On the 4th of July in 1776, the Second Continental Congress representing our 13 original colonies ratified the Declaration of Independence. With that single rebellious act, the 56 courageous men who signed that document set in motion the Revolutionary War and ultimately the founding of this great nation.

They also accepted great personal risk. Five were captured by the British and put to death as traitors. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the war; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. Others, once wealthy colonists, died penniless.

But their bold action mobilized the nascent American spirit. Against all odds, George Washington’s ragtag Continentals defeated the world’s superpower, Great Britain, and earned the independence that we celebrate today.

The U.S. Constitution was ratified 12 years later. That document opens with the words “We the People,” and it prescribes as our form of government a federal republic — a fundamentally democratic structure in which citizens choose their president, vice president, and legislative representatives through free and fair elections. As described by Abraham Lincoln, we have a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

It has been so for over 200 years. But today, American democracy — a principle so many fought and died to achieve — has been reduced to a political talking point. We’re told that Republicans, perhaps even Donald Trump himself, will eradicate democracy if elected in 2024 and that Democrats promise to save it — despite the fact that they have mobilized the justice system in ways that flagrantly interfere with the 2024 election.

Then, abruptly, the wheels came off the Democrats’ democracy-saving juggernaut. Last Thursday’s debate confirmed what a majority of Americans have suspected for months — that Biden is not physically able to serve another term as president, and for that matter, it is not even clear that he is physically able to serve the remainder of his present term. It’s done. Joe Biden will not be reelected in November.

The Democrats’ sudden election crisis was inevitable. In a column on this page last January, I described the emerging 2024 election as a likely “race to the bottom” in which the American electorate would be forced to decide not which candidate is better suited to lead our country for the next four years but which one is not as bad as the other. My column in November posited the reckless prediction that neither Biden nor Trump would make it through this election season, one because of physical frailty, the other because of the mountain of legal attacks.

Panicky Democrats, evidently still unwilling to accept reality, are now scrambling to assess their options. As of this writing, they seem to be doubling down on a Biden candidacy, committed to dragging him across the finish line if that’s what it takes. Perhaps they can convince the electorate that last Thursday’s debate was just “one bad night” in a successful four-year term (good luck on that one). Or maybe they can find a way to make Trump’s election seem even more ominous (via more lawfare?).

Understandably, lifetime pol Joe Biden and his wife want to stay in the White House. And sure, he can probably continue to stumble through the job’s ceremonial duties. But then we look again at the debate replays, and we know — without a doubt — that the man is not ready for that 3 a.m. phone call, and he’ll only become less able to field it as the years go by.

It is truly stunning (although not surprising) that the Democrats’ entire election calculus seems driven by the practical difficulties posed by changing candidates — the sticky Kamala Harris situation, campaign funding, rules related to convention delegates, and, in particular, convincing Biden to step down — but with not a thought about the consequences of foisting on the nation a president clearly unable to do the job. Should not our nation’s future be part of that equation?

Meanwhile, on the Republican side, Trump is riding high. His resilience in the face of relentless opposition is extraordinary. He has vastly exceeded expectations in securing the nomination, galvanizing his base, and building a solid lead over Biden. So, if Biden drops out of the race, is there any chance that Trump will follow suit?

Probably not. But take heed, GOP — if (and I think when) the Democrats select a new candidate, the entire dynamic of the 2024 presidential race could change overnight.

At that point, Trump would be the old guy — he’d become the oldest president ever during his term and a lame duck the day he’s inaugurated. More importantly, Trump’s negatives remain high, and all those undecided voters in swing states, including some Democrats who see Biden as a liability, would then have an opportunity to vote for someone other than Trump.

And don’t forget that Donald Trump’s consuming need to defeat his 2020 nemesis would then be irrelevant.

Imagine a complete election reboot on Independence Day 2024. A real choice between two fresh candidates, each representing the best that Democrats and Republicans have to offer. Lawfare election interference neutralized. Wouldn’t that be a great birthday gift for our beloved USA?