An Open Letter by Prominent Progressives and Conservatives to Save American Democracy From Trump’s GOP
We begin with an open letter published simultaneously today in The New Republic and The Bulwark by Todd Gitlin, Jeffrey Isaac and William Kristol, “An Open Letter in Defense of Democracy: The future of democracy in the United States is in danger.” Joining us is Todd Gitlin, a sociologist, political writer, novelist, cultural commentator and Professor of Journalism and Communications at Columbia University. He is a former president of Students for a Democratic Society and helped organize the first national demonstration against the Vietnam War, as well as the first civil disobedience directed against American corporate support for the apartheid regime in South Africa. His books include Letters to a Young Activist and the forthcoming The Opposition and he has just co-authored this open letter signed by a diverse group of progressives and conservatives that range from Noam Chomsky to Max Boot, Katha Pollit to Mona Charen. We discuss how the U.S. is already at the second stage of what historian Robert Paxton referred to as The Five Stages of Fascism as the Republican Party under the cult-like spell of Donald Trump, is furiously rigging the electoral playing field to make America a permanent one-party state. In their urgent appeal to save American democracy the signatories conclude with …”we urge all responsible citizens who care about democracy—public officials, journalists, educators, activists, ordinary citizens—to make the defense of democracy an urgent priority now. Now is the time for leaders in all walks of life—for citizens of all political backgrounds and persuasions—to come to the aid of the Republic.”