(This is a Special Comment by a 72 year old Twitter author, 42bkdodgr, first printed on TPM)
Over the past year, I have written about the growing hate in America and that I expected the hate in this country to get worse, whether or not Health Care Reform was passed, and it has. On Oct 17th, Frank Rich, in his column ”The Rage Won’t End on Election Day” described the anger and hate we are seeing in the country.
What I believe we are seeing during this election period is what the atmosphere might be like in this country should the Republicans/Tea Party gain control of House and/or the Senate. What I’m talking about is not the policies that will be adopted by the Republicans (we already know what they are), but how the Republicans and their followers will treat their fellow Americans.
During the past year, we have seen Republican and Tea Party candidates refuse to meet with the media, unless it was with Fox News or one of the media outlets (press, radio, or TV outlets) who supports them and only asks softball questions. We have seen this happening with Palin, Angle, O’Donnell, Miller, and Paul. In some cases, we have even seen one or more of them run and hide from the press and media.
This policy will continue and probably will be adopted by more members in Congress, which will only result in the electorate becoming less informed. Some day it’s quite possible we will see a Republican president with a press corps consisting of only the Fox News Network. One might laugh at such a thing happening, but something like that or a variation thereof is in the realm of possibility.
Recent events have shown that if the public tries to question a candidate, they might be put in handcuffs, have their head stomped on, or threatened to be taken out. So it would seem, we can expect, if one disagrees with a position or questions the policies of Republican/Tea Party candidate or office holder, to be attacked both verbally and physically by them or their followers.
In some instances, those running for office have said the Second Amendment rights under the Constitution might be used, should the electorate be unhappy with this year’s election results. I anticipate the threat of using one’s Second Amendment rights will continue, should some Americans be unhappy with bills passed by Congress and signed by the President, or even possibly vetoed by the President.
This is the environment we are living in these days and possibly in the days to come, and like Frank Rich, I fear that the rage, hate, and violence will continue and possibly get worse, until some civility returns to this country. How long that will take I don’t know, but it better happen soon, because we heading down a very dangerous road.
That is why it’s important for all Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, who truly believe in the principles of the Constitution and have respect for different point of views, to vote in this year’s election. Your votes are needed in order to ensure those who use, promote, or have remained silent about the hate and violence happening in this country, aren’t elected to public office. Notwithstanding, the Supreme Court ruling on treating corporations as people, the future of our democracy is at stake in this election.
