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A world that’s governed by complex legal codes, procedures, and norms with a variety of loopholes and undefined states. One that’s not safeguarded by rah rah “w

A world that’s governed by complex legal codes, procedures, and norms with a variety of loopholes and undefined states. One that’s not safeguarded by rah rah “we are most powerful country ever” therefore our bureaucracy is immune to bureaucratic failure! We simply don’t really know what would’ve happened if e.g. the ballots were destroyed. They would’ve had to get duplicate ballots from the states. Would all the state election boards have stuck with their previous results now seeing an apparent opportunity to install their leader and feeling galvanized by the “fraud” of vote-by-mail? It’s interesting how many people will complain about clear bureaucratic failure in basic day-to-day tasks like the DMV, and then imagine that the most complex bureaucracy in history is held together by patriot power and not, you know, bureaucracy, with all of its strengths and vulnerabilities.

kcplate 5y ago
The point is that this event is characterized as an insurrection and a threat to the the United States. It wasn’t. If you want to shift the conversation to election integrity, that’s fine…but that was actually the whole point of the demonstrations. You have one group that felt that they had legitimate concerns about the election’s integrity. The other side downplayed those concerns, does not want to improve election integrity, and actually wants to erode it further. I am pretty sure that if you want the bulk of America to feel that elections have integrity you should make it a priority and not downplay concerns just because your candidate won and I apply that standard to both parties since both are guilty over the last few election cycles.
- ethanbond 5y ago
  To clarify, when I refer to ballots being destroyed I’m referring to electoral college ballots being destroyed by rioters during the Jan 6 insurrection. It wasn’t a coincidence that they were called to DC on that particular day when a normally extremely boring and mundane procedure is carried out. It has no symbolic value, it has no cultural value, it has no value except ensuring the legal, procedural basis for transition of power. That’s why it was attacked. Yes, if that succeeded, it would’ve harmed the US. In any case, your suggestion that the democrats “actually want to erode [election integrity] further” reveals a lot.
  - kcplate 5y ago
    Does it? What exactly do you think it reveals? I’m not a Republican, and haven’t voted for a Republican for any office for decades. So what does that tell you? It might reveal that I am not happy with the political party that once upon a time were liberal and good but are now just filled with power hungry intolerant authoritarians. At least the republicans don’t pretend that they are good people.

kcplate 5y ago

The point is that this event is characterized as an insurrection and a threat to the the United States. It wasn’t. If you want to shift the conversation to election integrity, that’s fine…but that was actually the whole point of the demonstrations. You have one group that felt that they had legitimate concerns about the election’s integrity. The other side downplayed those concerns, does not want to improve election integrity, and actually wants to erode it further. I am pretty sure that if you want the bulk of America to feel that elections have integrity you should make it a priority and not downplay concerns just because your candidate won and I apply that standard to both parties since both are guilty over the last few election cycles.

ethanbond 5y ago
To clarify, when I refer to ballots being destroyed I’m referring to electoral college ballots being destroyed by rioters during the Jan 6 insurrection. It wasn’t a coincidence that they were called to DC on that particular day when a normally extremely boring and mundane procedure is carried out. It has no symbolic value, it has no cultural value, it has no value except ensuring the legal, procedural basis for transition of power. That’s why it was attacked. Yes, if that succeeded, it would’ve harmed the US. In any case, your suggestion that the democrats “actually want to erode [election integrity] further” reveals a lot.
- kcplate 5y ago
  Does it? What exactly do you think it reveals? I’m not a Republican, and haven’t voted for a Republican for any office for decades. So what does that tell you? It might reveal that I am not happy with the political party that once upon a time were liberal and good but are now just filled with power hungry intolerant authoritarians. At least the republicans don’t pretend that they are good people.