Mr. Carter was the 39th president of the United States.
This article is part of a collection on the events of Jan. 6, one year later. Read more in a note from Times Opinion’s politics editor Ezekiel Kweku in our Opinion Today newsletter.
One
year ago, a violent mob, guided by unscrupulous politicians, stormed
the Capitol and almost succeeded in preventing the democratic transfer
of power. All four of us former presidents condemned their actions and
affirmed the legitimacy of the 2020 election. There followed a brief
hope that the insurrection would shock the nation into addressing the
toxic polarization that threatens our democracy.
However,
one year on, promoters of the lie that the election was stolen have
taken over one political party and stoked distrust in our electoral
systems. These forces exert power and influence through relentless
disinformation, which continues to turn Americans against Americans.
According to the Survey Center on American Life,
36 percent of Americans — almost 100 million adults across the
political spectrum — agree that “the traditional American way of life is
disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.” The Washington Post
recently reported that roughly 40 percent of Republicans believe that
violent action against the government is sometimes justified.
Politicians in my home state of Georgia, as well as in others, such as Texas and Florida,
have leveraged the distrust they have created to enact laws that
empower partisan legislatures to intervene in election processes. They
seek to win by any means, and many Americans are being persuaded to
think and act likewise, threatening to collapse the foundations of our
security and democracy with breathtaking speed. I now fear that what we
have fought so hard to achieve globally — the right to free, fair
elections, unhindered by strongman politicians who seek nothing more
than to grow their own power — has become dangerously fragile at home.
Opinion ConversationThe Uncomfortable Lessons of Jan. 6
The editorial board argues that the threat to the country didn’t end with the storming of the Capitol.
Jedediah Britton-Purdy writes that the events of the 6th couldn’t have happened in a real democracy.
Rebecca Solnit writes that Republicans are telling themselves increasingly brazen lies — and believing them.
Noah Millman argues that not only are laws powerless to end a crisis of legitimacy — they might make it worse.
Osita Nwanevu makes the case that the damage done to our electoral system was ultimately self-inflicted.
Francis Fukuyama warns that the ripple effects of a shaky transfer of power in America will be felt around the world.
I
personally encountered this threat in my own backyard in 1962, when a
ballot-stuffing county boss tried to steal my election to the Georgia
State Senate. This was in the primary, and I challenged the fraud in
court. Ultimately, a judge invalidated the results, and I won the
general election. Afterward, the protection and advancement of democracy
became a priority for me. As president, a major goal was to institute
majority rule in southern Africa and elsewhere.
After
I left the White House and founded the Carter Center, we worked to
promote free, fair and orderly elections across the globe. I led dozens
of election observation missions in Africa, Latin America and Asia,
starting with Panama in 1989, where I put a simple question to
administrators: “Are you honest officials or thieves?” At each election,
my wife, Rosalynn, and I were moved by the courage and commitment of
thousands of citizens walking miles and waiting in line from dusk to
dawn to cast their first ballots in free elections, renewing hope for
themselves and their nations and taking their first steps to
self-governance. But I have also seen how new democratic systems — and
sometimes even established ones — can fall to military juntas or
power-hungry despots. Sudan and Myanmar are two recent examples.
For
American democracy to endure, we must demand that our leaders and
candidates uphold the ideals of freedom and adhere to high standards of
conduct.
First,
while citizens can disagree on policies, people of all political
stripes must agree on fundamental constitutional principles and norms of
fairness, civility and respect for the rule of law. Citizens should be
able to participate easily in transparent, safe and secure electoral
processes. Claims of election irregularities should be submitted in good
faith for adjudication by the courts, with all participants agreeing to
accept the findings. And the election process should be conducted
peacefully, free of intimidation and violence.
Second,
we must push for reforms that ensure the security and accessibility of
our elections and ensure public confidence in the accuracy of results.
Phony claims of illegal voting and pointless multiple audits only
detract from democratic ideals.
Third,
we must resist the polarization that is reshaping our identities around
politics. We must focus on a few core truths: that we are all human, we
are all Americans and we have common hopes for our communities and our
country to thrive. We must find ways to re-engage across the divide,
respectfully and constructively, by holding civil conversations with
family, friends and co-workers and standing up collectively to the
forces dividing us.
Fourth, violence
has no place in our politics, and we must act urgently to pass or
strengthen laws to reverse the trends of character assassination,
intimidation and the presence of armed militias at events. We must
protect our election officials — who are trusted friends and neighbors
of many of us — from threats to their safety. Law enforcement must have
the power to address these issues and engage in a national effort to
come to terms with the past and present of racial injustice.
Lastly,
the spread of disinformation, especially on social media, must be
addressed. We must reform these platforms and get in the habit of
seeking out accurate information. Corporate America and religious
communities should encourage respect for democratic norms, participation
in elections and efforts to counter disinformation.
Our
great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss. Without
immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing
our precious democracy. Americans must set aside differences and work
together before it is too late.
Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States.
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