As you know, C.S.A. stands for the Confederate States of America, which was formed 160 years ago. Here I am raising the question of whether now in the 2020s the U.S.A. may be headed toward becoming the R.S.A., the Republican States of America.
The Forming
of the C.S.A.
In February 1861, seven U.S. states formed a
new “nation,” calling it the Confederate States of America. Those states were Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Four more
states (Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) joined the C.S.A.
later.
Back in 2004, Kansas University professor Kevin Willmott was the director and writer of the movie C.S.A. It was a “mockumentary” that portrayed an alternate history wherein the Confederacy won the Civil War and the Union became the Confederate States of America.
Although it is certainly not depicted in the
same way as in Willmott’s movie, American historian Heather Cox Richardson has
authored a book titled How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy,
Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America (2020).
I have been on the waiting list for a library
copy of Richardson’s book, so I have not read any of it yet—but I read her
daily “Letters from an American,” which can be accessed here, and have
learned much about U.S. history from her. (I highly recommend her daily
“letter.”)
As depicted both in the creative movie and the
historical book mentioned above, it is clear that the influence of the C.S.A. certainly
did not end with its defeat at the end of the Civil War.
The Forming of the R.S.A.?
The influence of the
C.S.A. seems to be “alive and well” in much of the Republican Party today. All
the C.S.A. states of the 1860s voted for Trump in 2016 and all except Georgia
did the same in 2020—although to this day Trump and a majority of Republicans
believe the election there was “stolen.”
This article is not a condemnation of the
Republican Party as such. The country needs a strong two-party system, with moderate
Republicans who are willing to work with Democrats for the good of all who live
in the nation—as well as for the good of the people of the world.
Oligarchy is “a government
in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish
purposes” (Merriam-Webster). Sadly, this seems to be the direction the
Republican Party has been moving, especially since 2016.
Thus, I am writing this in opposition to the
Republican politicians who seem to be greedy for power and willing to do
anything necessary to achieve or maintain political power, even if it means
largely destroying democracy.
Even though I think they are mistaken, we have
to acknowledge that on the other side there are many supporters of the
Republican Party who sincerely believe that the Democrats are “enemies,” and
that drastic means may be necessary to save the country from tyranny and/or
from “socialism.”
The power-hungry Republicans, beginning with
Donald J. Trump and Mitch McConnell, seem to have done a good job in selling
their skewed views to the Republican base, with the considerable help they have
received from Fox News and their “opinion-makers” such as Sean Hannity and
Tucker Carlson.
Through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and
voting results controlled by state legislatures, Republicans may well gain the
majority in Congress in 2022 and the presidency in 2024. Those victories may be
semi-permanent, leading to the forming of a de facto R.S.A., even if that name is
not used.**
So, What Can Be Done?
If we want the USA to survive and not
become the RSA, what can we do? Here are three succinct suggestions:
1) Keep advocating truth-telling, civilly opposing
falsehoods and misleading statements, always championing peace and justice.
2) Keep voting for political leaders most
concerned for the welfare of the populace, especially of those most oppressed
by social or economic discrimination.
3) Keep being hopeful, firm in your belief that,
in time, “The Wrong shall fail, / The Right prevail,” as expressed in
Longfellow’s Christmas carol.
_____
**
I hadn’t seen Republican States of America used anywhere until after I
had finished writing this article, but here is what I then found in a 5/7/21 Washington Post piece: “Trump has emerged from
his West Palm Beach hibernation — refashioning himself as the president of the
Republican States of America.”
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