A university professor told his class that the greatest threats to democracy were ignorance and apathy. When he asked his students to explain the difference, one responded, not knowing it was the correct answer, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

In the 2020 presidential election, voters took a step forward against apathy when both candidates received record numbers of votes. That was the good news.

The bad news then and since is that ignorance continues. Some of my Republican friends still believe (according to pollsters) things that are simply untrue.

Many of the former president’s followers bought the “big wall” story that Mexico was going to pay construction costs; Mexican leaders said they wouldn’t, end of discussion. Swallowing that lie, many became gullible to countless others.

It follows that more than 60% of the Republicans believe the “big lie” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, all evidence to the contrary.

We shouldn’t wonder that many of these folks disbelieve their own eyes after viewing the Jan. 6 insurrection. People died and more than 100 were injured. “Tourists” didn’t attack the Capitol, as one Republican lawmaker suggested.

Recounting votes in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania or elsewhere won’t change the outcome. Three recounts in Georgia prove the point. Joe Biden won.

And by the way, there are no chips in vaccines.

Glenn R. Plummer

Unity

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