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35 sats \ 1 reply \ @028559d218 25 May \ on: Why Democracy Is in Retreat - 72% of the world lives under autocratic regimes. Politics_And_Law
I agree with the article somewhat... but disagree also. Let me explain...
The US is not a 'pure democracy'. It is a constitutional republic. Because in order for the will of the 'sheer majority' to take away the rights of a minority it has to be a 'large majority' with clear process in accordance with the constitution.
A pure democracy is total madness... because 51% could attack any and all parts of the country any time they wanted to. A pure democracy doesn't work... that's why the US is a constitutional Republic something the author doesn't mention.
Being "in power" doesn't mean you get to do anything you want. It doesn't mean that everything is do is "right" because you are "in power" that is autocracy not democracy.
"Classical liberals" recognize this because they believe in a constitution and the separation of powers and 3 branches of government etc...
Mr Trump and MAGA do not.
Beyond what the article says, I think the real cause of the upheaval in the United States is the decline of the American Empire in the face of economic competition from China.
Mr Trump's answer to Chinese competition... is tariffs. And walls. And 'less immigrants' but it's totally incoherent.
Kicking out 'foreign students'. Ending funding for research and development. Browbeating some of the best US companies (Apple) if they don't do what "you" (the leader) wants it's all total incoherent nonsense. It hurts more than it helps US competitiveness. But just enough Americans support Mr Trump he could do anything he wanted as long as...
The courts and the judiciary don't matter. And the US is a 'democracy' where "51%" of the population can vote in anything and anyone they want at any time which is NOT how the United States ACTUALLY works.
That's why people including me make the comparison between today in the US and 1930s Germany. When the German working-class-people were so defeated, so inflated (Deutschmarks) and so dejected... they turned to an Austrian painter to "solve all their problems" and provide the scapegoats.
Mr Trump offers something really similar and it's 98% nonsense but at least people are talking about it.
Yes at least we can still talk about it...
'Return of the Strong Gods' (R.R.Reno) is an interesting thesis around this whole question and also refers what you are talking about with what happened in Germany in the 20s and 30s and where that led to, and what is happening now in the US.
These are the tides of history.
Chinas economic strength is providing a centre pivot around which other autocracies and juntas can be sustained and strengthened- Iran, Russia, Venezuela, N.Korea, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia already...Saudi Arabia next?
But as long as we can still talk about these things, there is still hope.
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