The criticism often directed at those who supported Trump overlooks a crucial point: if we're labeling supporters as lacking critical thinking, what does it say about the opposition that lost to them?

It says that there has been a massive 25 year program funded by the uber wealthy in the form of think tanks, political organization, and programs at every level (including the USSC) to corrupt the fundamental understandings of democracy and the Constitution (see: corporations are people), and that it has been successful. It says that there is now a powerful media arm of the Republican Party, slavishly parroting whatever the changing party line is on any given day, several lesser media sycophants willing to jump on any train that will carry them to glory - an attitude (or capability) not shared by the liberal arm of the electorate.

It says that the Republicans have tapped into a deep well of discontent, racism, and tax abhorrence, most of which is faux generated but effective, and Democrats have found no alternate message to counter the tsunami of lies and echo chamber so well constructed over time by their opponents.

This ends one of two ways: either the pendulum rebalances, or we slide into the kind of “democracy” we see in Turkey, Hungary, Venezuela, and India - where the media is muzzled, corporate leaders are beholden to a single individual or party, where the opposition is muzzled, and the executive becomes all powerful - but the word “democracy” continues to be used, albeit farcically.

We are perilously close. We have one state militia invading another’s, without the consent or approval of the other - all at the direction of a single deranged individual. We have masked goons kidnapping people off the street. We have the USSC saying “it’s ok to target people because of their skin color”. We have Congressional leaders bending (breaking) rules to gain advantage (see: McConnell’s USSC, and now the refusal to seat an elected Democrat).

Is this partly Democrats’ fault? Yes. But they have historically not been so well organized as the Republicans, who happily fall in lock step. What to do? I don’t know. I’m not sure anybody knows. I’m quite sure not enough people care. There’s a tragedy there, for sure.