Elections are supposed to be a contest of ideas, where candidates share their vision for how government should work and the outcome determined by the voters.
But a new dynamic has entered the political stage. The previous administration built a movement based on a cult of personality, fueled by conspiracy and grievance, and funded by those who prefer that government remain weak and ineffective.
When that premise was rejected by the voters in the 2020 presidential election, the response was to claim massive election fraud, fight to overturn the outcome via baseless lawsuits, strong-arming election officials, and 'alternate' electors, and finally an armed insurrection in an attempt to delay certification of the vote or worse.
This attempt failed due to the actions of true patriots on both sides of the aisle. But those responsible were not defeated. They continue to promote false claims of election fraud while working to ensure that the next election will be won by their preferred candidate, regardless of the will of the voters.
This is an attack on the founding principles of our political system; democracy and the rule of law. If we abandon our commitment to these core ideas we have lost our way and are on a path to authoritarianism.
In the next few elections these principles are on the ballot. They are more important than the price of gasoline, inflation, crime, the border, or any other policy issue. Because if we lose our democracy, we have lost everything.
This shirt is a call to chose a side. Ignore the constant drone of divisive rhetoric and grievance. Vote for democracy and the rule of law.