I think people also forget that before January 6th we literally had:
* Separatist movements from Antifa and the Left set up autonomous zones within US cities[1].
* Multiple calls for violence from prominent Democrats and other Leftists towards Republican politicians, judges, and a sitting US President [2]
* Billions of damage and looting by Antifa and BLM [3]
* Multiple Antifa and BLM attacks on Federal buildings, including courthouses [4]
I could go on for quite a while, but my point is that any of these events alone is comparable to January 6th. It would have been unimaginable to a 2000s American that any of these things not only take place, but were allowed and even encouraged by a major US political party.
All of these were more violent, damaging, and should carry much stronger legal consequences for the separatists, terrorists, and perpetrators; but because the Democrat-backed groups did it, it is barely even remembered.
None of these were in any way remotely existential threats to actual political stability. Minor protests. The Axios article - a fairly right-ish folk - happily points out that the insurance claims for regional natural disaster like a wildfire season are way higher cost & ongoing, where-as $1-2B estimates over 2 years across the entire nation is not excellent but honestly not bad. And an estimate from a company with a vested interest in exaggerating claims
The gentleman doeth protest too much. The Whataboutisn here is the ridiculous talking points the right wing has had to instill fear & terror in their base. Telling a people they are under attack, that their way of life is in danger, that the cities are all burning & awful: that's propaganda, fear to get folks afraid and concerned and glued to the TV. As known bad guy stated, "All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
Some of these protests & situations have been tense & ugly & unruly; yes. Their cost wasn't nothing. But there's just so little to fear here. These were mild inconveniences in any broad scope. More generally the false equivalence at large here doesn't sit right with me at all, seems wild. The decorum on the right has severely degraded, to where the party can't even whip itself. The presence of violent & extremist rhetoric is shockingly prevalent & ongoing, from a wide cross section of elected & nominated people. It's inconceivable to imagine a threat from the left now, to see a cycle where the left is broadly working themselves up towards a crisis point. There is no left threat. We've already experienced a major attack from the right & many seem to be campaigning on a platform of only further extremism.
* Separatist movements from Antifa and the Left set up autonomous zones within US cities[1].
* Multiple calls for violence from prominent Democrats and other Leftists towards Republican politicians, judges, and a sitting US President [2]
* Billions of damage and looting by Antifa and BLM [3]
* Multiple Antifa and BLM attacks on Federal buildings, including courthouses [4]
I could go on for quite a while, but my point is that any of these events alone is comparable to January 6th. It would have been unimaginable to a 2000s American that any of these things not only take place, but were allowed and even encouraged by a major US political party.
All of these were more violent, damaging, and should carry much stronger legal consequences for the separatists, terrorists, and perpetrators; but because the Democrat-backed groups did it, it is barely even remembered.
---
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_Occupied_Protest
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG5BcU1ZGiA
[3] https://www.axios.com/2020/09/16/riots-cost-property-damage - this is just for the May to June of 2020 time period.
[4] https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/five-individuals-face-fed... and https://www.opb.org/article/2021/03/12/protesters-vandalize-... but there are more.