Time to Defend Our Democracy

By Cal Potter

Russia extensively meddled to influence our political and social views, shown through thousands of social media/internet posts, many paid for in Rubles. This tactic is illegal, a modern attack on our nation, and the political hacks who aided and abetted this effort are also guilty of a crime.

Putin and his oligarchy cronies have stolen billions of dollars from the Russian economy, diverting and laundering that treasure via foreign banks and investments. This theft is tragic for the Russian people, and a crime. Those who helped in this heist in any manner also engaged in criminal activity, and should be held accountable.

The Mueller investigation into the above is essential for the rule of law and defense of our democracy. Failure to thoroughly investigate and prosecute these illegal acts would be a despicable derelict of duty, and disrespect of our national heritage.

Current White House and Congressional majority efforts to hinder and derail Mueller's work is another display that political partisanship takes precedence in today's politics. Through recent Republican political dominance, including successful gerrymandering of legislative districts, primaries have become the election. Officeholders in this environment say little against the President and the above crimes for fear of a primary challenge, and a resultant loss brought about by the votes of ardent Trump supporters in the Republican Party.

Failure to support Mueller's investigation, discrediting our justice agencies, and raising false diversionary issues, should be seen as an insult to the American people and an affront to our democracy. Party politics gone mad is indefensible, and really a crime against the rule of law.
 
Failure to address these wrongs will be a sign that our political system is more like a third world dictatorship than a shining example of how democracy and the rule of law should work.


Calvin Potter, of Sheboygan Falls, was a Democratic State Representative from 1975 to 1991 and a Wisconsin State Senator from 1991 to 1999. He currently serves on the Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board.