Republican split necessary to protect democratic republic
Today’s split in the Republican Party mirrors the split in the Democrats in 1860. Their leadership is made up of extremists who consider their opponents illegitimate, maintain they alone understand the Constitution and are skewing the mechanics of our electoral system to keep themselves in power. In 1860, the Democratic Party split, its moderates joining with the fledgling Republicans to defend the United States of America.
Today, Republicans who previously hoped that they after Trump’s defeat might take back their party now agree that the only way to stop Trumpism is to ally with Democrats to defend American institutions, defeat far-right candidates, and elect honorable representatives in 2022 — including moderate Democrats. To defend democracy, they feel concerned conservatives must join forces to block anti-democratic Republican leaders from regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
In the 1860s, it was necessary to put political differences aside to protect our democratic republic. History does repeat itself.
PEGGY PERKINS, WINDER
Democrats have no mandate for massive voting bill
Democrat voting activists want to exempt the massive voting bill from a filibuster because the party has the “power” to make the change “Stall on voting rights frustrates activists,” (News, Oct. 25). However, raw power alone won’t get the job done. Thomas Jefferson advised that “great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities.” A broader public opinion makes for a settled issue.
The Democrats came to Washington believing they had a mandate for radical change. Actually, the voters wanted a change in the White House, but no mandate was given to Congress where the Democrats have a paper-thin majority in both houses. Now Joe Biden is on the ropes; his ratings are lower than Trump’s. Bypassing the filibuster may feel good now, but the pain will come with the midterm election. Voters are uneasy about large, complex legislation they have seen in other overreaching bills this year.
DAVID BROWN, HOLLY SPRINGS
