Democrats Have a Funny Way of Expressing Concern About ‘Our Democracy’

They bemoan Dobbs, which returns abortion policy to elected representatives, while spending big to boost politicians they see as a fascist threat.

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Who gives a rat’s ass about our democracy?

That’s not a rhetorical question. But to avoid confusion, I should rephrase.

Who actually gives a rat’s ass about our democracy?

You might think this is a lead-in to a stemwinder about yesterday’s January 6 committee revelations. It’s not—though we might get there eventually anyway.

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  1. Avatar photo
    John Y.B. Hood

    Fabulous column. I feel a bit woozy from nodding so much while I read it.

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  2. L R Dillon

    You bring up some very good points, Mathew, but it just seems to me that Jonah spends a fair amount of time bashing "fringe" Democratic elements that, let's face it, are not going to go away - nor will their funding. Nor, under a sound democracy, small "d", would we want that to happen. My main point is that the majority of Americans tired of the schenanigans of the fringes of BOTH parties should decide to support candidates of whichever party who sound "centrist."

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  3. Mathew A

    Very much agreed with this article. One important point is to have a democracy you need faith in free and fair elections. Without that the process breaks down.

    Which means both sides should be coming together on a an election reform that protects against fraud and ensures voter access. This will almost certainly mean something like voter ID combined with several weeks of early voting

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  4. Alan

    So, on one hand I hear you Jonah, on the other hand money can't astroturf politics that much. If morons win the Republican primary, it's mostly because your voters want them to win.

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    Bono Vox

    It’s sad this article doesn’t have 506 million likes

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    Tmcke

    I wonder if Jonah looks at what other pundits are saying. Democrats are pilloried because they don't play hardball. Then when they do (and this is hardball) they get pilloried as well.

    Does Jonah think that Democrats don't follow small D norms when they govern? And living in NJ we have see hard ball at the local level by Democrats all of our lives. Still placed in power they govern. So did Republicans at least through Bush I.

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  7. Avatar photo
    Tmcke

    Sorry but since Roe conferred a right and folks acted based on that right for 50 years, Alito was simply being arrogant. Our law has always been based on precedent as well as the base texts. So what Alito was saying is that - sorry every decision before was wrong - setting himself up as some intellectual superior.

    And based on the decisions that have gone the way the conservatives wanted - they pick and choose text, precedent and whim. (Shelby County was in essence whim).

    Abortion does not effect me or my wife - we are 70+, no my middle aged unmarried son. But it was complicate the pregnancies of every woman who going forward. It will also lead hospitals to avoid difficult care in late term because the care could be construed as an illegal abortion.

    It will not affect me, but I see it as arrogance. Not a return to a golden age where states regain power and use it to do good.

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  8. Mike Miller

    Btw, anyone have a learned view as to whether a "pro-Roe" federal law would be Constitutional? Is there some enumerated power that's relevant here?

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    1. Avatar photo
      Greenknight

      Honestly, the more I think about it the more I see this as a self-correcting problem. Let me explain...

      1. The trigger laws in red states created an immediate "abortion underground" to crop up in every red state. The knee-jerk response has been for red-state legislatures to start suggesting border patrols, bounty-hunters, and the monitoring of both internet activity and the mail... none of which could practically work, but will result in an escalation of crazier and more draconian proposals, which also won't work, etc. This is basically a political death spiral as red-state politicians turn these states increasingly into authoritarian states that will not be sustainable. Costs will rival the war on drugs, but without any of the good PR... with all costs being borne directly by the poor red states.

      2. Businesses in red states are already starting to offer abortion-travel benefits to their employees in order to retain and hire quality workers. This both undermines the abortion-abolition laws, but will progressively hurt the economics of these states as new companies become hesitant to relocate to red states, and established companies have a harder time recruiting quality talent.

      3. Colleges in red-states have already started offering abortion-travel benefits to their students. This shows that these colleges are terrified that in the fall prospective students will pass them by in preference to blue state colleges. This will create an immediate economic problem as college towns start drying up, as well as a long-term problem as young educated workers will choose to bypass red states to start their careers and families.

      I could go on, but the upswing is that there will be extreme financial penalties these states are inflicting on themselves that will not be sustainable. The legislatures will be inflicting a lot of damage on the women in their states (with all the political damage that will cause), but there is no way for this to economically continue. These laws will be revoked.

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  9. LucyTrice

    "Run a gill net across Twitter...."

    This image is so satisfying...

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  10. LucyTrice

    "Run a gill net across Twitter..."

    That is a rich and satisfying image. Thank you.

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