We seem to be moving in a direction where the connection between political reality and Washington is growing even more bizarre.

The Covid relief bill does include many things that Democrats have wanted for a long time. That is what happens when you win elections. It was like what the Republicans did in 2017 with their tax cut. In both instances, they were partisan plays. The main difference was on whether each side was willing to compromise when they didn’t have to, and on what each party thought was most important.

Meanwhile, the country has embraced the Covid bill despite the newly rediscovered concern about deficits explained by elected Republicans in DC. You will notice that a number of Republican state and local officials publicly welcoming the aid even as their fellow Republican Congress men and women talk about how it is a bailout to poorly run cities and states.

Meanwhile we have a massive effort aimed at “election reform.” Actually, it is more like a systematic attack on mass voting by Americans. This is fueled by those who actually believe this last election was stolen as well as those who are afraid that changing demographics (e.g., more young people and people of color voting).  I think they would be better off trying to give these new voters a reason to vote for them rather than trying to disenfranchise them. At the same time, the Democrats ought to figure out a non-onerous voter ID method. While there is little if any evidence of fraud, everyone agrees that no one wants someone else to vote on their name.

What we see, however, are Republican legislators reviving voting restrictions from half a century ago. These are not aimed at every time white voters. They never were. They were always done to restrict the franchise to those who were willing to cling to power by any means necessary.

And they still are.

The insurrection on January 6th was just the warmup for this effort. Democrats better have a better plan than existed then to protect the Capitol or next thing you know you are going to have to guess the number of beans in a jar to qualify to vote again… if you are black or brown or young.

Come home America.