we will lose it.
