I really would LIKE to believe you are right, Buck... I really would...

But I am certain that you are- in this case- overly optimistic.

That democratic tradition has been steadily eroded by the right over the course of decades. That erosion has been accelerating unchecked since the 90s when Newt Gingrich gained control.

A very LARGE fraction of the populace wishes to do away with democracy largely for reasons of race... out of fear of becoming the minority. This fear has been professionally mass marketed to them by propaganda experts on the right, pumped into their homes by Fox News and the internet...100's of billions were spent to do this over decades.

Trump's big lie, all the insane racist and bigoted conspiracy theories, could not have taken hold were it not for the erosion of democratic principles.

The bulk of the American right would be gleeful at the idea of an autocracy, because they mistakenly believe a right wing autocracy would elevate them. They have been convinced that any election that doesn't put the right in complete control is rigged, and any government not under the control of the right is socialist tyranny.

We might be willing to die for our democracy, but the right is willing to kill to do away with democracy. Worse yet, those in power on the left are only coming out and recognizing the threat to our democracy when it was clear since the 90's.

If the right seizes control of house and senate this election, it is all over. They have lost the popular vote regularly, they know democracy will soon be a death sentence for their prospects for power.

They could have tried to fight against the bigotry and racism in their party and tried to appeal to a larger portion of Americans, but that was too much work... so a coup was the route they went.

If they do well this election, they will cripple the government and sabotage it and create immense hardship so that in 2024 they can say "see, government doesn't work!"

And that will be the end of the American experiment.... and we will have a very ugly country for a while... before it all goes to hell.

Hopefully, I won the Powerball and can run off to New Zealand...