I believe this is a new milestone. Although politicians have warned that Republican attempts at voter suppression would sort-of potentially be paving the way for potential future coups, this is the first time I am aware of a politician affirmatively saying that the next Republican coup attempt is indeed in progress.
And once again, it is Ilhan Omar who is saying what needs to be said:
"The next coup is not only possible; it has already begun." -Ilhan Omar
While Biden, Garland, and others said nothing of substance during their speeches commemorating January 6th, Omar demonstrated true leadership by commemorating the day by declaring we must step up our efforts to hold Republicans accountable and not shy away from talking about the crimes that have been inflicted, and will continue to be inflicted, upon our nation.
January 6, 2022:
Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on One Year Anniversary of January 6th Insurrection
“Today marks one year since the attacks of January 6th. I will never forget the experience of fearing for my life, my fellow members, and staff on a day designed to show the strength of our democracy. I will never forget the call I made to the father of my children, asking him to tell my children I loved them if I couldn’t.
But the insurrection of January 6th was not solely significant for the havoc that it caused, the property destroyed, or the lives it cost. [...] With each passing day, it becomes more and more clear that the outgoing President of the United States planned and executed the coup attempt, refusing a peaceful transition of power, pressuring election officials and his own administration to overturn results, and organizing a rally and march on the seat of government when his other efforts failed.
I know personally what happens when a government fails, civil strife takes hold, and people are displaced. And I know that coup attempts are rarely one-time affairs.
In fact, as we speak, Donald Trump’s allies in statehouses across the country are seeking to erect barriers to voting—largely affecting low-income people, people of color, and seniors. If that’s not enough, they are stripping power from nonpartisan election officials and rewriting state laws to seize partisan control over election certification.
The next coup is not only possible; it has already begun.
But the causes of the attempts to overturn our democracy run much deeper than Donald Trump. For decades, our institutions have been failing to meet the needs of the people they are tasked to represent. Inequality has skyrocketed, as has the cost of basics like healthcare and education, while the average American’s wages have not kept pace. Self-interested elites have prioritized profit and greed over the common good. Trust in our government’s ability to tackle the biggest problems we face—from healthcare to climate to food insecurity—has cratered as a result. Borrowing from demagogues around the world, authoritarians like Donald Trump filled the void, offering false promises while scapegoating immigrants, and religious and racial minorities.
[...]
To stop the next coup, we must reinvigorate the democratic experience. That requires, at a minimum, passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and strengthening election laws around the country to prevent the next coup. But it also requires reforming our institutions so that they are once again responsive to the core demands of our constituents. That requires abolishing fundamentally antidemocratic elements of our system like the Senate filibuster and the electoral college, and it requires major investments in childcare, education, health and climate like the Build Back Better Act.
The coup attempt on January 6th was a warning for what’s to come if we don’t act. The work to prevent the next coup begins now.”
The only criticism I have of Omar's message is that democracy never has, and never will be the foundation for liberty or justice. Our history has demonstrated as much. Far-right electoral success from the days of slavery to today has demonstrated as much. The coup attempt to overthrow the 2020 election and the Republican Party's embrace of coup attempts as an acceptable part of their political strategy signaled that democracy is already dead in the US. The unwritten norms and "gentlemanly" conduct that have thus far sustained the operation of the US bureaucracy are completely dead. The willpower does not even exist to enforce the written rules, laws, and even the Constitution itself (e.g. 14th Amendment)!
The only battle left is who will emerge as the leaders in a post-democracy US. As it currently stands, only mainstream--elected--Republican politicians have rejected democracy. Therefore the far-right will be able to create their one-party Russia-style oligarchy without any genuine opposition... The sooner leftists can choose liberty, justice, and freedom over the tyranny of the majority that is democracy, the better.
Omar is correct that we need to reform our institutions so they are responsive to the needs and welfare of non-elites. But she does not seem to realize that at no point in US history has democracy or voting ever allowed such a thing. In fact, it was democratic tyranny of the majority that prevented it every time...
***
Imagine if Biden or Garland had the same attitude and took things just as seriously as Omar does? This crisis would be over by now if they did, and America would be safe. ...At least until the next democratic crisis arose.
So long as the government does nothing to punish the organizers of the coup attempt--and does nothing to punish those who are already boasting about organizing upcoming coups--we are not safe. So long as members of Congress and far-right militias which participated in the Insurrection can openly promise literal "bloodshed" against us, we are not safe.
All non-treasonous Americans must get armed, train, and organize within our communities so we can keep each other safe. (Legally) getting armed and encouraging your entire social network to do so is the best way to "commemorate" January 6th.
If we can survive that, we may have a chance to reform the government to a system which actually upholds the maxim of "liberty and justice for all".
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