The current protests against Israel’s use of massive, disproportionate force in Gaza have brought back memories of my own participation in the 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) protests.

I had worked in Mississippi on voter registration and felt deeply about seating the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) delegates at the Convention instead of the regular Democratic Party slate of delegates. I was also an enthusiastic supporter of Eugene McCarthy for the Democratic nomination for president because of his intelligent, bold plan for ending the war in Vietnam. 

When the MFDP delegates were not seated and Hubert Humphrey was nominated as the Democratic candidate for president, I sat on my hands and refused to vote. Richard Nixon was elected president.

I have never forgotten my imprudent decision to not support Humphrey, a long-time champion of working people and progressive government. I have never forgotten what Humphrey said to us McCarthy supporters in his vain effort to secure our vote: “Politics is the art of compromise.”

Since 1968, I have been putting Humphrey’s wise advice into practice as I participate in the politics of our civil society. In a democratic society, where we embrace the civic virtues of tolerance and respect for all persons, where we work politically with various competing interest groups, where we agree to accept differences, compromise is the keystone that guarantees that no one group or ideology will attain domination.   

Today, I fear that some liberal and progressive elements in our society are so full of anger over Gaza and other issues that they will sit on their hands and refuse to vote for Biden. I fear that their decision to not vote for Biden will lead to the election of Donald Trump for a second term.

Let me remind you of what Trump has done and of what he says he will do if re-elected. 

As he promised to do, Trump remade the U.S. Supreme Court and stacked the federal court system with over 230 judges. Those “progressives” who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton gave Trump the Supreme Court and our federal judgeships.

Trump eliminated over 100 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directives.

Trump did nothing to benefit the people of Palestine in his first term. He will do nothing to benefit them in his second term.

Here are just a few things Trump has promised to do:

1) Trump will promote the powers of the president according to the Unitary Executive Theory that states the president has the power to control the entire federal executive branch, giving the president control of all policy making by the executive branch, thus limiting Congress’s power over executive agencies.

This theory, a naked power grab worthy of a fascist dictator, would effectively gut the checks and balances system of our federalist system of governance, which is built upon the equality of its three branches. 

2) Trump will take the war powers of the president, already distorted into what some call the “imperial presidency,” to an unprecedented level of unilateral action, ignoring the war powers that strictly belong to our US Congress. As regards foreign policy, Trump has clearly stated that he will decide how, where and when to assist our allies regardless of our treaty obligations and commitments.  

3) Trump has promised to pardon all convicted in federal courts for their actions in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection against the U.S. government and all those from his administration who have been convicted of federal crimes.

4) Trump has promised to abolish the Department of Education, eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency and end civil service tenure in federal government, creating a new class of civil servants appointed by the president.

Take a good look at the crew—U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, for example —who are lined up behind Trump to carry on his legacy in the name of the Christian faith and family values.  Take a careful look at the Presidential Transition Project 2025.  

Consider how Trump—the bible salesman hawking the Trump bible for 60 dollars—has subverted elements of American Christianity to promote his own power.

The moral imperative here is clear.  

Let us not be distracted. 

If Trump is re-elected, the winners will be Putin, Xi and others who will profit from his narcissistic exercise of pointless, chaotic destruction.  

Among the losers will be the people of Palestine, the people of Ukraine and the people of the United States of America.  

May 2024 © nicholas.patricca@gmail.com

Nick Patricca is professor emeritus at Loyola University Chicago, member of PEN San Miguel MX Chapter, member TOSOS Theatre Collective, NYC.