Republicans and Flat-Earthers

One of my work-study jobs in college was in the school’s planetarium. I have fond memories of the hours spent masking and re-arranging slides, making changes to the dome while listening to Frank Zappa on the planetarium sound system, and preparing presentations about astronomy and cosmology for the general public. I was excited, and a bit nervous, the first time I got to host a show. As people from the town started to file in the first night, I greeted each of them, chatting a bit and answering questions. As I welcomed our audience, I saw one man in line with a stack of papers and books under his arm. Dr. Lightner, the professor that managed the planetarium, also took notice, and asked me to start working the other side of the room as he went over to speak to him. “I’ll talk to you later about it,” he said. It was an unusual exchange, but I figured that it was an old colleague of his and didn’t think too much of it.

The show went well, but the exchange still lingered in my mind, and afterwards I asked about the man with all of the paperwork. I wondered if perhaps I’d said or done something wrong during the show. “No, no,” Dr. Lightner assured me. “You were fine — it’s just that I’d seen that gentleman before.” The man in question was some sort of flat-earth or fringe-science conspiracy theorist, apparently. “I didn’t want you to be bothered with him. He comes in occasionally trying to get people in the physics department to engage with his . . . ideas.” He was clearly trying to be diplomatic. “Nothing you could have said would have made a difference to him, no matter how well you stated it or what facts or reasoning you used. It just would have wasted your time.”

With its complete acceptance of Donald Trump, engaging with the Republican Party in 2018 is just as useful as trying to discuss astronomy with a flat-earther, as valuable as discussing geology or evolutionary biology with a young-earth creationist.

Many writers and commentators (including self-identified conservatives such as Jennifer Rubin and Max Boot) have already articulated what is self-evident -- the GOP has become the Party of Trump. The Republican Party of 2018 trades in conspiracy theories, fear, paranoia, and outright, blatant racism without even the semblance of shame.

During the presidential campaign of 2012, John McCain famously -- and courageously -- corrected his own supporter, pushing back against the suggestion that President Obama was a secret Muslim born in Kenya. "He’s a decent, family man — citizen — that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues,” he said. In contrast, Donald Trump started his political career by being the flag-bearer of the absurd, racist "birther" conspiracy theory, and his lies and racism since then have not only continued, but increased.

The Republican Party stands idle while children are forced from their parents. They support Supreme Court justices that display a pathetic lack of self control and self-discipline while doing their best to sweep concerns of women away. They do nothing while the head of state for our country genuflects toward despots and openly hostile foreign powers, believing their thinly-veiled lies over our nation’s intelligence services. The phrase "very fine people" is now in the common lexicon as code for tacit support of Nazism and white supremacy, thanks to the President. Each time Donald Trump blatantly lies or does something that is universally viewed as ignorant, short-sighted, or illegal, the GOP response has been either one of conspicuous silence or outright support. The few that seem willing to stand up for the most basic of values -- not the least of which are logic and objective facts -- have been either been berated into submission or lost primary elections to challengers that have swallowed the Trump groupthink hook, line, and sinker.

For Rep. Nancy Pelosi or anyone else that claims to want to "work in a bipartisan manner" or "reach across the aisle" I have one question: how the hell do you think you can do that when the Republican Party has systemically decided to be irrational?

I wish there was a political party that could engage in constructive debate with Democrats, a party that could push back, challenge ideas, and propose new directions. I wish we had a party that could take an honest, objective look at the obstacles and pain Americans are experiencing right now and offer real, practical solutions. I wish the Republican Party of 2018 was still attempting to uphold what Eliot Cohen lists as its historical values: "responsibility, stoicism, self-control, frugality, fidelity, decorum, honor, character, independence, and integrity". To my disappointment and their great shame, the GOP has deliberately, consciously abandoned all of that.

Unless I see Republican politicians publicly, vocally denounce the lawlessness, immorality, and active, continual deceit of Donald Trump and his administration, I cannot view them as acting in good faith. Until they choose to act against the recklessness and criminality of this administration, I see no reason to value anything they say any more than I could debate or compromise with someone who thinks the earth is flat.