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The Main Issue: Democracy

The Main Issue: Democracy

Last updated on: September 17, 2025 at 11:44 am by Roger E. Olson

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The Main Issue: Democracy 2025-09-17T11:44:18-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

All other contemporary American issues pale in comparison to threats to our democracy. I say “our democracy” because, while it is not entirely unique, it does carry some special features such as the US Constitution’s guarantees of rights and liberties. It also thrives on three branches of government that hold one another accountable.

I have no special sympathy with the current state of the Democratic Party, although I respect some Democratic people and believe one can be a Christian and a Democrat (contrary to some Republicans and others).

It has been my considered and informed opinion, no not just opinion but more, that in our present American political context the main threat is to our democracy and that threat is mostly on the side of the conservatives, especially MAGA people and Trumpists.

My opinion (or something more) was recently bolstered by the VP’s and Attorney General’s promises to “go after” “left-wing” organizations, without specifying any particular aspect of those organizations, without pinning down which ones or why. In other words, they did not specify only groups that violate laws or promote violence.

In my opinion, such threats against legal and legitimate political organizations, made by powerful government leaders, raise the realistic specter of fascism and an end to our democracy as we have always known it. At the very least it sends a signal to liberals that they may be “investigated” for no other reason than being politically liberal. It is a way of suppressing dissent—by creating fear of its consequences.

As much as I disagree with some policies of the Democratic Party and of some “left-wing” people, I am convinced that it and they are not as much of a threat to our democracy as the current party in power and its leaders. And no other threat is as great as that.

Our constitutional democracy has no room for threats against people by powerful leaders of government simply because they express opinions, however strongly, short of promoting violence. That is happening. Do Trump supporters care? Or are they so opposed to liberal opinions that they are willing to condone government leaders’ threats against people who hold wrong opinions?

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures of links.*

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