EPISODE · Jan 27, 2026 · 6 MIN
How Blaming Voters Is the Quickest Way to Ensure the Rise of Fascism
from Walter Rhein Podcast · host Walter Rhein
Contradictions are evidence of a false ideology. When you see them, grab them and hold on tight because they are the guiding light that will lead you to truth.Throughout the last few election cycles, I’ve seen a lot of people leave comments and share memes that blame voters for the sorry state of our country.At the same time, whenever I offer a criticism about MAGA policies, voices come swarming out of the woodwork to attack me. “We have to reach out to them. We have to understand their point of view. We have to make room for them in the big tent. This isn’t a purity test. We can’t have a circular firing squad. In order to form an effective coalition, we have to find a way to work with people we disagree with.”Then the Democrats lose and they’re back to blaming all the people who stayed at home. What happened to the big tent?What always gets lost in the mix is that time and time again, the voters have given the Democrats enough power to stop the rise of fascism. In 2020, the voters gave Democrats the Senate, the House, and the Presidency. Democrats had four years to hold the insurrectionist accountable.They failed.Yet today, people are more inclined “to blame the voters” than they are to blame the Democrats. This to me feels like a misapplication of effort. What happened to all the talk about unity? If you are a politician and you fail to win an election, how is it “responsible” or even “rational” to blame the voters instead of evaluating your own policies and campaign?The other thing that’s infuriating about the “blame the voters” mindset is that everybody knows the Republicans cheat. The current regime is a white supremacy movement. White supremacists feel they are above the law. They don’t make any deal they don’t intend to break.The current occupant of the Oval Office has 34 felony counts of business fraud related to election interference. He was facing charges for his attempt to steal the election in 2020. Twice before, this man had made clear and credible attempts to cheat to win the presidential election. Yet, in 2024, the Democrats didn’t demand a single recount.Instead, they shrugged their shoulders, glared at the voters and said, “Well, if you’re too stubborn and entitled to vote for us, then I guess you’ll have to deal with fascism.”For some bizarre reason, many highly intelligent people listen to this argument and repeat it as if it has merit. Meanwhile, there is a disregard both among the Democratic party and people in general to recognize the degree to which vote suppression exists in our country.After the 2024 election, Republicans fought tooth and nail to discredit over 60,000 votes so they could steal a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Ultimately they failed in that case. But how many other instances exist where they succeeded and the Democrats barely bothered to notice?This is why I feel blaming the voters only adds insult to injury. Any energy spent on those kinds of criticisms would be better spent fighting to ensure every vote is counted. Rather than call out Republicans for their blatant cheating, Democrats turn their rage on the very voters who came out to support them.Let’s say it clearly: If you don’t fight to ensure every vote is counted, you have NO right to blame the voters for your loss. That’s the job of our representatives.Too often I’ll make comments related to this, and people try to take a median perspective.“Why can’t we be angry both at the voters and the vote suppression?”This sounds sounds reasonable at first blush, but upon examination it’s quickly exposed as completely absurd. You can’t take a median position on contradictory viewpoints. You can’t believe the moon landing was both real and staged. That’s nonsense. Sometimes you have to find your integrity, stop riding the middle, and pick the side of justice.There will always be a certain amount of voters who make an irresponsible decision. But until we have an accurate understanding of what that number actually is, we have absolutely no right to allow ourselves to become enraged.Furthermore, a huge percentage of the American public is constantly bombarded with false information, propaganda, and aggressive brainwashing tactics. Again, our representatives are doing nothing to stop it. Poverty is rampant in the United States. We have people living in hovels without access to food or healthcare. Who is speaking for them? Who demands that everyone has the same right to justice and food and education and truth?The Democratic party isn’t doing that. So how dare they turn around and blame the voters they allow to be tortured and tormented with lies.It’s offensive for entitled people to become angry at a problem they have the power to solve, but which they lack the volition to do anything about. This hubris is what has driven us to this deplorable state where obscenely funded secret police are murdering people in the street. But even now, Democrats aren’t coming out to promise us access to education and healthcare.They put their hands in their pockets to blame the voters. Because, guess what, that’s the Democratic tactic for keeping us divided. It’s more passive than the blatant fascism of the right, but it’s not less malicious and evil.So please friends, stop doing the work of abusive people for them. Use your energy to ensure the people in your sphere have access to good information. Help to ensure voting integrity. But don’t waste your energy pulling out your hair and screaming about the voters. That form of temper tantrum only serves our oppressors.Instead, be a candle in the darkness and bring your neighbors close.You all make this newsletter happen! Thanks for your sponsorship! I have payment tiers starting at as little as twenty dollars a year.Upgrade at 30% offUpgrade at 40% offUpgrade at 50% offUpgrade at 60% offI’m so happy you’re here, and I’m looking forward to sharing more thoughts with you tomorrow.My CoSchedule referral linkHere’s my referral link to my preferred headline analyzer tool. If you sign up through this, it’s another way to support this newsletter (thank you).I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe
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How Blaming Voters Is the Quickest Way to Ensure the Rise of Fascism
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