Must understand why

Bret Stephens in last Sunday’s Perspective section makes “The case for Trump … by someone that wants him to lose.” This well-thought-out op-ed is a must-read for all Democrats, independents, and voters of any belief who fall in the “Never Trump!” camp. Presently, the election is so close we may have to live with a Donald Trump presidency.

We must understand the conditions in the country that lead our fellow citizens to vote for Trump. There is a dissatisfaction and torpor in the country that plays into the Trump narrative. The “Happy Days are here again” of the Biden narrative just simply doesn’t resonate. Understanding this could help dissipate the enmity between the two groups and help us live together. This essay discusses these issues thoroughly. A companion piece should be written outlining “The case for Biden …”

As good citizens of a democracy, we are called upon to accept the results of a fair election and vow to rectify our disappointment in a future ballot box, not in the streets. Acceptance of the voters’ will in an election is the most basic assumption of a functioning democracy. It is foundational.

When political leaders refuse to accept the results of a fair election, it is a violation of the very underlying tenets of democracy and the Constitution. On Jan. 6, 2021, we experienced the results. Our Capitol was attacked and broken into by an angry mob. Our senators and representatives had to flee for their very lives.

One thing is certain about the 2024 presidential election: Roughly half of the voters will not see their choice elected president. As good citizens in a democracy, we must all be willing to accept the results if our country is to survive as we know it.

If defeated again, will Trump accept it this time? The outcome would be catastrophic if he didn’t.

GEORGE BENJAMIN Siloam Springs