DEAR EDITOR:

In his Oct. 3 letter, Phil Clacko claimed to know the 2020 presidential election was stolen because he “saw suitcases of ballots pulled from under tables in Philadelphia and Detroit at 3 a.m. after everyone was gone.”

I’m curious how this letter writer managed to be in Philadelphia and Detroit simultaneously at 3 a.m. in order to see these alleged crimes occur. Or, did he only see it on video? If the crimes were captured on video, then surely Donald Trump’s attorneys would’ve presented the video in court. But evidently, Trump’s attorneys couldn’t scrape together enough evidence to convince even Trump-appointed judges, because their 60-plus election fraud cases were dismissed as meritless. What does that tell you? There was no election fraud. Similarly, a pro-Trump organization that was hired to audit the election results in Arizona found that Biden won. What does that tell you? Trump’s “stolen election” claim is just his own childish refusal to admit defeat.

It’s unfortunate so many Americans have allowed themselves to be deceived on this matter, because Republicans across the country are now touting Trump’s lies in order to garner popular support for their legislative attacks on democracy (i.e., gerrymandering, voter suppression laws, voter intimidation laws and election veto laws). So, while the 2020 election had the highest turnout and least amount of fraud of any election in the country’s history, it’s likely the next election will be rigged in favor of Republicans. You see, they have no choice but to sabotage our democracy. Trump lost to Hillary Clinton by 3 million votes, and he lost to Biden by 7 million votes. Demographic studies indicate this trend will continue as the aging conservative base diminishes and liberal-leaning younger generations start voting. This demographic shift will eventually decide elections for all political offices at the state and federal level. Thus, if fair elections are allowed to continue, the GOP’s days are numbered. That’s why I believe Republicans are pulling out all the stops to bring democracy to an end and establish a right-wing oligarchy.

On another topic, the letter writer’s remark about Biden and Democrats having blood on their hands is ludicrous in light of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who died because of Trump’s bungled pandemic response and FOX News’ coronavirus disinformation campaign. If Biden and Democrats have blood on their hands, then Trump and Republicans are swimming in it.

SHAWN KOSIOR

Canfield