Donald Trump, Enemy of Democracy

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/opinion/campaign-stops/donald-trump-enemy-of-democracy.html

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He has done it in scattered bursts rather than all at once, but Donald Trump has now laid out a comprehensive attack on this country’s democratic traditions.

The first piece of the attack is to argue that his opponent should not even be able to run against him. “She shouldn’t be allowed to run. It’s crooked — she’s — she’s guilty of a very, very serious crime,” he said at this week’s debate. He was referring, he explained somewhat vaguely, to “what she did with emails and so many other things.”

The second line of attack revolves around the idea that this election — the one between him and his illegitimate opponent — is “rigged” and rife with cheating. By now, you’ve probably seen one of the many sober debunkings of these fictitious claims of widespread voter fraud. But Trump has dominated the news over the past day-and-a-half by saying he may not accept the election’s result as legitimate, unless he wins.

The third and final piece of attack is a threat to investigate and potentially jail his opponent if he wins. “If I win,” he said at the second debate, “I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, because there has never been so many lies, so much deception.” Trump also told Hillary Clinton “you’d be in jail” if someone with his temperament were in charge of the justice system.

Together, these charges are unprecedented in American politics. (And there is a special warning at The New York Times against using the word “unprecedented” lightly.)

Trump has adopted the language of despots — lie-filled accusations meant to delegitimize both his opponent and the country’s entire democratic system of governance.

What’s the best response from all of us? To fight his attempted despotism with more democracy.

Make a specific plan — now — for voting, including where and when you will do so. Research has shown that such plans increase voter turnout. And encourage your friends and family to make a plan, too.