“THEY KNEW”

There are times when I drop out of all the political discourse and then I become involved again in spite of my efforts to distance myself from so much palaver.  When I posted a comment to Dan Rather’s Steady blog “ They Knew. They All Knew.” I did not expect hundreds of favorable responses and numerous comments that resulted in several interesting exchanges about what lies underneath the behavior of millions of followers of TFG.

In 2016 and then again at the crowning (inauguration) in January of 2017, I, along with others, used the illustration of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to describe what I saw and heard.   I referenced this recently in an earlier blog that includes some good descriptions of gaslighting:

https://garygruber.com/clarity/

“They Knew” is also the title of Sarah Kendzior’s latest book, a sequel to “Hiding in Plain Sight.”  Sarah is a brilliant journalist, a gifted writer and a co- host of Gaslit Nation podcasts.  Here’s part of a review of her new book on Amazon: “In Kendzior’s signature whip smart prose and eviscerating arguments, ‘They Knew’ unearths decades of buried American history, providing an essential and critical look at how to rebuild our democracy by confronting the political lies and crimes that have shaped us.”

The big question that persists is why do so many people not see the scam and sham being perpetuated OR if they do see it, why do they seem afraid or unable to call it out?  Here is my take after watching, reading, analyzing and listening to so many arguments and responses.

Millions of people in the U.S. who voted for TFG, both the socio-economic lower class as well as many in the so-called upper class, did not feel that their interests were being represented or protected.   Those who were left behind and who were oppressed, thought erroneously, that they now had a voice and a leader who would move them forward.  Those who were wealthier wanted someone who would give them more or at least protect what they had and not tax them further.  Funny how those two disparate groups seemed to have had a common interest.  However, what we endured for 4 years was a badly flawed, narcissistic leader who wanted control and whose self-interest and greed was his undoing.

Those who have the upper hand and who call the shots often need to keep others down in order to maintain their control.  That is how an authoritarian form of governing works.  The leaders make decisions not on behalf of the people they represent but decisions that are influenced by money and power.  That is not a democracy, that is more like an autocracy.

Our form of government is based on The Constitution which establishes a federal democratic republic form of government. That is, we have an indivisible union of 50 sovereign States. It is a democracy because people govern themselves. It is representative because people choose elected officials by free and secret ballot. At least that is how it’s supposed to work.

Now is such a critical time because of elections in November 2022 and 2024.  The protection of a free and secret ballot has seldom been any more important than now in terms or what is at risk.  That is why getting out the vote, registering more voters, and ensuring their votes will be counted fairly and without bias is so important.  I am encouraging and supporting this effort and I hope you will too as this is what has the best opportunity to restore our democracy to its rightful place in our ongoing history.