Our democracy has weathered many tests. It was flawed from the conception. Women, slaves, people of color, indigenous peoples have all been ignored altogether or abused by our system. We have faced Civil War and foreign threats. But the threat posed by Trump & the GOP is new.

Never in the 240 years of our history has someone sought to set aside an election, to take power away from the people and to give it from them to one man and political allies who have turned into a malignant gang seeking to burn our system to the ground.

Were Trump and his mob successful it would be the end of democracy in America. We would become just another authoritarian state run by a tinpot dictator and his cronies. And while we may dismiss their plan as badly executed, we should not minimize the crime of their intent.

They are seeking to use the power of our highest office and of state government across the country for a corrupt purpose antithetical to every basic principle on which the country was founded. Admittedly, that sounds drastic. Especially since they are unlikely to succeed.

But think of this: In all our history, no one has ever tried before to end our democracy and to install a leader against the will of the American people. This is the first such coup attempt we have faced. This is the first leader we have had to hold our system in such contempt.