The Politics of Paranoia

Artwork by Michael DiMilo

By Geoffrey Carter

We’ve reached a strange crossroads in the American experience. Homegrown terrorists threatened to violently disrupt a presidential inauguration. As a result, over 25,000 National Guardsmen were stationed at the Capitol Building. The FBI is investigating possible collaboration between members of Congress and violent factions of the far-right, allegations that include a House Representative guiding would-be assassins to the Speaker’s Office. Because of the widespread embrace of far-right ideology in the military, FBI agents are also beginning the arduous process of vetting every Guardsman sent to protect the president-elect.

Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and Trumpists are still plotting to overthrow the government. Thankfully, they were forsaken and subsequently thrown under the bus by Donald Trump, their fearless leader during the January 6^thinvasion of the Capitol. But who are these people? As authorities have identified and arrested rioters from the invasion, we began to get a picture of this homegrown terrorist movement. They detained a teacher from Wisconsin, a small business owner from California, a retired firefighter from Pennsylvania, and even an Olympic gold-medal winner. For the most part, these seditionists were—at one time—everyday people who could be our neighbors. Now, as I walk the dog or go to the store, I tend to look at acquaintances and neighbors in a new light? Did she go to Washington? Was he there? 

Now reports of possible collaboration between members of the Capitol Police and the rioters have surfaced. As of late last week, two CP officers had been suspended and a dozen more were under investigation for aiding and abetting the rioters. One officer was caught taking a selfie with one of the invaders while dozens of his colleagues battled with the mob. One of these officers was beaten to death while his co-worker was posing with a terrorist. This incident has been termed symptomatic of the widespread acceptance of white supremacist ideology in law enforcement and the military.

Even more disturbing are reports that a newly elected member of the House of Representatives had conducted tours of the Capitol Building the day before the insurrection. Members in her little group were subsequently identified as members of the seditionist mob. If this member of Congress—who is indeed an acolyte of the right-wing conspiracy group QAnon—knowingly took these members on an authorized tour of the Capitol for a possible reconnaissance mission, her actions could very likely be interpreted as treasonous. 

Following President Trump’s lead, members of the Republican Party refused to certify the recent presidential election, catering to Trump’s last-ditch effort to steal the presidency from the American people. In a naked and cynical attempt to further their political ambitions, six Senate Republicans and one hundred and twenty-one House Republicans objected—with non-existent cause—to President-elect Biden’s win. They betrayed our freedom for their own benefit.

Our democracy is under siege by those who profess belief in a Satan-worshipping cult of pedophiles and cannibals, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other far right-wing extremists. Their poisonous ideology has somehow penetrated deep into the American psyche and tapped a reservoir of frustration and racism. And entitlement. It was almost humorous to see rioters at the Capitol livestreaming the event and themselves, not even seeming to realize that they were handing evidence to law enforcement on a silver platter. Some of them posed and mugged as if they were at the office picnic. One woman complained that she had been maced on her way into the Capitol. When the reporter why she was going there, she whined, “To go to the Revolution.” 

In truth, the predominantly white mob was (especially when compared to BLM demonstrators) treated with kid gloves by the cops. President-elect Biden even commented that the police presence at the Capitol riots reflected an unacceptable racial inequity. He was right. The cops were taking it easy on the white folks, but that’s hardly surprising.

So, who can we trust? Significant segments of the law enforcement community are possibly in cahoots with far-right extremists seeking to overthrow our democracy. A duly elected House Representative has allegedly aided and abetted armed terrorists in the invasion of federal property. Millions of American citizens have been indoctrinated into the crazed ravings of QAnon and talk radio. 

What happened to us? Where is our trust in democracy and the American system of government? What happened to rational thought? Empirical evidence? Cause and effect? It seemed as if everything we once trusted and believed in has been thrown onto the scrap heap by the zealots who have thrown their lot in with the far-right lunatic fringe. Some psychologists have maintained that misinformation and fake news are the problem, but many are starting to recognize that the quarantine has deepened the information bubbles people find themselves trapped in. With no one to listen to but the same news sources, pundits, and websites, some of our citizens begin to take their lies as reality. 

These recent threats have been created and exacerbated by the single worst president in American history. In his last desperate grab for power, Trump laid the groundwork for his morally bankrupt and rationally destitute cult of personality. When he leaves—if he leaves—America will have to look at itself in the mirror and decide who we really are: QAnon fanatics chasing our neighbors with torches and pitchforks, or citizens of the greatest democracy in the world.

Are we doomed to a state of chronic paranoia? Will we constantly worry that the co-worker sitting next to us is a QAnon agent or a closet Nazi? Will our democratic processes be able to continue only under heavy—and heavily vetted—guard? 

No. Democracy cannot function behind closed doors or in a vacuum. We will deal with dissenters as American citizens; after all, we all have the right to air their views. We must, however, treat insurgents for what they are, threats to our form of government; they are nothing less than traitors to our country and our Constitution. The need to keep our processes transparent and open to all is most important. Without that, we are no longer a democracy, but we must be careful; there is only a very fine line between freedom and chaos.