Opinion: American democracy is in even worse shape than you think

[CousinIT]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/20/american-democracy-is-even-worse-shape-than-you-think/

. . .

We have four huge problems. I don’t see solutions to any of them.

By far the biggest problem is the Republican Party. Presented with a clear chance to move on from Trumpism after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the GOP has instead continued its drift toward anti-democratic action and white grievance. The future looks scary. A Republican-controlled House could attempt to impeach Biden in 2023 and 2024 on basically any pretext, as payback for Trump’s two impeachments. If Republicans win the governorships of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin next year, taking total control in those key swing states, they could impose all kinds of electoral barriers for the next presidential election. The Republicans are laying the groundwork to refuse to certify a 2024 Democratic presidential victory should the GOP hold a House majority.

The radicalization of the Republican Party has outpaced what even most critical observers imagined,” Georgetown University historian Thomas Zimmer told me. “We need to grapple with what that should mean for our expectations going forward and start thinking about real worst-case scenarios.”

Further, Republicans are poised to take a lot of undemocratic actions at the state level, where they already have total control in 23 states. Expect to see Republicans elsewhere gerrymander legislative districts the way they have in Wisconsin, where it is now virtually impossible for Democrats to win a majority in either house of the legislature. GOP-controlled state governments are both blocking cities from implementing new policies and reversing old ones, preventing the Democratic-leaning jurisdictions from determining how their communities are run. America won’t be much of a democracy, Zimmer said, if it has a federal system in which more than 20 states “resemble apartheid South Africa more than a functioning multiracial democracy.”

And all indications are that another group of Republicans, the six GOP appointees on the U.S. Supreme Court, either embrace the party’s anti-democratic drift or aren’t going to do much to halt it.

. . . Perhaps democracy dies faster in darkness. But it could also die slowly in the light, as all of us watched but didn’t do enough to save it.

[MerryHolidays]

1. This is is why exposure of the things that the Rs have done is IMPERATIVE

Like January 6, like collusion/conspiracy with Russians etc, corruption MUST be exposed. That will shave off of a substantial number of votes.

Please note: I am not kidding myself. I didn't say all votes....I said "substantial", which in this context means a few percentage points will not vote at all or not vote for the R candidate.

Right now, the MAGATs and the lemmings in the R party are awash in R noise. They get their news from Fox or OAN, and that's it. That all they know. Clearcut criminality will make a difference to some R voters.

[OrlandoDem2]

6. The MAGAs are literally cheering them on.

[MerryHolidays]

17. The MAGATs are relatively small in number

The Ds need to be forceful in exposing things. Like in a Benghazi way, but this time there is actually something real. EXPOSE IT.

Again, all that's needed is to shave off a few points (perhaps a few more because of voter suppression). But if there is no exposure, the non-MAGAT Rs will go the way of the MAGATs.

[Walleye]

2. They will talk endlessly about how we are a republic not a democracy

You never hear anybody questioning them on that point. It’s aggravating as hell.They’ve never actually explained the difference. Conclusion is that they actually do not believe in democracy. How do they think we’ve been electing people all this time?

[Lonestarblue]

3. The US was founded as a republic, but Constitutional amendments made it a democracy.

The only remnant left of the republic form is the archaic electoral college. The 17th amendment changed the selection of US senators from state legislatures to direct vote. The voting rights amendments gave everyone the right to vote, not just the men. If we could get rid of the EC, we would be a full democracy. Republicans like to ignore the amendments because they want a return to a true republic where an elite few choose senators and run the government.

Some years ago, The Atlantic published a series of interesting articles about Constitutional myths.
This link is the last, #10, but it also has links to the first nine. Myth #9 explains the right’s focus on the US being a republic.

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/07/constitutional-myth-10-international-law-is-a-threat-to-the-constitution/242683/

[dlk]

26. Thanks for sharing the link!

I read all of Epp’s articles about Constitutional myths. They were wonderful!

[appalachiablue]

32. Tx, good link on republic and democracy

[Haggard Celine]

4. When someone says that to me,

I point out that we're a democratic republic, which is the truth. That usually shuts them up, if they know the definitions of the terms. If not, they're ignorant fools and there's no point talking to them.

[LymphocyteLover]

9. some will say we are a "representative democracy" because we elect people by democracy to

vote for us, which is like a Republic.

They hate pure democracy because of elitism, racism and have this old idea that the mob can't be trusted with making smart choices. Though I think the "mob" generally makes better choices than any elected Republican.

[OldBaldy1701E]

41. I always felt

That it was because they felt that the mob would not vote the way they wanted, since most rethug legislation is far from a 'smart choice'... except for their wallets and their egos...

[LymphocyteLover]

46. Yes, I think "the mob doesn't make smart choices" argument was manipulated by the right

for their own ends. Of course it also depends on how good the information the mob is getting.

[OldBaldy1701E]

49. I wish I could attribute it to poor information

But recent history makes me think that this has little to do with it. More like, willful ignorance.

[LymphocyteLover]

51. Yeah, it's true we should stop infantilizing them and realizing they should be responsible for

taking in good information. I guess we prefer more systemic outside influences to explain how they act.

[OldBaldy1701E]

53. It is their willful refusal of reality that seems to be the issue. (n/t)

[dlk]

15. I wonder how they would respond to this question

Do you mean like the People’s Republic of China?

[johnthewoodworker]

5. About 40% of our country are moronic Republican/Nazis. Democracy does not get better.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. thanks to omnipresent rightwing BS media-- Foxnews and rightwing radio

is there any way to unplug these BS factories?

[Tiger8]

42. Advertising revenue is their lifeblood

Murdoch and the radio talk show freaks are in this for the money.

[LymphocyteLover]

45. Partly, sure. But I think they are also in it for the evil.

[LymphocyteLover]

7. This piece nails the issue in a very succinct way. It's depressing and absent massive voter

mobilization on our part, I'm not sure how to stop this.

[Klaralven]

10. "We have four huge problems" - And what are the other three?

[CousinIT]

12. Posts are limited to 4 paragraphs due to fair use rules

Try using an incognito window to read the article. I hate paywalls. Between those and the 4 paragraph limit, it's hard to figure out how to share the best parts of an article.

[Klaralven]

23. I read the article -- the author never identifies the other three "huge problems"

[meadowlander]

37. 2. Voters are too polarised

3. The news media doesn't call the GOP out
4. Moderate democrats aren't alarmed enough

I think they are still softballing it. Number 2 should be too many Americans are poorly educated, don't understand basic civics or prioritise stupid/selfish things over engagement in politics even at the basic level of watching a real news channel a few times a week.

Number 3 is that there are no consequences for 'news' outlets like Fox that function openly as propaganda channels when they lie and spread misinformation.

Number 4 should be dirty money in politics. Joe Manchin isn't some starry eyed idealist who loves the concept of bipartisanship. He's bought and owned by the coal companies and is deliberately acting as their brakes in Congress on meaningful progressive reform to address climate change. And he's one of the less problematic examples of the way open corruption of elected officials is tolerated and normalised in the US.

[Tiger8]

43. Just do one thing. Be the Aggressive Bernie Alpha

Has Bernie Sanders taught us nothing?

Biden is a successful president so far because he’s taken a taken a page out of the Bernie Sanders playbook. Democrats must do a lot more of this. Put cash in people’s pockets, increase their wages, support unions, insure everybody has housing, food, transit and healthcare. Protect their race, sexual orientation and identity, gender from hate crimes. And pay for it all with major tax levies on billionaires.

Trying to “stop” the Republicans is playing defense. But if you want our side to get out and vote, we need to play offense. Tangible deliverables and strong GOTV efforts help build the pathway to the polls.

[Roy Rolling]

11. How Do Thet Get This Way?

Republicans didn’t radicalize in a vacuum—they’ve always been opposed to Democratic legislation.

Fox News. Rush Limbaugh. Profiting off of America’s decline is the change.

End laws based solely on commerce. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine.

There are things more important than money, out government should recognize that and not force everyone into commerce. Government stands as a check on uncontrollable commerce—in this case, propaganda media that enriches people like Rupert Murdoch.

It’s like crack for the eyes, ears, and mind. Anger Addicts can’t turn it off, someone else must do it for them.

[dlk]

16. How much of this radicalization has its roots in racism?

I think America is still coming to terms with how deeply those roots run.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

22. Most of it.

Racism trumps all.

[dlk]

25. As we're seeing in the news every day

[uponit7771]

29. M$M still to this day don't see the GQP as a threat to the union. Give them benefit of the doubt ...

... instead of demonizing them and their treason.

[niyad]

13. KNR and bookmarking.

[Marcuse]

14. Nt

[3825-87867]

18. Reporters should forget following the money...

What a coincidence that all the states deciding to gerrymander, deprive voters and reduce the power of governors have all had political epiphanies within days of each other?

Maybe it's time for real journalists to do their freaking jobs and do some investigating on their own (unless they simply agree with fascists or are slave-beholden for money to their Republican overlord owners).

No way in this hell or any other that the current crop of Republicans is smart enough on their own to come up with these ideas individually. We need to find the perps who are behind these ideas to destroy democracy. And make no mistake, there IS a cabal, secret society, dark power group or whatever you want to call it telling these puppets what to do and promising them Nirvana. Forget the Illuminati or other time-warn, imaginary or not, clandestine organizations. This current group transcends anything those could think of.

These vermin need rooted out, exposed for what they are and removed from - power...

Again, if anyone thinks 99% of today's Republicans can compose these kinds of laws when they can't chew gum and walk at the same time, they are crazy or don't care because, well, it doesn't involve me, needs to wake up and get their heads out of the sand. Forget the woke shit. It's time for people to spend a little time learning about what their choices in government really mean for them and their children.

If not, those of us who are older and sadly won't be around much longer, won't suffer nearly as much as those in their late 40s or early 50s. And as far as those younger, get your heads away from your phones and try to become a little more aware of what will happen to you if your generations do nothing.

By the way, before anyone says it, yes, get off my lawn - and get involved.

Sorry for the rant.

[wiggs]

19. Paywall. Hope other things mentioned include campaign finance (inc Citizens United), unfair

representation (gerrymandering and senate unbalance), and media consolidation and control

[colsohlibgal]

20. Agreed

This could go a good direction but we are at the highest risk in my lifetime for a long dark period.

Viva La Resistance!

[Pepsidog]

21. I have seen no change in the righties I know which is scary.

[tavernier]

24. Sadly, I agree

I add Rupert Murdock as the second biggest problem, although I can never figure out why this Aussie is hell bent on the destruction of America. Did he get a bad steak here? Was he jilted by some yankee lady?

[cynical_idealist]

27. Murdock and crew are pushing the same crap in Australia too.

Not sure if they have any motivation other than profit and power

[fwvinson]

28. Murdock wants to own the world.

[NullTuples]

30. And let's not forget that the SCOTUS has made clear they won't get involved.

[HUAJIAO]

31. repubs long view plan is bearing fruit...

"Further, Republicans are poised to take a lot of undemocratic actions at the state level, where they already have total control in 23 states. Expect to see Republicans elsewhere gerrymander legislative districts the way they have in Wisconsin, where it is now virtually impossible for Democrats to win a majority in either house of the legislature. GOP-controlled state governments are both blocking cities from implementing new policies and reversing old ones, preventing the Democratic-leaning jurisdictions from determining how their communities are run. America won’t be much of a democracy, Zimmer said, if it has a federal system in which more than 20 states “resemble apartheid South Africa more than a functioning multiracial democracy.”

repubs have been slowly doing this- dog catcher, road commissioner, town supervisors, school boards- since at least 1980... little by little they have taken over control from the bottom up...... now it is just about complete....good plan...

[qazplm135]

38. meanwhile

our side:

1. Gives up at the slightest setback. This and other sites are filled with "if we don't pass HR1" it's all over for democracy. I guarantee you if we passed HR1, the other side wouldn't say, well, that's it, it's over. They'd immediately look at ways to get around it, or repeal it.
2. Won't consistently turn out in anything but nationalized elections. We are still sitting home for judge, gov, and other statewide elections. They got this advantage because they turn out better, more often, at more levels.
3. Demand purity instead of simply flooding the zone with Democrats, gaining control everywhere and THEN worrying about moving left.

They worry about power, we worry about policy. That's why we are where we are.

[The Wizard]

33. Between gerrymandering

the electoral college and the filibuster our minority ruled government is the antheses of the representative democracy first envisioned by Aristotle. We are a failed republic.

[Crunchy Frog]

34. I very much doubt that it's in worse shape than I think.

I think that within five years we'll be looking like Myanmar. Or worse.

[andym]

35. Roger Ailes wanted a Republican biased news source

to prevent future Nixons from having to resign and he helped create a propaganda behemoth, Fox News, that has put America on the road to dystopia.Trump has accelerated the process. The yellow journalism of the late 19th century is nothing next to the Orwellian GOP propaganda.

[myohmy2]

36. declare...

...the Republican Party an Unconstitutional Organization and do what the Germans do with their Nazi's...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a

...we had better start getting serious...

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

39. Exactly. But wtf can we do to stop them?

Seems like unless Manchin & Cinema agree to change the filibuster, we, the USA, are fucked forever.

It's not looking promising. Prepare for full-on fascism.

[CrispyQ]

44. We GOTV 2022 like nobody's business & try to get more seats, especially in the Senate.

We remind those 81 million people who voted for Joe Biden that that was just one battle. I hope the younger gen & minorities realize they have power at the ballot box, but you have to vote every election, not just the presidential.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

48. Proven here in PA where the power-grabbing R-sponsored ballot measures just passed

most likely because so few Dems bothered to vote.

I'm not saying it's impossible to retain our democracy, but with the Rs increasingly proving they're as evil as I always said they were, it's not looking good.

[CrispyQ]

50. Oh, I'm not optimistic at all.

New voters are fickle & midterms rarely have the excitement of a presidential election. And then like you said, there's the Rs, doing their nasty shit. The pandemic allowed me to avoid family/acquaintances who still identify as republican. Not sure how I'm going to deal with them. I don't think I can sit across a table from them & act like everything is okay.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

52. I understand. Of my three sisters, one of is a Republican and one is married to one.

I've always thought Republicans were just what they more and more revealed themselves to be, so I always avoided them as much as I could. But, I could still manage short-term family events. Now, I'm avoiding them as much as possible. I just feel that anyone who can still ID as an R is basically a fascist. Or, at best, a clueless fascist enabler.

[greymattermom]

40. I'm more optimistic.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has taken the media space formally occupied by Trump. She's clearly crazy and will never advance. Let her grab all the attention and let Trump be the former guy. Can he compete with her?

[DENVERPOPS]

47. We have been living the

real worst-case scenarios for the last five years..............and every single morning, I thought, they can't do anything worse, and every single day, they did.

The depravity and how despicable this group of RepubliCON psychopaths could be, was, and still is, un-fathomable...........

The destruction of the Covid virus holds nothing on these sub-human piles of feces...........