I recently attended a talk on Democracy at the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana featuring former congresswoman Liz Cheney and former governor Marc Racicot. Despite the self-inflicted chaos and commotion infecting our nation, their overall message was encouraging. Both speakers thought our country will be able to survive these times of conflict and controversy. However, they added that in order for our Democratic Republic to endure, all of us need to play a part in countering those who would tear down our institutions, move us away from Democracy and toward autocracy. Trump and Trumpism was pretty much the theme, and target for the evening.

Trumpism is populism at its worst. It uses misinformation, false claims of a rigged election, violence and threats of violence to achieve political goals. Over 60 court decisions rejected these rigged election allegations including a decision by SCOTUS. The sad part is those in Congress who are promoting these distortions in order to obtain votes dont believe their own fabrications. Cheney stated that about 99% of Congressional Republicans who promote false and deceptive propaganda flatly reject their own political lies, off the record. She acknowledged that there are a few Republican members of Congress who actually believe the big lies that they are preaching, including one member of Montanas congressional delegation.

As for myself, I do my best to sort misinformation from fact. It is not easy due to deceptive social media tactics rife with half-truths. I dont make decisions or form and express opinions based on gossip, rumors, guesswork or conjecture. I refuse to jump on the fantasyland band wagon which is eroding democratic values. I embrace democracy and reject Trumpism.

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Reckoning with 'populism at its worst' | Surveying the Views ... - boulder-monitor.com