Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

"Texas shows us what a post-democracy would look like."

"Texas this week showed us what a post-democracy America would look like.
Thanks to a series of actions by the Texas legislature and governor, we now see exactly what the Trumpified Republican Party wants: to take us to an America where women cannot get a******ns, even in cases of rape and incest; an America where almost everybody can openly carry a gun in public, without license, without permit, without safety training and without fingerprinting; and an America where law-abiding Black and Latino citizens are disproportionately denied the right to v**e.

This is where Texas and other red states are going, or have already gone. It is where the rest of America will go, unless those targeted by these new laws — women, people of color and all small “d” democrats — rise up.

On Wednesday, a Texas law went into effect that bans a******ns later than six weeks, after the Supreme Court let pass a request to block the statute. Because 85 to 90 percent of women get a******ns after six weeks, it amounts to a near-total ban. Already on the books in Texas is a “trigger” law that automatically bans all a******ns, even in cases of rape and incest, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. At least 10 other states have done likewise.

Also Wednesday, a new law went into effect in Texas, over the objections of law enforcement, allowing all Texans otherwise allowed to own guns to carry them in public, without a license and without training. Now, 20 states have blessed such “permitless carry.”

And on Tuesday, the Texas legislature passed the final version of the Republican v****g bill that bans drive-through and 24-hour v****g, both used disproportionately by v**ers of color; imposes new limits on v****g by mail, blocks e******n officials from distributing mail-b****t applications unless specifically requested; gives partisan poll watchers more leeway to influence v**e counting; and places new rules and paperwork requirements that deter people from helping others to v**e or to register. At least 17 states have adopted similar restrictions.
All three of these actions are deeply antidemocratic.

Texans overwhelmingly object to permitless carry. Fully 57 percent of Texas v**ers oppose such a law and only 36 percent support it, according to a June poll by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune. The partnership’s April poll found that, by 46 percent to 20 percent, Texans want stricter gun laws — and support for tougher laws is 54 percent among women, 55 percent among Latinos and 65 percent among Black v**ers.
Texans also oppose banning all a******ns if Roe is overturned, with 53 percent against a ban and 37 percent for one. Women oppose the ban, 58 percent to 33 percent. A narrow plurality (46 percent to 44 percent) oppose the six-week ban, too.

Furthermore, pluralities of Texans opposed the ban on drive-through v****g and restrictions on early v****g hours. The drive-through ban was particularly objectionable to Black v**ers (52 percent opposed to 30 percent in the April poll) and Latino v**ers (44 percent to 36 percent), as were the limits on early v****g hours, opposed 52 percent to 28 percent among Black v**ers and 46 percent to 31 percent among Latino v**ers.

And that’s the whole point of such v**er-suppression laws. Texas became a “majority minority” state more than 15 years ago — and the country as a whole will follow in about two decades. But White v**ers still dominate the e*****rate. Latinos are about 40 percent of the Texas population, but only 20 to 25 percent of the e*****rate.
Texas legislators aren’t answering to the people but rather to the White, male v**ers that put the Republicans in power. The new v****g law, by suppressing non-White v**es, aims to keep White v**ers dominant. As demographics turn more and more against Republicans in Texas, their antidemocratic actions will only get worse.

Bad things happen when leaders don’t reflect the will of the people. This is happening already in Texas and some other red states. It will be happening more nationally if Republicans get their way.

In Texas, the legislature this term also banned the fictional menace of “critical race theory,” put in new restrictions on demonstrations and banned homeless encampments. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also banned mask and v*****e mandates while the p******c rages. Meanwhile the legislature failed to expand Medicaid eligibility to low-wage workers, refusing billions of federal health-care dollars for the state with the most uninsured residents in the nation. Instead,

Texas cleared the way for people to buy beer and wine before noon on Sundays.
Less v****g and less health care, but more guns and more booze: This is the present in Texas, and the future for all of us — unless we mobilize to arrest the Republicans’ destruction of democracy.

Opinion by Dana Milbank, The Washington Post

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Change your wording from "Texas" to "California" and NOTHING changes but location. One flaw of a democracy is that it demands participation by the citizenry, and Americans don't seem to want that. Southern states are problematic???

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The one misconception (no pun intended) is:
U.S. Government. While often categorized as a democracy, the United States is more accurately defined as a constitutional federal republic.

We are not truly a democracy.
--Bob

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

With regard to permits to carry- As long as background checks are required for possesion I have no problem with concealed carry, and long gun purchase. I think the 6 weeks to much to resstictibve. 4 1/2 of 5 months are much more reseasonable

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

For those that don’t read the piece, or otherwise fail to comprehend; the point of the article is that the laws enacted in Texas do not comport will the will of the majority, but rather the will of Republicans legislators, who have neglected their duty to represent all.
The self-serving interests of the Republican lawmakers flies in the face of democracy and majority rule.
Texas is post-democracy in action.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

If we as a people would stop hating the other side and come to agreement on a few things that would require some give and take we could actually take the power away from the government and return it to the people..... Politicians and media will keep the pot stirred to insure that never happens.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

LOL... I can't help but comment on the myopic view of this article, how about the democrats steamrolling drastic change in our nation with the slimmest of majorities in congress, you don't care to recognize your party's own attitude towards the concerns of the other 1/2 of this country.

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Perhaps we should require permits and background checks for each one of the Bill of Rights.

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

The Dems have always been the r****ts here in America, going all the way back to when they were the party of the S***e owners. That's why even to this day, they constantly are dividing us according to race.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

In defense of what has happened in Texas, you offer no comment, no denial—just a “Dems do it too” response.
That is not responsive to the decimation of democracy engaged in by Texas lawmakers with regard to a******n, gun regulation, and v****g rights.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I did not defend the Texas Law which I personally think has gone a few weeks to far, I pointed to yours and the columnist's hypocrisy.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

NO. As long as background checks for gun purchase are not overly restrictive, I have no problem. Crazies shout not have guns

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

How is the determination of who is crazy to be done?
--Bob

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Or speech, or privacy, or any of the other Constitutional rights? Or just the one's chosen by you?

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Exactly!!!