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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to the congregation at Maranatha Baptist Church before teaching Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia on April 28, 2019. (Photo: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
On Eve of Jan. 6 Anniversary, Jimmy Carter Warns US Democracy 'Teeters on the Brink'
"Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy," the former president writes. "Americans must set aside differences and work together before it is too late."
Jan 05, 2022
As the nation prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the right-wing insurrectionist mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday warned that American democracy "teeters on the brink" of destruction and that there is a real possibility of a second civil war if the country does not rally to defend its democratic principles and institutions.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems."
"One year ago, a violent mob, guided by unscrupulous politicians, stormed the Capitol and almost succeeded in preventing the democratic transfer of power," Carter, who is 97 years old, wrote in a New York Times guest essay ahead of the anniversary of the attempted coup by supporters of former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that Democrats stole the 2020 election for President Joe Biden.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems," the 39th president continued. "These forces exert power and influence through relentless disinformation, which continues to turn Americans against Americans."
Carter--who, after leaving the White House in 1981 founded the Carter Center, which works to promote free and fair elections around the world--asserted that Americans must agree on fundamental constitutional principles, pursue reforms to ensure electoral security and accessibility, resist polarization, reject political violence, and combat the spread of disinformation.
"Our great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss," he warned. "Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy. Americans must set aside differences and work together before it is too late."
Observers not prone to hyperbole have been sounding the alarm about the growing threat to U.S. democracy.
In a Guardian opinion piece published Monday, prominent jurist Laurence Tribe warned that "the risk of a coup in the next U.S. election is greater now than it ever was under Trump," while violent conflict scholar Thomas Homer-Dixon on Tuesday called Trump's presidency "just a warm-up act" presaging a fascist dictatorship that could rule the United States by the end of the decade.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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As the nation prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the right-wing insurrectionist mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday warned that American democracy "teeters on the brink" of destruction and that there is a real possibility of a second civil war if the country does not rally to defend its democratic principles and institutions.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems."
"One year ago, a violent mob, guided by unscrupulous politicians, stormed the Capitol and almost succeeded in preventing the democratic transfer of power," Carter, who is 97 years old, wrote in a New York Times guest essay ahead of the anniversary of the attempted coup by supporters of former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that Democrats stole the 2020 election for President Joe Biden.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems," the 39th president continued. "These forces exert power and influence through relentless disinformation, which continues to turn Americans against Americans."
Carter--who, after leaving the White House in 1981 founded the Carter Center, which works to promote free and fair elections around the world--asserted that Americans must agree on fundamental constitutional principles, pursue reforms to ensure electoral security and accessibility, resist polarization, reject political violence, and combat the spread of disinformation.
"Our great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss," he warned. "Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy. Americans must set aside differences and work together before it is too late."
Observers not prone to hyperbole have been sounding the alarm about the growing threat to U.S. democracy.
In a Guardian opinion piece published Monday, prominent jurist Laurence Tribe warned that "the risk of a coup in the next U.S. election is greater now than it ever was under Trump," while violent conflict scholar Thomas Homer-Dixon on Tuesday called Trump's presidency "just a warm-up act" presaging a fascist dictatorship that could rule the United States by the end of the decade.
As the nation prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the right-wing insurrectionist mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday warned that American democracy "teeters on the brink" of destruction and that there is a real possibility of a second civil war if the country does not rally to defend its democratic principles and institutions.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems."
"One year ago, a violent mob, guided by unscrupulous politicians, stormed the Capitol and almost succeeded in preventing the democratic transfer of power," Carter, who is 97 years old, wrote in a New York Times guest essay ahead of the anniversary of the attempted coup by supporters of former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that Democrats stole the 2020 election for President Joe Biden.
"One year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral systems," the 39th president continued. "These forces exert power and influence through relentless disinformation, which continues to turn Americans against Americans."
Carter--who, after leaving the White House in 1981 founded the Carter Center, which works to promote free and fair elections around the world--asserted that Americans must agree on fundamental constitutional principles, pursue reforms to ensure electoral security and accessibility, resist polarization, reject political violence, and combat the spread of disinformation.
"Our great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss," he warned. "Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy. Americans must set aside differences and work together before it is too late."
Observers not prone to hyperbole have been sounding the alarm about the growing threat to U.S. democracy.
In a Guardian opinion piece published Monday, prominent jurist Laurence Tribe warned that "the risk of a coup in the next U.S. election is greater now than it ever was under Trump," while violent conflict scholar Thomas Homer-Dixon on Tuesday called Trump's presidency "just a warm-up act" presaging a fascist dictatorship that could rule the United States by the end of the decade.
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