Still no word from Salka

This is a follow-up to a letter I sent on Saturday, reproduced here.

Dear Assemblyman Salka,

I still don't really have an answer to my question as to whether you support insurrection or democratic government. I know you're busy, but the response seems both important and straightforward.

Returning to your thought that the attempted coup may have been the fault of leftists, is [WARNING: Link to Parler] this video the work of antifa?

For anyone who doesn't want to click on a Parler link, or in case it's no longer visible, the words are excerpts from Donald Trump speaking over the last four years, backed by dramatic videos and written text.

One example: there's a clip of Mr. Trump saying, "The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action." The clip appears to be from his inauguration in 2017, in which context it is an entirely appropriate and moving sentiment. Used in the context of this video, following a lost election where Mr. Trump has failed to overturn the result by talking, and just days before the end of his term, the use of Mr. Trump's words can reasonably be interpreted as a call for violence.

Let's take up your contention that anti-Trump forces were behind Wednesday's insurrection, and extend that idea to this video. In other words, let's assume that it was made by "antifa" or someone other than Trump supporters, in order to lure otherwise-well-intentioned Trump supporters into betraying their country by resorting to violence to overturn an election.

I think that's an absurd set of assumptions, but it's the only way to continue your act of deflecting blame for the insurrection away from Trump supporters. And so, for the sake of argument and to be as generous as possible to your position, let's go with it.

Will this provocation work into tricking good Trump supporters into participating in a violent overthrow of the United States government?

Only if they believe the election was stolen from their hero.

And that's where you come in.

You're just one member of one state legislature, so it's not up to you to solve this crisis on your own.

But you can choose whether or not to help.

I've seen your Facebook page, so I know there are many in our community who look up to you.

Statistically, it's reasonable to assume that some of them are laboring under the delusion that the election was stolen.

You could help them break the spell, but you're choosing not to.

Perhaps you're afraid of some of your Trump-supporting constituents, and maybe you're not wrong to be afraid.

The libertarian magazine Reason published an interview with newly elected Republican Representative Peter Meijer, here.

First, as to the nature of Wednesday's events, Meijer says,

[I]n terms of the people who stormed the Capitol, I think coup gives a sense of strategy and intelligence and forethought that none of the people involved deserve. Insurrection in terms of trying to disrupt the functioning of the government, sedition in terms of acting in a way to try to violently overthrow: Those terms fit. When it comes to the president's behavior, again, he certainly bears a share of the responsibility for what happened.

Speaking to the question of intimidation, Meijer says,

And then one of the saddest things is I had colleagues who, when it came time to recognize reality and vote to certify Arizona and Pennsylvania in the Electoral College, they knew in their heart of hearts that they should've voted to certify, but some had legitimate concerns about the safety of their families. They felt that that vote would put their families in danger.

Is that the camp you're in, Mr. Salka? Do you know in your heart of hearts that the election was legitimate, but you fear for the safety of yourself or your loved ones if you say so publicly?

I obviously don't know if that's what's behind your silence, but if it is, it's a short-term solution with no good outcome in the long run.

I'm asking you to find whatever combination of common sense and courage is needed for you to speak out against insurrection, and in defense of the democratic system in which you are privileged to serve.