A view on the United States of today from Overseas

Would you let a woodworm destroy your house?

For me, there is no doubt that many Republicans are behaving irresponsibly and quite frankly openly immorally by continuing to support the „big lie“ that the 2020 election was rigged, even if they know better. Like Congressman Steve Scalise who refused to answer the question of a journalist, whether he believed the election was stolen. Like Chuck Grassley who kisses the ring of Trump in order to get reelected. Like a GOP candidate of Ohio for the U.S. Senate, Josh Mandel, who said the Trump rally of January 6th was a great example for a living democracy. Like two GOP candidates running for the office of Governor in Virginia and Arizona who also embrace the big lie (the candidate of Arizona telling that she would not have certified the election result). Like the Republicans running for the office of Secretary of State in Michigan, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, who all in one way or the other claim that there were „irregularities“ in their state’s elections (if they are elected, they will be responsible of controlling and certifying the next elections). All these people are endorsed by Trump! Add about 150 House Republicans who supported to overturn the election in six states won by Biden and many Senate Republicans who do not want to know who was behind the insurrection of January 6th.

Don’t forget the right-wing platforms and media like Steve Bannon’s „War Room“ who actively are putting in place the conditions and infrastructure that will enable the Trump GOP to „win“ in 2022 and 2024 whatever the election results may be. Once candidates like those mentioned above are elected, it will become increasingly easier to falsify or „question“ the outcome of further elections. These people and platforms are empowering those who want to take over the GOP and to subjugate it totally under the will and control of the „Great Leader“! Critics are pushed out of committees and blamed (like Liz Cheney) or do not run for reelection out of frustration. Independent media have been undermined and attacked since some time already and this will continue. Why? Because undermining the confidence in fair and fact based reporting allows them to promote their own „truth“ and protects them from critics. A very effective and proven technique!

All this is unprecedented in the USA and extremely dangerous. These people are like woodworms that attack the building of democracy, of the constitution. We can see them at work, they do it openly, by manipulating the public opionion and producing hate and division. Their aim is to terrify the whole nation and to push as many Americans as possible to vote for authoritarian leaders that pretend to know the solutions of their problems. If not Trump, then one of his cronies. But did this guy find solutions? No, he created new problems and made the existing ones worse! He was a disgrace for the country. But they still think they have a chance to succeed again (and they have!). To do what? To finish the work of the GOP woodworms and destroy what is remaining of the „house“ of democracy (and to get a place in the sun for themselves like a good paying job in Washington, power, reputation, fame etc.). That’s false, immoral and abhorrent. You cannot let this happen!

Would you let a woodworm destroy your house? Certainly not.

I’ not an American. But I think, the Americans should defend their democracy. Why not create a law that demands accountability for all networks, platforms and other media? A law that forbids deliberate disinformation. Already today the freedom of opinion is not illimited. A newspaper or TV channel cannot publish whatever it wants: It can be sued for lying about somebody, for defamatory or hurting statements. Why some media outlets should be allowed to lie to the people as a whole? Why should they be allowed to defamate and destroy the basis of peaceful cohabitation? Why should they have the right to undermine the constitution? They don’t have this right, even if the constitution does not formally prohibit disinformation and other harmful forms of communication and actions.

I know that it would be difficult right now to pass such a law in Congress, because the GOP of today is part of the problem, not of the solution. However, hopefully there are some GOP members that uphold their oath of office and distance themselves from the detrimental behavior of their collegues. The honorable members of both parties in Congress could maybe pass such a law. They could also achieve the majority if there is a massive voter turnout in 2022. A former aid of George W. Bush proposes even that Republicans strategically vote for the Democrats in the mid-terms, in order to warn and punish the Trump GOP. A very good idea!

I sincerely hope that the Americans are able to save the democracy in their country — for the sake of the democracies of the world!