The Referendum presents the question wholly to WE THE PEOPLE rather than to our representatives – e.g., Direct Democracy. Our answer will measure our commitment to Democratic Principles, as well as our knowledge gaps, which will allow James Madison’s “Best friends of the Constitution” to refine tactics, strategies, and presentation materials prior to the November 3 Midterms.
Recently, while driving through one of the Southern Virginia counties, I saw at least 100 VOTE NO ON APRIL 21 yard signs; some were red and some were blue. I did not see one VOTE YES sign.
The writing on many signs made it seem as if a YES vote was a vote for Fascism rather than a vote to defend Democracy and protect Black representation. The truth is that a NO vote will put at least five Virginia districts into Trump’s Fascist camp and advance his objective to transform America into a dictatorship, with him as our Supreme Leader.
MISSED SIGNS AND TURNING POINTS
Obvious things too often and too easily escape attention: Humans often overlook simple, direct truths while focusing on complex, less important details.
“The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.” — Edward R. Murrow.
SOME SIGNIFICANT RECENT SIGNS
2007 – The beginning of Trump’s rise to political supremacy using Racist Birther Attacks against Obama
2013 – America labeled a Flawed Democracy principally because of lost trust in political institutions, low levels of political participation, and the role of big-money lobbying in politics.
2016 – Trump’s first election, which placed America on the path to Fascism; compare with 1789 when America was placed on the path to Democracy
2020 – Trump’s defeat by more than 7 million popular votes and in the Electoral College, despite his gain of 11 million votes over 2016
2024 – Trump’s reelection, fueled by a drop in the turnout rate from 66.6% in 2020 to 63.3% in 2024
Each of these epochs presented significant Challenges, but also, Choices to make Changes or stick with the status quo. All of us must look back at each point and ask ourselves what exactly we did in response to the signs. Remember: Truth is Lived, not just Thought or Taught.
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. –Confucius
Although Trump was evicted in 2020, there remained in place the permanent bureaucracy, and the professional politicians in both parties. Worse, the citizens went home, claiming that they had done their job — so let Biden and Harris do the rest in making America into a Full Democracy.
The 2024 victors, the Trumpists, worked relentlessly in the night between 2020 and 2024, while their adversaries slept. – From Longfellow
A major Fascist tactic is Stochastic Terrorism. “Neither an individual, nor a crowd, nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.”– Bertrand Russell
It would be disingenuous, even criminal, to overlook the serious flaws in our government, or fail to utilize the power provided to the people by the Constitution – especially the Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances doctrines — to modify the government and build a better nation. But it was national insanity, tantamount to suicide, to declare that Donald Trump was the right choice to remedy America’s deficiencies.
CRITICAL ENQUIRIES: Do the leaders of the Democratic Party know what happened in 2020 and then in 2024? Did the November 4, 2025, election outcomes reflect the disposition of a nation that had become disenchanted with Trumpists’ deplorable behavior, or the suasion of politically responsible strategies by Democrats? If the latter, are the campaign “promises” now buttressed with a plan to ensure that new leaders will put America back on the road to fulfill the founders’ “Dream” for American Democracy rather than more Detrimental Reliance – overpromising but underdelivering?
As I examine history, I can’t find anything to give me solace about the permanent advocacy for Democratic Principles no matter what elected officials claim to be – Republican or Democrat. Historically, there have been numerous shifts in the highest level of political party power in DC, the presidency – 26 Republicans and 20 Democrats; but the threat to the country is worse now than at any time in our history, including the Civil War.
VIRGINIA’S TIME IS NOW: George Washington, our first President was a Virginian; and, with eight presidents, Virginia is the “Mother of Presidents.”
Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump roundly in Virginia due in great measure to the 71% voter turnout rate as compared with the national rate of 63.9%. Perhaps Virginians wanted to live up to the state’s motto – Sic Semper Tyrannis — and make Treason a Crime Again. America and the world will be watching Virginia and, perhaps, HOPING!
