Rare Book Monthly

Articles - November - 2022 Issue

Democracy is on the Ballot

The American gift may be lost!

The American gift may be lost!

On election day you will have four choices, voting Democratic, Republican, protest for a third party that cannot win, or not voting at all. That is how the ballot will appear but the choice is far more fundamental. Democracy is on the ballot this time, and if you don’t vote, you will surely lose it.

 

America has selected its candidates through an electoral system since it adopted its constitution over two centuries ago. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's disappointing when you lose but you know there will always be a chance to reverse that outcome a few years down the line. This time No. Trumpism is on the ballot.  Trumpists plan is to end democracy.  Since the last election many of their candidates have stated that if they lose, they won’t accept it. Take their word for it. 

 

The long history of free and fair elections has made America the envy of the world for generations. Tens of thousands of poll workers, patriotic Americans who love our country and our freedom have made sure our elections are fair. Polls are manned by members of both major parties to assure fairness.  A court system is in place in case there is fraud, and all one has to do is present evidence that there is for those courts to take action.

 

Now, despite those protections, many people, including those in leadership positions, are crying “fraud.” They present no evidence of fraud because there is none. The political leaders among them know it, but they just keep repeating the claim. It is what is known as the “Big Lie,” where a lie is repeated over and over so many times that people start to believe it must be true. No proof is ever supplied, just constant repetition. The result is that many people no longer believe in America. They believe our elections are no better than Russia's – fixed so one side can never lose. BS.

 

Trumpists despise the American system of government and want to overturn it. They want losers of whom they approve to be able to appoint themselves rather than be selected by the people. That is what is on the ballot this month and if you elect people who deny the legitimacy of America you will have America no more. Welcome to Russia.

 

I understand there are many other things on people's minds these days. Inflation, jobs, climate, crime, school shootings, border security, personal choice, education, race and identity issues. All are important and we will have different takes on these various issues. Nevertheless, we will be free to change those choices next time if we find we made the wrong choice. If we give that up, someone else will make that choice for you. They will represent only their own interests, not yours. It won't be pretty. Just ask Europeans who made the choice to give up their freedom before the last world war. It did not work well for them and it will not work well for us.

 

Vote.

 

If you agree, pass this message to your communities.


Posted On: 2022-11-01 00:38
User Name: capturedtyme

This article is pretty much nothing but lies.


Posted On: 2022-11-01 02:29
User Name: warpstar1

What nonsense.


Posted On: 2022-11-01 03:50
User Name: midsomer

I am voting. Just not for the candidates that Bruce wants. Bruce basically said to ignore all the issues that are important to people and vote the way he wants this time. That’s not democracy. If we side with Bruce’s wishes now do you think we’ll get another chance later as he states? Down with totalitarian Bruce.


Posted On: 2022-11-02 01:35
User Name: blackmud42

Congratulations on speaking the truth, even if it alienates some of your clientele.


Posted On: 2022-11-02 17:56
User Name: theoriginalnumislit

If I dare to disagree with your political views, I am a Nazi?

Really?


Posted On: 2022-11-03 01:06
User Name: bookdemon

Stick to bookselling and posts about books. Nobody needs this type of drivel shoved at them.


Posted On: 2022-11-03 11:46
User Name: jdatkins

Clear and succinct, and now passed on….


Posted On: 2022-11-03 15:54
User Name: jaysnider

So disappointing that even here we have to have politics- you should start a newspaper or magazine and leave this as the great collectors site that it is. Such a turn off.


Posted On: 2022-11-03 21:00
User Name: kenpa

Just vote no matter what you believe in but above all, VOTE. It is commonly believed that the more voters there are, the smaller the odds of a Republican administration resulting from it.
Kenny, life long Republican Trump hegemony.


Posted On: 2022-11-03 21:03
User Name: kenpa

That is to say I was a Republican until the reign of Trump and Putin.


Posted On: 2022-11-07 01:47
User Name: drwatson

Yes, vote accordingly.


Posted On: 2022-11-18 03:55
User Name: rarebibles

As a longtime subscriber, I appreciate the standard of professionalism that is typically maintained on RareBookHub. Regretfully, this article does not meet your normal editorial standards. The alarmist rhetoric ("Welcome to Russia") and obvious falsehoods (claiming that the 74 million Americans who supported the former president in the last election intend to "end democracy" and "despise the American system of government") seem strangely out of place. I suspect that most of your readers would appreciate less political propaganda... and more content focused on our shared love of books.


Rare Book Monthly

  • Freeman’s | HindmanWestern Manuscripts and MiniaturesJuly 8, 2025 Freeman’s | HindmanWestern Manuscripts and MiniaturesJuly 8, 2025
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    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.
  • Forum AuctionsFine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper  17th July 2025 Forum AuctionsFine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper  17th July 2025
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    Forum, July 17: Boccaccio (Giovanni). Il Decamerone, Florence, Philippo di Giunta, 1516. £10,000 to £15,000.
    Forum, July 17: Henry VII (King) & Philip the Fair (Duke of Burgundy). [Intercursus Magnus], [Commercial and Political Treaty between Henry VII and Philip Duke of Burgundy], manuscript copy in Latin, original vellum, 1499. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum, July 17: Bible, English. The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New, Robert Barker, 1613. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, July 17: Bond (Michael). A Bear Called Paddington, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, 1958. £4,000 to £6,000.
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    Forum, July 17: Yeats (William Butler). The Secret Rose, first edition, with extensive autograph corrections, additions and amendments by the author for a new edition, 1897. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, July 17: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, bound in dark green morocco elaborately tooled in gilt and with 3 watercolours to fore-edge, by Fazakerley of Liverpool, 1841. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum, July 17: Miró (Juan), Wassily Kandinsky, John Buckland-Wright, Stanley William Hayter and others.- Spender (Stephen). Fraternity, one of 101 copies, with signed engravings by 9 artists. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, July 17: Sowerby (George Brettingham). Album comprising 22 leaves of original watercolour drawings of fossil remains of Cheltenham and Vicinity, [c.1840]. £6,000 to £8,000.
    Forum, July 17: Mathematics.- Blue paper copy.- Euclid. De gli Elementi, Urbino, Appresso Domenico Frisolino, 1575. £12,000 to £18,000.
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