A Recipe for Saving America's Democracy

America is “blessed” with a wide spectrum of cultures, political attitudes, and belief systems. As a melting pot, diversity is at the core of American life. Political attitudes range from the far-left radical Socialists who fight to reform or replace the capitalistic economic system, to the far-right extremist MAGA Republicans and religious zealots who fight to dismantle the American democratic system of government. The far-right’s ambition appears to be to replace American democracy with a Christian theocracy subject to their minority rule.
The vast majority of Americans are hanging in the balance, hovering somewhere near the center between far-left and far-right. Many of these “Centrists” are extremely concerned for the future of American democracy. America is currently under attack by far-right extremists under the direction and absolute control of an authoritarian-minded wannabe dictator, Donald Trump. He is aided and abetted by international “strongmen”, including Vladimir Putin of Russia and Victor Orban of Hungary.
The American democratic way of life is no longer a “given”. Complacency is no longer an option for any American who values the rights and freedoms currently “guaranteed” by the United States Constitution. Under a Trump sequel, Constitutional protections would not be worth the parchment paper they are written on.
To successfully preserve American democracy from the MAGA mob and their “religious” political partners, it is going to take a concerted, coordinated effort from many different sources. It is going to require the synergy of different moderate, centrist groups working together for the common goal. It is going to demand an all-out activation of voters who care about America’s future. Any eligible centrist voter who chooses to sit out the upcoming elections is indirectly choosing authoritarianism over democracy.
RINOS, DINOS, INDEPENDENTS, LIBERTARIANS, & LIBERALS are the ingredients that, working together, can lead America through this dangerous crisis. This diverse group of common-sense moderates must overlook and/or overcome their differing positions on some political issues, and become at least temporary allies to combat the greater threat to our democracy.
Libertarians, who advocate for minimal intervention by government in the private lives of its citizens, are perhaps the most vulnerable to this authoritarian threat to our democratic republic. An authoritarian regime has no qualms about destroying the individual rights and freedoms of its citizens. Although not totally in sync politically, the term LIB in this book will encompass both Liberals and Libertarians. They share the common goal of saving American democracy.
RINOS.
The term ‘RINO”—Republican in Name Only--has been around since Teddy Roosevelt was President. It seems his trust-busting and anti-monopoly policies were at odds with standard Republican ideology of the early 20th Century. As a result, the term was applied to him by disgruntled Republican colleagues.
More recently, the term has become a popular disparagement of “disloyal” Republican Party members who refuse to blindly follow the authoritarian rhetoric and chaotic behavior of Donald Trump and his MAGA followers. They are unwilling to conform to the more radical aspects of the current Republican Party line, which is being dictated by Trump and enforced by his obedient cult. It has left many long-time Republicans scratching their heads, and feeling politically homeless. Many of them have reluctantly given up their Republican status and now identify themselves as independents.
The current democratic crisis is an opportunity for RINOS to take pride in their personal integrity, and to regain political relevance as a part of a larger circle of reason and sanity. Taking a courageous, active part in solving the problem is always an option. At the very least, voting for democracy is an appropriate response.