Former US President James Carter warned of threats to democracy, saying the nation is teetering on the brink of a growing abyss.
In an opinion piece published in The New York Times on the eve of the first anniversary of the assault on the Capitol, the former president pointed out that, without immediate action, they run a real risk of civil conflict and could lose what he classified as a “precious democracy ».
A year ago, a violent mob, led by unscrupulous politicians, stormed the Capitol and almost managed to prevent the democratic transfer of power, said in the text, which is part of a newspaper collection on the events of January 6, 2021 .
The 39th President (1977-1981) urged Americans to “put aside differences and work together before it is too late.”
After the events of 12 months ago, the Democrat along with three other former presidents (Barack Obama, George W. Bush and William Clinton) criticized the violence unleashed in Congress by supporters of then-ruling Donald Trump while Joe’s electoral victory was certified. Biden in the 2020 election.
“The promoters of the lie that the elections were stolen have taken over a political party and have fueled mistrust in our electoral system,” wrote the former Oval Office occupant.
These forces exert their power and influence through relentless disinformation, which continues to turn Americans against Americans, he stressed.
Carter, 97, expressed hope that the deadly attack on Capitol Hill “would shake the nation into addressing the toxic polarization that threatens our democracy.”
In turn, he affirmed that politicians took advantage of the distrust they have created to enact laws that empower partisan legislatures to intervene in electoral processes.
According to the Survey Center on American Life, 36 percent of Americans – nearly 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 him, “said Carter.
He recalled that The Washington Post recently reported that about 40 percent of Republicans believe that “violent action against the government is sometimes justified.”
The former president admitted that everything that the United States Government proclaims and tries to impose worldwide about the right to free and fair elections “has become dangerously fragile at home.”
