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Here was my reasoning explained in my initial post as to why I would not take part:
The protest is organized by a group called Indivisible. Their mission statement says: "We’re a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda."
If you go to Indivisible's website, you learn, "Indivisible was founded in response to Trump’s election - but we know that Trump is a symptom of a sick democracy, not its cause. We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump. " They also speak of, "Defeating a multi-decade right-wing takeover of American government."
I don't buy that. That does not reflect by view. I do not believe our democracy is rigged to favor the White and the wealthy. I support our democracy; I don't want to overthrow it. I do not want to march under a progressive banner. I do not want to elect progressive politicians.
Since then, I have had a change of heart. I still agree with all I said above. However, Trump is a threat to world peace, is talking about staying in office past the end of this term, has started a trade war that may lead to a global depression, is trampling the Constitution and the rule of law, is talking about taking Greenland by force, and is destroying NATO and the collective security arrangement that maintained the peace, defeated Communism and ended the cold war. And he is acting as if a Russian asset.
In my view Trump is a dangerous man and desires to turn America into his dictatorship. In times like these one may have to ally with people with whom you disagree in order to advance the greater good. Sometimes compromise is necessary.
I did vote for Kamala Harris in the last election. It was not easy. I had to hold my nose to do so, but I voted for the lesser of two evils. Others, who are friends of mine and who share my values, chose to write in a name, skip voting for president or voted for a third party. I don't fault them for doing so. If like me, you are a life-long Republican and an ideological conservative, it is hard to know how to respond when the Party to which you have been welded morphs into an authoritarian nationalist-populist party and abandon the things for which it as always stood. Different people will respond differently, and I respect that. I see attending rallies led by progressives much the same way.
My friend Bill Bernstein commending on my previous post helped me clarify my thinking and change my mind. He wrote on Facebook:
Rod, I've given this one some thought. Yeah, I would probably hate about 70% of the people involved this thing, and disagree with about 95% of whatever they stand for (we might agree Scotch needs a little cold water and nothing else). But strength comes from building coalitions, and coalitions mean joining with people you otherwise would oppose. The Civil Rights coalition brought together Blacks, labor organizers, Northern liberals, intellectuals, Jews, and probably others. The coalition did not outlast the 1960s. But the tremendous urgency of the task called for a united front. So too here. I would probably go.
So, I am attending. I don't want to save the Department of Education. I want a smaller government. I don't want to elect progressives. I oppose abortion on demand. I don't want Medicare for all. On a whole bunch of issue, I will disagree with the people organizing this rally. However, the biggest threat to a free and stable world and democracy and freedom at home is Donald Trump.
I'm going!
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