Starting Friday, American democracy will be tested as it has not been
tested in modern history. More specifically, it will be a test of:
1. Congress, especially Republicans. Will they investigate and reveal Trump's collusion with Putin to win the presidency? Will they stop Trump from profiting from his presidential decisions? Will they prevent him from quashing dissent, punishing those who disagree with him, disregarding the findings of the intelligence community, rejecting conclusions of government scientists? Will they stop his efforts to expand the powers of the presidency?
1. Congress, especially Republicans. Will they investigate and reveal Trump's collusion with Putin to win the presidency? Will they stop Trump from profiting from his presidential decisions? Will they prevent him from quashing dissent, punishing those who disagree with him, disregarding the findings of the intelligence community, rejecting conclusions of government scientists? Will they stop his efforts to expand the powers of the presidency?
2. Federal judges, including the justices of the Supreme Court. Will
they stop Trump from suppressing votes in the 2018 and 2020 elections?
Will they guard the freedom of the press? Prevent Trump from using his
rallies and tweets to intimidate private individuals and companies? Will
they protect the privacy of Americans from Trump’s snooping?
3. Professional civil servants, professional lawyers in the Department of Justice, professional officers in the armed forces. Will they continue to do their jobs according to the law and the Constitution? Will they have the courage to blow the whistle when they see wrongdoing?
4. Commissioners and directors of independent agencies, such as the Office of government ethics, the Federal Reserve, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Will they guard their independence? Will they continue to do their jobs aggressively, despite intimidation?
5. Governors and state legislators. Will they push back?
6. Editors, journalists, producers, other members of the press. Will they protect their independence and integrity, despite Trump’s taunts and criticisms, and despite the anger of Trump supporters? Will they investigate and report what is happening? Will they throw more resources into investigative reporting?
7. Scientists, researchers, analysts in government and in universities. Will they guard the independence of their research and their findings?
8. Members and directors of watchdog groups such as the ACLU, the NAACP, GLAAD, Common Cause, EDF, and others. Will they speak out forcefully? Will they join together? Will they effectively organize and mobilize against hatefulness and tyranny?
9 You and me, and other Americans. How much time and energy will we devote to resisting Trump? Will we engage in non-violent resistance? Will we push our members of Congress and our governors and state legislators to resist Trump? Will we join with others and fight for the election of good people in the 2018 midterms, fight to get Trump out of office in 2020, and even impeached before then?
If we pass the test, we can preserve and even strengthen American democracy, despite Donald Trump’s presidency.
Will we? What do you think?
Robert Reich
3. Professional civil servants, professional lawyers in the Department of Justice, professional officers in the armed forces. Will they continue to do their jobs according to the law and the Constitution? Will they have the courage to blow the whistle when they see wrongdoing?
4. Commissioners and directors of independent agencies, such as the Office of government ethics, the Federal Reserve, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Will they guard their independence? Will they continue to do their jobs aggressively, despite intimidation?
5. Governors and state legislators. Will they push back?
6. Editors, journalists, producers, other members of the press. Will they protect their independence and integrity, despite Trump’s taunts and criticisms, and despite the anger of Trump supporters? Will they investigate and report what is happening? Will they throw more resources into investigative reporting?
7. Scientists, researchers, analysts in government and in universities. Will they guard the independence of their research and their findings?
8. Members and directors of watchdog groups such as the ACLU, the NAACP, GLAAD, Common Cause, EDF, and others. Will they speak out forcefully? Will they join together? Will they effectively organize and mobilize against hatefulness and tyranny?
9 You and me, and other Americans. How much time and energy will we devote to resisting Trump? Will we engage in non-violent resistance? Will we push our members of Congress and our governors and state legislators to resist Trump? Will we join with others and fight for the election of good people in the 2018 midterms, fight to get Trump out of office in 2020, and even impeached before then?
If we pass the test, we can preserve and even strengthen American democracy, despite Donald Trump’s presidency.
Will we? What do you think?
Robert Reich
