If not courts, juries and the rule of law, then what?

If not trial by jury, then what?

If not skillful judges reinforcing the legitimacy of court decisions, then what?

If not the rule of established law, then what?

If not the truth of tested evidence, then what?

If not the legitimacy of an elected district attorney, then what?

If not enforced campaign laws, then what?

If not rigorous protection against illegal campaign interference, then what?

If not acceptance of fair elections with full oversight, then what?

If not endorsement of democratic values, then what?

If not majority rule, then what?

If not the spirit of the better angels of the Constitution, then what?

If not confidence in expertise, legal and otherwise, then what?

If not lawful protest free from threats or violence, then what?

If not rational, humane immigration programs, then what?

If not presidential disqualification of a multiple felon (for election interference!!), then what?

If not disqualification of a nasty racist for higher office, then what?

If not definitive rejection of lying, word salad rants from public officials, then what?

If not collective belief in consensual truth, then what?

If not collective consensus on core values, then what?

If not collective confidence in core institutions, then what?

If not awareness of history and critical traditions, then what? 

If unjustified grievance threatens stability, then what?

If minority religious manias overpower secular freedoms, then what?

If fanatics can outlaw humane, family birth options, then what next?

If Trumpism is not impugned as a menace to democracy, then what?

If Trump is re-elected, then enacts half of his threatened promises, then what?

If America is battered, even demoted as a world power, then what? 

If America fails, whither democratic, global civilization?