Norman Brewer is a retired journalist who reported for the Des Moines Tribune (1965-1978) before moving to Washington, D.C. He has written three novels about domestic terrorism, most recently January 6: A Novel, his take on how much worse the insurrection could have been. He lives in Portland, Oregon.        

When bedrock freedoms of democracy are on the line, I am a conservative. No. Correction: I am a staunch conservative.

Being a conservative of any stripe does not mesh with my full embrace of the progressive agenda that has been baked into America’s social fabric over the past century, immeasurably enhancing our well-being.

Our most vulnerable fellow citizens rest more comfortably in the safety nets of Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security. Many of the most oppressed have found relief in civil rights protections. Wages are higher and workplaces safer. While tragically failing to halt climate change, we all breathe cleaner air and drink cleaner water, thanks to environmental laws.

That progress has been sporadic, reflecting the ebb and flow of Congress being open to compromise (until recent years). Our basic freedoms—speech, assembly, right to a fair trial and more—have been largely above the political fray. Regrettably, Jim Crow holdouts, sundry demagogues and, yes, our own government have denied or chipped away those freedoms at times. But they have not faced a broadside attack. Until now.

A former president is determined to return to the scene of his crimes, shamelessly headlined by his avowed “love” for the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Donald Trump continues to reject 2020 election results, and has vowed to suspend the Constitution in his pursuit of suspected election fraud. He threatens to “weaponize” the Department of Justice to prosecute perceived enemies and to investigate the press for treason.

“Either the deep state destroys America or we destroy the deep state,” Trump declared in Texas last year at the first rally of his current presidential campaign. He admits he would be a dictator, though only on “day one,” to impose immigration, coal-fired energy and other policies precious to his base.

Just recently he told a Turning Point Action Believers Summit, “Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. … In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.” The Trump campaign said he was talking about uniting the country. Many Democrats heard another dictatorial threat. In any case, the ambiguity was ominous.

It’s worth noting that Trump’s menacing words come not from underlings but from his own mouth. If he is elected and carries out his promises, count on him to be the first to boastfully declare, “I told you so.”

Before Trump’s presidency, conservatives were the avowed champions of individual freedom. Now, they casually dismiss his assaults on those very liberties. Sadly, when Trump acolytes are asked about his dictatorial rhetoric, they frequently respond, “Oh, that’s just Donald,” or wave it away as “a classic Trumpsim.” How will that answer go over when our children ask how their freedoms were lost?

No wonder the fact-checkers can’t keep up with Trump’s lies, a torrential downpour of deceit often not needing a reason. Ask him for the time and you’ll miss a meeting.

But many voters still subscribe to the old-fashioned notion that public servants (which too many politicians forget they are) should be taken at their word. Take what they say seriously until it rings false, then hold the bastards accountable.

And don’t treat what Trump says about bedrock freedoms as just more lies. Those threats are consistent with his autocratic record. No one should be surprised when he follows through.

When he says he’s going to trample my freedoms—tossing out my vote if he squints and finds election fraud—I’m going to believe him. When he says he’s going to rip up the Constitution—brushing aside judges and election officials nobly doing their duty—so he can chase shadowy wisps of election fraud, I’m going to believe him. When he says he’ll prosecute the “vermin” who dare to challenge him, their rights be damned, I’m going to believe him.

The risk of losing our freedom is too great to do otherwise. Believing him is what a staunch conservative must do.

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Top photo of Donald Trump with JD Vance in Grand Rapids was first published on the Trump campaign’s Facebook page.