I heard Yale History Professor Timothy Snyder, on radio, about the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Constitutional Amendment 14 allowing or disallowing Donald Trump on ballots. Are there money bets on this? The conservative-loaded Court, with three appointees by then-President Trump, with churning in my gut, I’m guessing will win out. Chief Justice Roberts does count respect for his Court, however, important.
Along the way, Professor Snyder compared what could become of our U.S. democracy with Belarus and Cote d’Ivoire. Freedom House rates Belarus as “not free,” with a score of 2 / 40 for political rights and 6 / 60 for civil rights. Overall score 8 / 100. Cote d’Ivoire is “partly free,” with a score of 19 / 40 for political rights and 30 / 60 for civil rights. Overall score of 49 / 100. Our USA is “free,” with a score of 32 / 40 for political rights and 51 / 60 for civil rights. Overall score of 83 / 100. It could all change, said Snyder. Do we really believe in the rule of law? “Strong democracies can collapse into authoritarianism.” Trump, chuckling as if it’s merely a punchline, says that he’ll, “be a dictator only on day one.” Really, that’s all it takes.
Lynn Rudmin Chong
Sanbornton