The riot is far from over as we are still waiting for the Senate trial. I just want to leave notes to myself from what can be called the Stage I developments.
Both Liberal & Conservative Have Had Higher Calls
The liberals are angry because the riot is nothing short of a direct attack to the fundamental institution of democracy. They are also angry that the riot was pushed by a sitting president for his personal gains at the huge cost of the country. Further, they are angry because Trump and his followers have been calling themselves a party of “law and order,” and yet this time, in broad sunlight, they launched violence against the lawmakers of this country. Finally and most importantly, they fear, for very good reasons, that this attack will preemptively and fundamentally denigrate democracy itself. By impeaching Trump, their mission is to restore faith in American democracy.
The conservatives, even those in the Capitol, also feel a higher call than the violence itself. Based on the video clips taken at the crime scene, we can see that the rioters were calling the Capitol as “our house,” and their mission was to “stop the steal” of the vote results. According to this report, one rioter told the reporter that “We wanted to show these politicians that it’s us who’s in charge, not them.” They were chanting “USA! USA!” during the rally and the march to the Capitol, which indicates they care about, and are proud of, this country.
We can accuse their violent behaviors, we can laugh at their claimed individual “ownership” of the Capitol, but we can’t blame them for a goal that is entirely selfish. True, some of them will brag their experiences inside the Capitol, with photos as evidences. But it is safe to say they entered the building not because they wanted to see what Nancy Pelosi’s office looks like, or where Mike Pence works. Instead, they thought they were fighting for the future and justice of the country.
A higher cause does not necessarily justify violent means — except during war times when violent means are the only means feasible. What I want to point out here is that I have not seen many fights like this in China, where both sides hold causes that are above and beyond personal gains. A fight for higher causes, if done right, could help increase collective welfare for all, while a fight for personal gains only raises the welfare of one person at the cost of another. Of course, it can also create damages, even to the very causes they thought they were fighting for.
Fighting Within the Legal Framework
The second lesson is how important it is to fight within the legal framework and how Americans loathe violence. Simply put: If you go extremes, if you go violent, you’ll pay a price. Better yet, not just legal price but all out consequences, ranging from financial, social, reputational, emotional to psychological, as Trump has just experienced. During his final days in the office, Trump has effectively made a tombstone for himself with the following epitaph: The one term president being impeached twice in four years. Furthermore, as this report pointed out, Trump is “the only American leader in a century with more than 400,000 deaths from one event on his watch.” Many of the deaths could have been avoided had Trump took a more proactive approach toward the pandemic.
People in this country really do take legal means, not violent means, seriously and this is what other countries can learn from the US. China for one lacks the deep seated respects for the law and the legal means, which is why I can’t appreciate the American way enough. If fighting for higher causes is highly unlikely in China, fighting within the legal means is even less likely there.
If not playing by the law, what else will people go by? The answer is military forces. This is why Xi, Jinping must be the chairman of the central military committee, the supreme military leadership that is unlike the Joint Chief of Staff in this country that is within the department of defense, but rather the highest uniformed leadership independent of the State Council, just like Deng, Xiaoping and Mao, Zedong were. This title is hiding behind others like the General Secretary of the Politburo or the president of the country. But everyone in China knows that from Mao, Deng to Xi, the only title that really matters, the one that they would not trade with anyone else, is the chairman of the Central Military Committee.
The protestors in Hong Kong also need to learn from the US. Although the place had a long history of British reign, playing by the law and fighting within legal framework are not something you can install from above but from inside the family. Western reporters usually avoid this aspect of the Hong Kong protests but this video and this on YouTube showed Hong Kong police were out-beaten by the protestors, something hard to even imagine in the US. This pro-democracy website also admitted part of protestors decided to go violence as they felt non-violence would take them nowhere.
The War Over Social Media
The social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have been criticized by both sides for banning Trump. Like I said earlier, I do think the platforms can do better than simply blocking the entire accounts indefinitely. Having said that, I also don’t want to be overcritical. After all, they are all private firms and from a pure business perspective, leaving both sides on the platforms to let them fight would only attract more traffics and attentions, bringing gains for their business. Therefore, I would give them the benefit of doubt that the blocking was out of social conscience more than business profit. The latter is exactly what is lacking or missing among firms in the mainland China.
I also don’t see the need to over-react or be surprised by the revealed power of these platforms this time. If anything, social media firms are just like utility companies: It is the nature of their business more than anything else that renders their decisions powerful and far-reaching to many people. In fact, consumers in the Bay Area can choose one social media platform over another, but when it comes to utility providers, most of them are stuck with PG&E, like it or not.
Finally, Trump can always go to courts to make an appeal. Although the First Amendment does not apply to private firms, they are still subject to the legal system of the country just like anyone else. It is wrong therefore to claim that the social media platforms have complete control over who can or cannot have accesses to their platforms.
The Unequal Power Between the Left & Right
The Capitol riot and the second impeachment have also made one thing clear: The left and the left learning side hold more power and resources than the right and right-learning side does, at least for now. From media, social media to banks and businesses, Trump has never been so isolated and devastated like this time. Fewer people in powerful positions are willing to openly defend him. Again, a part of the story is that he went too far this time, but it is also true that his side lacks resources when they need them the most.
Conservatives May Be Further Marginalized
Trump’s lies will have an unexpected consequence: Because Trump repeatedly attacked the voting result, and his supporters sincerely believe this election was stolen by Biden, they may not trust any future elections and will quit from voting altogether. This means they will voluntarily be marginalized in the democracy process and their voices will be further silenced. This is not good because the best way to maintain a central position in social policies is to have both sides competing. I am worried that without the right balancing power, some liberals will get more extreme and unintentionally weaken the country.