The Right-Wing in this country has carried on a decades-long campaign to halt the progress of our liberal democracy and to remake America in its image. And they made no secret of the instrument for this purpose: the United States Supreme Court packed with its far-right Justices.
In 2013 they started a decade of attacks on the political and social order as they began to limit African American participation in the bulwark of democracy—voting—by gutting the Voting Rights Act. Last week they extended this attack on African American voting by sanctioning gerrymandering in Louisiana to further erode voting rights there. Note that this redistricting map had been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
- But you did not object because you are not African American.
They nearly stopped the peaceful transfer of presidential power on January 6, 2021.
- But you did not object. Instead, you called the insurrectionists just a bunch of rowdies, and you were not one of them.
Through the carefully constructed Supreme Court membership, they finally overturned Roe V. Wade removing women’s constitutional right to abortion. That decision is one of the most impactful in a long time. Its consequences for women will play out over decades. Among other issues, women—and teenagers–who are raped or the victims of incest may have to carry such unwanted children to term.
- But you did not object because you are not a woman.
They did the work of the gun business lobby and extended its support of the United States as a wild west of guns. As a result, in 2008, the Supreme Court redefined the Second Amendment to mean what it had never meant before—the right of individuals to bear arms. And last week, they expanded the right to carry a gun in public by invalidating the New York State law—and presumably laws of several other states–regulating the carrying of firearms.
- But you did not object because you accept this redefinition of the Second Amendment.
In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that an arrested individual is entitled to rights against self-discrimination and to an attorney under the 5th and 6th Amendments of the United States Constitution. After that—until last week—law enforcement had to issue the iconic Miranda Rights phrase, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional protection against self-incrimination. So the warning is just something police can say if they feel like it.
- But you did not object, as you are not a criminal needing protection against self-incrimination.
In several decisions over the last few weeks, the Supreme Court obliterated Thomas Jefferson’s “wall of separation” of church and state by ruling that a state must fund Christian religious practices.
- But you did not object because you are a Christian.
In the most frightening move of all last week, the out-of-control Supreme Court gutted the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate a major source of carbon emissions currently dooming the planet. Apparently, they don’t care if the planet burns.
- With that, they have come for everyone, including thee.
