This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
Published on October 18, 2019, a critical moment in American politics.
As the 2020 presidential election approaches, a stark choice looms: Donald Trump versus Elizabeth Warren. While Warren's policies may be contentious, they pale in comparison to the fundamental threat Trump poses to the nation's norms, values, and soul.
Trump's recent actions, including his greenlighting of the ethnic cleansing of Kurds, demonstrate a disturbing disregard for human life and a normalization of dishonesty and cruelty. His professional competence is, at best, kindergarten-level.
Furthermore, Trump's behavior has validated progressive fears of American fascism, raising the specter of what he might do if re-elected. His rejection of democratic norms, denial of legitimacy to opponents, and tolerance of violence are all hallmarks of authoritarianism.
Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt's book, How Democracies Die, highlights these tactics, which Trump has employed with alarming frequency. If given a second term, he will likely feel emboldened to further erode democratic institutions.
This election is not just about policy differences; it's about whether the United States can remain a functioning nation, despite its economic, racial, geographic, and ideological divides. In this context, a bad option is preferable to a suicidal one.
As The New York Times Opinion section encourages diverse perspectives, we invite readers to share their thoughts on this article and others. Please submit your letters to the editor via [email protected].
