An overwhelming number of Americans do not possess a fundamental understanding of civics. In fact, an overwhelming number of Americans probably don’t even know how to define civics. Civics is the study of the way the government works and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of America - it is particularly sad that more Americans don’t understand basic civics. The general lack of understanding civics is partnered with the great political divide in America that has allowed political tribalism to supersede civics - which is the workings of the government and the responsibility of its citizens.
One of the recent Supreme Court decisions proves this point of civics being taken over by partisan politics.
In the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision, this week, that federal law does not establish a requirement for when mail-in ballots can be received and counted. This was a major defeat for President Trump - who has been falsely promoting the premise that late mail-in ballots are prone to be fraudulent. There is no evidence that supports President Trump’s claim.
The president’s erroneous claim that late mail-in ballots are more prone to fraud has been picked up and promoted by conservative, right-wing media - or as I like to call it - the conservative media echo chamber. Many Americans are trapped in this echo chamber where falsehoods are promoted and many facts damaging to the president are totally omitted.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was hit with a severe backlash for her majority opinion in the case of a Mississippi law that allowed mail-in ballots to be counted even if the ballots came in after Election Day. The backlash from many conservatives reflected the total outrage many had for Justice Barrett to dare to rule on the law as she saw it - and not rule on the law based on her conservative image and the fact that she was appointed by President Trump.
Contrary to the doom-and-gloom mentality of the president and his close followers - the recent Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots upholds that the ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and are only allowed to be late by up to five days.
The story presented by the president and close supporters makes it seem that a total haphazard counting of late ballots is acceptable and that is simply not true.
Expectations of the Supreme Court Are Flawed
Through his appointments - President Trump has turned the Supreme Court into a conservative majority. The expectation was that the Court would rule in favor of the president and Republican interests - rather than rule based on the law and legal precedent.
The Supreme Court is supposed to make rulings based on laws and legal precedent and not along party lines - in this case conservative party lines. What a shock that a justice appointed by a Republican president would dare to rule against his wishes. Any expectation that the Supreme Court rule for partisan politics over a true understanding of the law is further proof that many Americans don’t understand civics and don’t really care to learn about how the government should function.
In a dictatorship - every aspect of government aligns with the leader. In America - every aspect of government should align with serving the American people - NOT the president and his party.
