The Republican Supreme Court has handed down a decision along party lines that finds that a president cannot be prosecuted for almost anything they do while in office. The president could, for instant, order any military official to kill a political rival and they could not be prosecuted for that unless they were impeached first: (https://www.vox.com/scotus/358292/s.....y-dictatorship)

Recently, they also decreed that the judicial branch has authority over the executive branch in matters of basic regulations. Important descisions in all kinds of fields from industrial regulations to food saftey will now have the final say be left to unaccountable lawyers in black robes instead of experts in those fields. (https://www.vox.com/scotus/357900/s.....ron-power-grab)

The supreme court also casually decided that certain kinds of bribery are legal, after scandals in which several members of the court accepted expensive gifts that they did not disclose: (https://www.thenation.com/article/p.....ty-corruption/)

I cannot think of any other word to describe these actions other than than "treasonous". The conservative court is actively conspiring to undermine the integrity and stability of the republic. In a just world, they would be impeached and arrested.

And, of course, that's not even mentioning their decision that women do not have a right to basic bodily autonomy, along with their obvious animosity towards Obergefell V. Hodges and Brown V. Board.

Let us not forget Project 2024, the conservative plan to turn America into a fascist dictatorship that includes such wonderful things as: Calling out the military to suppress protests, banning abortion nationwide, making Christianity the de-facto official religion, overturning marriage equality and rights for queer people, banning porn, abolishing the Department of Education, purging the civil service and replacing them with Trump loyalists, and so much more!

And the Democrats, in their infinite wisdom, have seen fit to nominate a doddering old man who can't string a sentence together to oppose the overgrown, demented, fascist oompa loompa who is threatening to overthrow our democracy. It's too late to switch him out; he's the incumbent, and that carries with it a small amount of advantage in the general election. We just have to cross our fingers and vote blue.

I find myself heartbroken. I love America so much, and I love the democratic republic that we live under. A democratic republic is the best form of government, free of degenerate monarchism and overt reactionaryism. The people choose their leaders, and no one else. That's a simplification, of course. Our system has its flaws; the Electoral College, the undemocratic senate, the hyper-partisan two-party system that is a result of First Past the Post voting, and the ability of rich oligarchs to dominate our political process to advance their interests. But despite all of those flaws, our republic is still such a beautiful thing. And I am being forced to watch as conservatives and fascists tear it apart before my very eyes, as I can do nothing to stop it.

I find myself also enraged. Not just at Republican cynicism and the overt treasonous behavior of the Supreme Court, but also at Democratic inaction. They say that this is the most important election of our lives, but they don't act like it. Biden went for a second term despite being visibly unfit for office and immensely unpopular, and now we're stuck with him as the nominee. They've been saying that this is the most important election of our lives for the past 8 years. They fucked up in 2016, squeaked into the presidency with only 51.3% of the popular vote in 2020, and it now looks like there's a very real chance that they will lose the 2024 election. And these buffoons are the best hope for democracy and freedom? The best hope for our republic?

Fuck, man.

Regardless of who wins in November, it should be very clear to all of us that our country desperately needs reform. The two party system is killing us. I would propose that you look into your local chapter of FairVote, who are working to get states to reform their voting system and adopt Ranked Choice voting, which will help break the power of the two parties. In ranked choice voting, instead of only having one vote and being forced to vote for the liberal candidate that seems most likely to win just to stop the republican candidate, you can rank the candidates on the ballot. Like a candidate a lot? You rank them as #1. Like a candidate a little? You can rank them as #2. See a candidate that you don't really care for, but they don't suck as much the republican? Rank them #3. See a republican? Just leave them blank and they won't get your vote. On election day, the votes are counted. If your #1 pick doesn't win, then your vote goes to the #2 pick. If they don't win, then your vote goes to #3. Instead of voting AGAINST a candidate you hate, you can vote FOR a candidate you like while still making sure that the republican dickhead won't win in the end.

If the American republic is to endure, we must make it more democratic and break the power of the parties and the rich elite.

Long live these United States!