"That isn't who we are"

Seriously? It makes me cringe when I hear people say this re: political violence, insurrectionism, or far-right extremism. I mean, I was watching TV on January 6th just like you were. Pretty clearly, that was us.

Here's the thing: That's always been us, at least in part. We've always been more than one people. What's been different about the last few years is that the social sanctions against anti-democratic activity have weakened to the point where the worst of us (call 'em the Thems) have felt emboldened to come out of the shadows. What they've done since they've emerged into the light has been so shocking that it's taken over the cultural agenda, it's gobbled up all the oxygen in the room, and it's made them look like the majority.

Are they? I don't think they are. I hope they're not. But there's only one way to find out, and to send them back to the shadows: We have to prove that there's more of Us than Them. How do we do that?

We vote. Even if you don't care about the midterms, vote. Even if you live in a constituency that's reliably in the hands of a party whose agenda you subscribe to (as I do) -- vote. Sen. Raphael Warnock said recently that "A vote is a kind of prayer." That's exactly right: We vote to send a message about the nature of the country we want to live in. Every election is a referendum. Every vote matters.

In our lifetimes, people have literally died for the franchise. Don't you dare sit this one out. That is not a privilege you enjoy.

Send a message about who we are. (Mostly.)

Vote.