For months before the election, President Trump warned America
of the dangers of mail-in voting and widespread fraud. Hence, he advised his
constituents to vote in person on election day.
At the same time former Vice-President Joe Biden
encouraged mail-in voting in as an option to avoid crowds at the polls and thus
lessen the spread of covid-19.
It should be no surprise that Republicans by and large
cast their votes on election day, while Democrats utilized mail-in voting to a
great degree. The election laws in some states prohibited the counting of
mail-in ballots before election day.
Therefore, they were counted after the in-person votes. The result was not surprising: mail-in
ballots shifted the tide in several key states from a Trump victory to a Biden victory.
Thereafter, President Trump has cried fraud and had his
legal team mount many court challenges in various states. All but two of the thirty challenges have
been cast down by judges, many of whom are Republicans. Yet, he persists in his accusations.
Right-wing news media promotes the president’s conspiracy
charges. However, fact checks show time
and again that claims of fraud have no verifiable evidence despite the numbers
and statistics that are claimed.
In the meantime, the Trump administration refuses to
cooperate with the smooth and peaceful transfer of power. As a result, president-elect Biden does not
have access to vital security briefings.
Voting is a hallmark of American democracy, as is freedom
of the press. Throughout his presidency,
Trump has accused the media of spreading “fake news.” However, it is important to have both
conservative and liberal voices heard.
If we lose that freedom, we may lose democracy as well.
Read the news and listen to the news, all of it. Follow the liberal news outlets as well as
the conservative ones. Try listening to
international news coverage of our election as well. When you see alarming statistics, check their
source. Look for proof from independent
sources. Be an informed citizen.
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