If Jan 6 was a shock, you weren't paying attention. Trump had been broadcasting his contempt for democracy since day 1.
In the end, democracy won... for now. But it was close. I dare say that if Mike Pence had done differently on that day, or if state legislatures had submitted "alternate" slates, or if more Republicans had objected to the results, or, or, or... American democracy would be finished.
The conclusion is not that American institutions are strong, it's that they are too weak, and that they survived this attack by chance. Next time we won't be as lucky.
In the end, democracy won... for now. But it was close. I dare say that if Mike Pence had done differently on that day, or if state legislatures had submitted "alternate" slates, or if more Republicans had objected to the results, or, or, or... American democracy would be finished.
The conclusion is not that American institutions are strong, it's that they are too weak, and that they survived this attack by chance. Next time we won't be as lucky.