Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter kept a very low public profile by resigning from the high court in 2009, but as a longtime reader can rememberIn New Hampshire in 2012, he made memorable statements about his broader political fears.

“I think some of the aspects of the current American government that people on both sides find frustrating are due in part to people not understanding how government can and should work,” Souter said. “This is a product of civilian ignorance.”

After quoting Benjamin Franklin’s advice that democracy seeks to get rid of “too much ignorance.” retired judge added“I’m not worried about us losing the republican government in the United States because I’m afraid of a foreign invasion. I am not worried about this because I think the military will stage a coup, as in some places. What I worry about is that when problems go unsolved, people don’t know who is responsible. And when the problems get bad enough… someone will step up and say: ‘Give me carte blanche and I’ll fix this problem.’ This is how the Roman republic collapsed.”

Souter concluded:“If we know who is responsible, I have enough faith in the American people to demand performance from those responsible. If we don’t know, we stay away from the ballot boxes. We will not demand this. And there will come a day when someone will come forward and we and the government will actually say, ‘Take the ball and run with it.’ ‘Do what you have to do.’ This is how democracy dies. “And if something isn’t done to increase civics, that’s what you have to worry about at night.”

I was reminded of the retired judge’s unwritten comments when I saw The New York Times publish the following post election analysis With a headline: “America Hire a Strong Man.” The analysis included a two-sentence paragraph that summarized most things succinctly:

The question is not whether Donald Trump is running an authoritarian platform. Republican candidate for the nation’s highest office perceived enemies threatened with prison timeclearly endorsed “strongman” leadership styleboastful support from dictatorstemporarily increased the odds of becoming an American “dictatorship“and we talked about “Termination” of parts of the Constitution this stands in the way of his ambitions.

In case that wasn’t enough, their competitors also “shouldn’t be allowed” to race against him.targeted immigrants With Hitler-style rhetoric while promising to create militarized mass deportations and internment campswas talked about from time to time Deporting people who have entered the United States legallyI promised Amnesty for politically connected criminals, The specter of military courts emerges sworn in for perceived domestic political enemies Pressures against free pressand we even talked about expanding the scope. Use of the US military on American soil.

The question is why voters heard this message and elevated him to power.

In the coming months and years, many voters are likely to celebrate Trump’s move away from the rule of law and other democratic institutions. Others will see Trump implementing elements of his authoritarian vision, effectively saying, “I didn’t vote.” HE. “I was angry because I had to pay more for groceries after the pandemic.”

But by then it will be too late.