The Big Lie
Recently, Texas state election officials made an announcement: the recount of votes in certain Texas counties (requested by Governor Greg Abbott) showed no voter fraud of consequence and election officials stood by their original reporting. Texas, like Georgia, Arizona, and others spent millions of dollars for recounts that came up with zilch….nada. Coupled with Attorney General Ken Paxton’s bogus law suits ( 0 wins), Texas tax payers now have quite a tab. We can’t spend money to not freeze this winter, but we can spend money on pathetic political nonsense.
The recount strategy is a step child of the Big Lie (Trump was cheated and really won) and is a set up for coming elections. Counties garnering more Democratic votes than Republicans are comfortable with are targeted. Trump calls Abbott, Abbott complies, the recount is made, and the results are the same. Republican politicians 1, Taxpayers 0. The strategy is a precursor for 2022 and 2024 . Gamblers can safely bet these counties will be targeted again, but this time with a new slate of counters.
Is there any room in the current Republican Party for the American standards of fair play, dignity and honor; or is the new litmus test whether you will bow down to Trump? The answer to that question could very well determine the future of this republic.
The insurrection a year ago was a direct result of the Big Lie. MAGA zealots were mobilized from all over the country to save democracy by destroying it. Their criminal actions were first condemned by Republicans as well as Democrats. Then the right wing propaganda machines went to work through media sycophants. The Proud Boys and their ilk were magically transformed from snarling zombies to fighters for freedom.
The Big Lie, now repeated for over 365 days, has convinced (according to an ABC poll) 52% of the Republican Party that indeed the election was stolen. No matter that every case brought to the courts has failed to credit that claim.
The well known Biblical quote from St. John, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” seems no longer valid to the zealots. Truth for followers now seems to be whatever Donald Trump says is the truth… end of discussion.
One of the vilest men is history believed and said this in his book written in prison: “The broad mass of a nation…will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one.” That thinking brought about one of the greatest tragedies in human history.
Trump is no Hitler and America is no Nazi Germany. But when good people are fooled by a false narrative and flawed logic, things can get out of control. Let’s not underestimate where we are. We, as Americans, believe in the rule of law. If we don’t, and act like we don’t, God save this country because good people might not be able to.
Gary Moore, Bandera County resident, is a Texas State University graduate, former English and football coach, journalist, script writer and photographer.