The Fulcrum of ⁣the Gaslight: Why False Equivalence is a Threat to Democracy

The refrain is familiar: “Both sides are⁣ the‍ same.” It’s a comforting ‍thought, isn’t it? A way to avoid the messy business of taking sides, of confronting uncomfortable truths.But⁤ in this moment, as American democracy faces an existential threat, that sentiment isn’t neutrality – it’s a perilous delusion.

The Asymmetry of American Politics

For decades,the Democratic Party,despite⁤ its flaws,has operated within the bounds of democratic norms. They’ve debated policy, engaged in compromise (often to a fault), and accepted the legitimacy of their opponents.They’ve championed, imperfectly,‍ a ⁢pluralistic government. That’s not‍ nothing. That’s the foundation of everything.Meanwhile, ⁣the Republican Party has nominated a man who tried ⁣to overturn an election, incited violence⁢ against political opponents, promised to dismantle the civil service, and pledged to weaponize the justice department against critics.⁢ He now enjoys the open support of insurrectionists,foreign‍ adversaries,and indicted financiers. This is not business as usual.this is a clear and present danger to democratic governance.

And it continues.Wiht a single phone call to Governor Greg Abbott, Trump persuaded Texas Republicans to abandon their response to the Central Texas ⁣floods and instead embark on a radical gerrymandering ⁢crusade-targeting five new congressional seats⁢ through brute procedural ⁣power. Governance discarded.Power prioritized.This isn’t ⁣about policy⁣ disagreements; it’s about ⁣a blatant disregard for the principles of fair representation ⁤and democratic‍ process.

To equate these two forces is not fairness. It is indeed moral blindness. It’s a failure to recognize the fundamental difference between a party striving,⁣ however imperfectly, to uphold democratic ideals and one actively seeking to dismantle them.

The Function of Blindness: Cover and Abdication

This blindness isn’t accidental. It has a function. It provides cover for those who benefit from the status quo. it allows elites to maintain access and influence.It permits institutions to pretend they’re not implicated in the unfolding crisis. And it flatters audiences who want to feel superior to the “partisans” – those of us who recognize the gravity of the situation.

But ⁤in a democracy,⁣ refusing to take sides when the stakes are constitutional survival isn’t wisdom-it’s abdication. It’s a surrender to forces that seek ‍to undermine the very ⁤foundations of our republic. ⁢

The centre, properly understood, isn’t the midpoint between parties. It’s the ground where reality lives. And right now, that ground is under siege-not from‍ both sides, but from one. The insistence on “both sides” is a tactic, a deliberate attempt to normalize extremism by framing it as simply another point⁢ on the political⁤ spectrum.

Rejecting‍ the Lie: Truth and Accountability

So no, I will not pretend both parties are the same. I will⁢ not apologize ‍for calling authoritarianism what it is. And I will not lend ⁤credibility to the lie that recognizing asymmetry is itself a form of extremism.

That’s the fulcrum of the gaslight. That’s the belief they need ⁢you to accept to keep breaking reality apart. They want you to doubt your own perceptions, to question your own values, to accept a distorted version of events as truth.

Don’t believe it.

Two plus two equals four. there are twenty-four hours in a day.And one party has abandoned the truth, embraced conspiracy, and demonstrated a willingness to subvert democratic institutions.

The center must be held. But it can only be held by ⁤those ‍willing to name who’s⁢ trying to tear it down. It⁣ requires courage, clarity, and a commitment to defending the principles of democracy, even when it’s uncomfortable. It demands we reject false equivalence and embrace the reality of the moment. The future of our republic depends on it.

Mike Brock is a former tech exec who was on the ⁣leadership team at Block. Originally published at his Notes From the Circus .

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