As Republicans attack democracy and deny Trump's loss, the next generation is watching

For the past four years, President Donald Trump has tested the limits of democracy. In his latest effort to undermine it, Trump was heard pressuring Georgia Republicans to overturn the election results, without facts or evidence. Throughout his presidency, especially after the 2020 election, he has made his intentions clear: At the expense of democracy, his personal and political interests come first. It is a scary sight to see.

But Trump is not the only one testing the strength of our democracy. What should be of greater concern is the Republican Party transforming itself into a party that solely embraces Trump. No longer does Sen. Ted Cruz say Trump’s “business dealings with the mob, with the mafia” are a problem. The time when Sen. Lindsey Graham called Trump a “kook” and “unfit for office” is long gone. The same Sen. Marco Rubio who called Trump a “con artist” now praises him.

A personality cult instead of a party

In short, Americans have witnessed a Republican Party that has evolved into a cult of personality surrounding Trump. And that cult has become all the more apparent in the days and weeks since the 2020 election.

Nearly two-thirds of House Republicans signed onto an amicus brief last month seeking to prevent the certification of electors in states Joe Biden won. That effort failed. Now Cruz and 10 other Republican senators, along with over 100 House members, plan to object when Congress counts the Electoral College votes Wednesday. That effort is also doomed, since the House is controlled by Democrats.

There are Republicans, among them Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, pushing back on Trump’s baseless election-related allegations and behavior. Unfortunately, however, their voices are not as amplified as those who spread Trump’s lies and falsehoods. So long as Republicans in Congress continue enabling Trump and challenging norms and laws in unprecedented ways, they will do long-lasting damage to our democracy.

Of particular concern is the impact Republicans’ conduct will have on current students and future generations. In 2018, the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that only about 24% of eighth-graders performed at or above proficient level on the civics exam. The 2018 results are more shocking when compared to the results of 2014, in which only 23% of eighth-graders performed at or above proficient level on the civics exam. The little progress that eighth-graders have made on their civics exam is worrisome.

Critical need for critical thinking:Fair or not, we need free college and student loan forgiveness — and so does democracy

To the extent possible during COVID-19, teachers and school administrators have an especially important role to play in boosting civic knowledge among young people. Teachers can revamp their curriculum and administrators can make civic engagement and education a priority both inside and outside the classroom. Taking those steps will ensure that students gain a better understanding of the functions of the U.S. government and Constitution.

GOP message is rules don't matter

However, as Trump continues challenging election results and young people increasingly get their information on social media platforms, it is imperative for Republican elected officials to do their part and model what good governance looks like. But they aren’t — and the complicity among many Republicans will have far-reaching effects on the younger generation.

By enabling Trump and his behavior, Republicans are sending a powerful message to young people: that rules and laws no longer need to be followed as long as our party wins. It is antithetical to what the framers of the Constitution intended and to what teachers are trying to teach their students about the U.S. government and Constitution.

Former Sen. Orrin Hatch: We must fix civics education to protect American democracy

This week, though, Republicans have an opportune chance to prove their allegiance to the Constitution and democracy. Instead of blindly supporting the president’s unfounded claims, Republicans in Congress must certify Joe Biden as the 46th President. Doing so will show young people that Republicans still care about what the government stands for and should be about. More importantly, with Democrats and Republicans standing together, they can begin modeling the type of good governance that young people need to see now more than ever before.

Any elected official who took an oath to defend the Constitution on Sunday, Jan. 3, when they were sworn in to the new Congress, will have one simple task this week: Reject President Trump’s attempt to overturn the election and vote to certify Joe Biden as our next president. Anything short of that would be a betrayal not only for democracy, but for students and civics education for generations to come. Democracy and students are watching.

Victor Shi is a freshman at UCLA and co-host with Jill Wine-Banks of the Intergenerational Politics Podcast, and was the youngest Asian American delegate for Joe Biden at the Democratic Convention. Follow him on Twitter: @victorshi2020