Let the Republicans Govern!

We are living under a double despotism. We have one elected want-to-be dictator who is violating the constitution and attempting to destroy our democracy with executive orders. We have another unelected want-to-be dictator who is violating the constitution and attempting to destroy our democracy by gutting the basic institutions of the federal government.

In a functional democracy this kind of thing would not be allowed. After all, the whole point of our constitutional structure is that it was set up to include checks and balances that would prevent any executive power from attempting to become a king. But it has been a long time since the United States constituted a functional democracy, if it ever did.

The 2024 election brought us not only this double-headed dictatorship, but also a mewling and sycophantic Republican majority in both the House and Senate. Despite nominating conspiracy theorists, nut cases, domestic abusers, drunkards, and zealots to his cabinet, the Republican majority in the Senate has not batted an eye at any of Trump’s offerings. Nor has a single soul from the party stood to condemn the usurpation of the power of the purse from the legislative branch. Thus there is no solace to be sought in the virtue of any of that bunch.

But perhaps where virtue fails, vice may leave a life-line. The same anti-government insanity that rules the executive branch has deep roots in the House. So much so that it has become impossible to pass budget resolution or raises to the debt ceiling without votes from the Democratic minority. And such legislative action is the only thing keeping even a semblance of our federal government functioning.

Here's the thing. The Republicans, as the majority party in all branches, needs that semblance to keep functioning. Without that, the rape of our government that they have perpetrated and are perpetrating will become an immediate reality to all citizens of the nation.

So here is what the Democratic minority must do: Let the Republicans govern. Let them try to stand on their own and keep that semblance of government going. Let the Republicans try without any Democratic votes, to pass their own budget resolutions and debt ceiling increases. And if and when the Republicans cannot, only engage with the Republican leadership if it is willing to take back up its democratic responsibilities, enforcing limitations on the executive branch.

To be clear, this is a last-ditch strategy. If the Republicans are not willing to change, Democrats must have the fortitude to stick to their resolve. And in this case there will be costs. Without new budget resolutions and raises to the debt ceiling, there will be significant impacts for the US economy and even the nations ability to maintain its full faith and credit. But if the Republican Party is so resigned to abandon its responsibility in governing, it must be allowed to fail. Even if it means that the country as a whole must fail with them.

So long as the Democratic minority votes to support budget resolutions and debt ceiling increases without definitive changes in the status quo, the Democratic minority is de facto underwriting the continued destruction of our democracy. This is the only realistic power they have left, and it is time to use it.