Whether you love or hate Donald Trump you must agree that he is a masterful user of the conspiracy theory to manipulate public opinion.

Before the 2016 election he was chirping about voter fraud and rigged elections. This intensified as we approached the 2020 election. His evidence-free accusation that absentee ballots were fraudulent led to Republicans largely eschewing absentee voting while Democrats voted absentee in record numbers.

As early as September before the election numerous news sources predicted that it was very likely that we could go to bed election night with Trump in the lead and as the absentee votes got counted Biden may take the lead. That is exactly what happened.

Fueled by a constant drumbeat of Trump’s false claims and amplified by Fox news and Co., angry Republicans demanded redress. According to Reuters, courts dismissed 50 lawsuits alleging fraud as without merit. Election officials said it was the most secure election in history.

Undaunted, Republican legislatures nationwide began passing legislation to supposedly make elections more secure but actually making it harder to vote, especially in high minority areas, who tend to vote Democratic. Some states like Georgia removed the Secretary of State from the process and would allow the partisan legislature to seize control of the process.

This is how democracies die, as seen in Hungary where the party in power took control of voting machines and the voting process. It’s a slick deal — either the party wins outright or they claim voter fraud and “recount” the votes until they are ahead. As seen in the farce now playing out in Arizona.

Conspiracy theories have fueled many fevered Republican delusions including sacking the Capitol on January 6 with the help of a white terrorist cell. It’s time for the fever to break. Tell the truth.

Thomas Jacobson

Riverside