Jan 6, 2025: The day democracy dies?

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In Jan. 6, 2025, American democracy may die. The collapse of our democratic system is unlikely to involve a homemade gallows, chants to hang the vice president, or a “QAnon shaman” putting the paint of war on. But, even without faux-military playacting, the damage is less real. Democracy in the US is on life support, and its recovery will require taking serious steps over the next three years.

Many political experts, social scientists, and politicians from both parties seem to agree on three important points. First, that Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMissouri state GOP lawmaker has resigned for Florida consulting job Trump to attend fundraiser for midterm candidates Biden meatpacking reforms lacking a blow, critics say MORE appears likely to repeat his attempt to overthrow the presidential election in 2024. Second, that thanks to increased partisan control of election processes at the state level, there is a high probability that he will succeed this time. And, finally, no one seems to know what to do with this problem. So how can Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who refuse to fear Trump and his base unite to stop this democratic crisis? History suggests that the answer is to focus on popular support for our democratic system. After all, as President Lincoln said in Gettysburg, our government was established “by the people, by the people, for the people.”

Think about what happened when local officials stopped before President BidenJoe Biden confirmedOvernight Energy & Environment-Manchin raises hopes on climate spending Missouri state GOP lawmaker resigns for consulting job in Florida Joe Manchin stood up for West Virginia appreciating MORE’s success in Wayne County, Mich. Biden easily took over the county, which included Detroit — the state’s largest city and the largest Black-majority city in the nation. The anonymous Wayne County Board of Canvassers was initially deadlocked on whether to verify county election results, voting 2-2 on party lines. Two Republican board members cited minor differences in the voter list (which is also common in many white-majority counties) to justify the delay. Then, just a few hours later, something surprising happened. After prominent activists, media figures, and citizens condemned the board’s action — comparing it to the civil rights movement in the 1960s — the two Republicans turned themselves around, and the board unanimously endorsed the vote.

The short drama in Wayne County highlights some critical weaknesses in our electoral system, as well as the likely cure for our democratic problems. The integrity of the Wayne County election process has not been saved by legal minutia, court decisions, or bureaucratic structures. Instead, democracy in Wayne County has been saved by intense public pressure. This clearly shows that public pressure is our best hope to save democracy in America.

Of course, some Americans are unlikely to change their views on our elections. Thirty -one percent of Americans believe the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. Similar percentages of the public believe Trump is a good or a good president (35 percent), think that there was too much attention paid in January. 6 insurrection (29 percent), and do not believe that the persecution of rioters in the Capitol is very important. (31 percent). These key Trump supporters are likely to refuse to accept another Trump defeat, regardless of the circumstances or evidence, and no amount of information is likely to persuade them. The growing trend from all sides in the country, both conservative and progressive, to allow goals to justify the methods used to accomplish them is not helpful. However, recruiting Trump’s base is probably unnecessary. History shows us that a large portion of voters continue to support even the most notorious political failures. Richard Nixon’s approval rating never dropped to 24 percent, and 35 percent of Americans still approved of Joseph McCarthy after the Army-McCarthy hearings. The difference between a massive political thing and a legitimate opponent for the country’s leadership lies in the next 10-15 percent of voters — the Americans who typically support Donald Trump while holding their noses at his lesser truth nonsense.

This critical segment of the electorate must be convinced that the stakes are too high — the risky possibilities too great — to tolerate this attack on our democracy. Politicians, activists, and citizens who believe in democracy need to develop a clear and persuasive message, not just about the Big Lie and the January uprising. 6, 2021, but also on the predictable scam that Trump and his allies are trying as we speak.

This is the project that every American should focus on for the next three years. At the Rooney Center of the University of Notre Dame for the Study of American Democracy, we aim to contribute to the conversation by creating “The January 6th 2025 Project.” While we have little influence in choosing the most viable candidates to oppose Trump, from either party, we can contribute significantly to debates about protecting and nurturing our democratic institutions in United States. Through many years of practice, the Center will bring together a great group of political scientists from the nation’s top universities to monitor real-time efforts to undermine free and fair elections, measure public support for these anti-democratic efforts, and educate the public. how to defend democracy. We hope to understand and explain how our country has reached this dangerous precipice, what could happen if we fall over the edge, and what American citizens and leaders can do to prevent it.

Some of the perpetrators of the insurgency continue to evade law enforcement officers, while others have already been prosecuted or are awaiting their day in court. But the worst threat to our democratic system of government is hidden in plain sight — openly attacking the electoral process and working tirelessly to bring Donald Trump back to the Oval Office, regardless of the number of votes in the next presidential election. And, if they are successful, Jan. 6, 2025, will be the day when US democracy dies

Francis RooneyLaurence (Francis) Francis RooneyGOP leader takes proxy voting fight in Supreme Court Carbon price could help solve infrastructure funding problem GOP leader’s allies have vowed to oust Liz Cheney MORE is a Republican member of U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 19th District from 2017-2021. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008. In 2008, the Francis and Kathleen Rooney Foundation donated $ 10 million to support the establishment of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame Dame. Matthew EK Hall is the David A. Potenziani Memorial College Professor of Constitutional Studies, Professor of Political Science, Concurrent Professor of Law, and Director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame. He received his PhD from Yale University in 2009 and specializes in interdisciplinary research covering the fields of American politics, law and society, and organizational behavior.

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