Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has maintained a very low public profile since retiring from the bench nearly eight years ago, but Rachel highlighted a 2012 appearance Souter made in New Hampshire, and his remarks on “civic ignorance” are striking in their foresight.
Souter couldn’t have known about Donald Trump’s rise in Republican politics, but that only makes his fears in 2012 that much more prophetic.Remember, it’s this year’s Republican nominee who enjoys telling his followers that only he can keep Americans safe. Only he can fix the political system. Only he, as Trump put it, can “make possible every dream you’ve ever dreamed.” Only he will “take all of these slings and arrows gladly” so that the “movement” Trump leads can take “our country back.”This is the same candidate who believes he can prosecute and imprison his rivals, praises authoritarian regimes abroad, and balks when asked if he’ll accept the outcome of fair elections.Souter warned of a person, with little regard for democratic norms and political institutions, who could come forward seeking power, assuring the public that he’ll solve our problems, exploiting fears and civic ignorance.”That is the way democracy dies. And if something is not done to improve the level of civic knowledge, that is what you should worry about at night.”
