“Party of freedom”
Although Republicans have long embraced the label of “party of freedom,” it was never more than skin deep – usually shorthand for all but saying that they weren’t really intent on doing anything to improve your life. “Small, limited government” was just a phrase that really meant whatever the GOP wanted it to mean – mostly, fewer protections so their donors can get away with doing whatever they want. It should, therefore, surprise no one when Trumpers are now beginning to say openly that “America isn’t a democracy – it’s a constitutional republic.”
This is, of course, nonsense like everything else they’ve claimed to stand for: A constitutional republic is a type of democratic government, in which politicians are elected to represent their voters, but a byproduct of them saying it over and over again is that people are conditioned into accepting that not everyone should be allowed to vote (this is generally something even the most moderate Republicans tend to believe) and that politicians (particularly Republican presidents) sometimes have the power to act unilaterally. This is inevitably where the party that embraced Donald Trump would always end up.
The good news is that although Republicans are attacking our freedoms from First Amendment rights to healthcare, Democrats are embracing the label of the party of freedom – the one that will protect healthcare, reproductive freedom, the right to speak out and protest, and a great deal more. For far too long, the history of America is of brave individuals who weren’t afraid to speak out against injustice – right now it’s the coalition we need in order to win. Democrats are the party of personal freedom – and it’s clear voters are buying the message.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making