America is now a 'Backsliding Democracy'

[Moonbeam]

I believe the American people are at a point our history where we are showing all kinds of signs of just what the Europeans thingi suggests, that we have arrived at a place where it has become actually debatable as to whether we have the emotionally maturity to maintain our inherited democracy. There are many reasons that might be suggested for this.
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Some might be modern advertising, the inculcation of the notion that status equates to money and toys, that depends on the creation of dissatisfaction with what one has replacing it with some absurd notion that in return for your spending money we will sell you happiness. We have become needy as witness by Black Friday and other stampedes. "I me me mine." Have you got your German made hearing aids. Hurry, limited supply as they are crushing the market.

Rational thought, scientific thinking, civic responsibility, government regulations, courtesy, public decency, these are all enemies of the selling of useless products business, of capitalism. Everybody for himself/

Giving of voice to idiots via social media and the money that is extracted from them. The commoditization of fad generated herds. Fox News, Facebook, party over country etc.

Basically, what is destroying our system is our system and any change to our destruction looks like destruction to those who now hold advantage in the system. This would fundamentally be every politician.
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So my question isn't so much how much optimism or pessimism one should assign to the issue but rather whether we will do anything to reverse our decline. My concern is that conservatives are bent of destroying democracy and liberals are congenitally incapable of doing anything about it. The bottom line in any that belief is that only conservatives have the ability to save us. When they have their finger on the trigger with American Democracy in their sights, will they pull it. Democrats won't do shit. They would have to be mean and that's not proper behavior. That will leave the nut case left the task and they will be quickly exterminated if they act, in my opinion.

I would suggest that Democrats make plans and demonstrate willingness to shut down the system via national strike if Conservatives don't start reversing track. Fear of the loss of money to business will do the rest. The system is not sustainable without liberals. It runs on brains. But liberals don't know how to message loud and clear.

 

[sportage]

I can only wonder what the rest of the world thinks of us... U.S.
But like the drunken neighbor passed out on the front lawn, the other neighbors simply don't care. The other neighbors are too busy going about their day at work or shopping for the groceries or walking the dog. So the drunken neighbor is passed out on the lawn again? Who cares?

And while the drunken America remains passed out on the lawn, the rest of the world is busy building infrastructure on a massive scale, building high speed rail systems, protecting their people from Covid, passing gun laws, and making their lives and the lives of the citizens much much better.

Take Japan, for example.... they wear masks simply because people want to stay healthy, and they build infrastructure. SERIOUSLY.... does ANYONE believe that we here in America WILL EVER see THIS ????

 

[ch33zw1z]

IMO, the Repubs haven't abandoned democracy, it's that democracy has rejected them and their beliefs. This is all on them and them alone. Their need to cling to Trump and his racist beliefs while humiliatingly defending his horrific incompetent performance as POTUS has dragged that party down from the gutters and into the sewers of political infamy.

That they need Trump the Destroyer of Nations as a unifier is ironic in the sense that the best thing that could happen to that party of theirs is if Trump denounces his citizenship and emigrates to Russia taking his base of loonies with him.

Yea man, I agree with ya. I think it's both, really. Democracy (majority) rejected their ideals, so instead of compromising and growing with the nation, they doubled down and resorted to tactics that makes most people very upset. Of course, they claim the other half did this, so it's justified (facts be damned).

Trump is a shit actor that's just the next phase of their downward spiral, and their plan is to drag us all down with them.

 

[Pohemi]

if you needed a think tank to tell you America is in deep shit I feel very sorry for you.

I think the only notable thing from this was that it came from outside as opposed to internal liberals/socialists/marxists/communists/generalized catchphrase of the month, etc.

Not that it'll be any more valid to conservatives or their voters, but then they never accept anything that hurts their feels.

 

[shortylickens]

Yea man, I agree with ya. I think it's both, really. Democracy (majority) rejected their ideals, so instead of compromising and growing with the nation, they doubled down and resorted to tactics that makes most people very upset. Of course, they claim the other half did this, so it's justified (facts be damned).

Trump is a shit actor that's just the next phase of their downward spiral, and their plan is to drag us all down with them.

Why is it so bad to be a minority in America?
what, are they not treated well?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Why is it so bad to be a minority in America?
what, are they not treated well?

lol, i know where you're going with this.

In fact, the minority I'm referring to is political, and they're treated very well compared to other (not political) minorities.

 

[tweaker2]

I can see where millions of middle of the road Repubs are simply riding along with the Trump infected crazies out of loyalty to party. Ideals, morals and ethics were thrown under the bus in order for them to do that and from where I'm standing, it looks like more and more of them are being radicalized rather than taking a stand like Liz Cheney did for fear of suffering the same fate that Liz has experienced.

It's a fatal loop that the Repubs have created for themselves and they are at this very moment attempting to create their own definition of what a patriot is where being a "patriot" is now having to be loyal to party over country. They're increasingly turning their backs to the nation as the nation is, as they've been propagandized to believe, turning its back on them.

 

[shortylickens]

lol, i know where you're going with this.

In fact, the minority I'm referring to is political, and they're treated very well compared to other (not political) minorities.

I'm not going anywhere with this.
I asked a question, and I want an answer. The people who need to answer it probably can't, or will refuse to.

 

[MrSquished]

While I agree a normal continuance/transition is the most likely scenario by far I think you are drastically underestimating the possibility of Republicans attempting to overturn the election if they lose. It will be much harder in 2024 than it was in 2020 because they don't control the federal government, but they are also actively purging the officials that refused to play along.

So sure, let's say it's a 90% chance that things go off as normal. That's pretty good, until you realize that 10% means essentially the end of a 230 year old constitutional system and/or a civil war.

You are being a little too optimistic. Republicans are showing their hand, they are clearly putting in officials wherever possible and creating legislation, such as in Wisconsin, where they can take over elections or overturn the results. There is definitely a 30% chance, or a one in three chance that we lose democracy in 2024

 

[tweaker2]

You are being a little too optimistic. Republicans are showing their hand, they are clearly putting in officials wherever possible and creating legislation, such as in Wisconsin, where they can take over elections or overturn the results. There is definitely a 30% chance, or a one in three chance that we lose democracy in 2024

They're preparing for Trump's return to the throne. It will be ugly, it will be as "lawfully unconstitutional" as they can stretch it and the term "free and fair elections" is already a thing of the past as far as they're concerned simply for the fact that they've learned that they'd lose most of them and that's something they will use any means to prevent that from happening.

They see red states turning purple and purple states turning blue. That scares them awful bad and it's all the motivation they need to get blatantly obvious about their intentions at "legally cheating" their way into minority party rule.

 

[MrSquished]

They're preparing for Trump's return to the throne. It will be ugly, it will be as "lawfully unconstitutional" as they can stretch it and the term "free and fair elections" is already a thing of the past as far as they're concerned simply for the fact that they've learned that they'd lose most of them and that's something they will use any means to prevent that from happening.

They see red states turning purple and purple states turning blue. That scares them awful bad and it's all the motivation they need to get blatantly obvious about their intentions at "legally cheating" their way into minority party rule.

The current GQP has literally no principles. They will anoint anyone they think can win, but it has to be another piece of shit if it isn't Trump. The majority base of the Trump party won't vote for one of the few conservatives left in the party with some character left. Principles mean not being racist or admitting the election wasn't stolen. Two of the things the evil base won't stand for.

It might not be Trump they will steal the election for, but it will be for someone who is as close to as shitty to him as possible. You can't win as a republican in Republican States without appealing to those horrific people. Just look at the Senate race in Ohio, it's a race to the bottom.

The current GQP is basically a race to the bottom of human decency.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was speaking about our diversion into war with china.

Which has nothing to do with the OP.

For the official record, I don't give a rats ass about what a few people in another country think about the US. I'm sure the feeling is mutual for most Europeans.

I mean it's nice that you protect your feels by ignoring points for arbitrary reasons if they threaten your worldview but you'd be a better and healthier person if you actually thought about the points raised.

 

[cytg111]

Which has nothing to do with the OP.



I mean it's nice that you protect your feels by ignoring points for arbitrary reasons if they threaten your worldview but you'd be a better and healthier person if you actually thought about the points raised.

Green has slid well through "my ignorance is at least as valid as your knowledge" and is approaching new horizons

 

[cytg111]

Have Garland found some bite? Texas is probably just the first right?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1467929424079175681

 

[Greenman]

Which has nothing to do with the OP.



I mean it's nice that you protect your feels by ignoring points for arbitrary reasons if they threaten your worldview but you'd be a better and healthier person if you actually thought about the points raised.

The points raised pivot on a thesis that I don't completely agree with, and they come from a source that I've never heard of in another country. Why should that be of any concern to me?
The only opinions that really matter to me are those expressed at the ballot box.

 

[tweaker2]

Green has slid well through "my ignorance is at least as valid as your knowledge" and is approaching new horizons

Just like any other sleaze ball looking to french kiss Trump's overly endowed butt cheeks in their efforts to outdo each other in the way of having Trump reciprocating their cringe worthy acts of submission with his blessed golden shower of approval, these lowlifes lose their situational awareness regarding how they look to those folks who see things for what they really are.

 

[MrSquished]

The points raised pivot on a thesis that I don't completely agree with, and they come from a source that I've never heard of in another country. Why should that be of any concern to me?
The only opinions that really matter to me are those expressed at the ballot box.

So nothing that is observed in any other country is useful? That's pretty amazing. I mean you do really wear your ignorance very proudly and repeatedly. It is fascinating.

And as far as opinions expressed at the ballot box, you seem to ignore all the opinions expressed ABOUT the ballot box, by the majority lying republican party who support a guy that would try to overthrow the ballot box results again in a jiffy, and they'd help and then be fine with it.

 

[cytg111]

So nothing that is observed in any other country is useful? That's pretty amazing. I mean you do really wear your ignorance very proudly and repeatedly. It is fascinating.

And as far as opinions expressed at the ballot box, you seem to ignore all the opinions expressed ABOUT the ballot box, by the majority lying republican party who support a guy that would try to overthrow the ballot box results again in a jiffy, and they'd help and then be fine with it.

Greenie is all about the quality of the vote…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/13/arizona-quality-votes-kavanagh/

 

[Leymenaide]

I used to love to send my High School students in the early 2000's to look up President Carter's comments on American elections. To make it a short post he said long ago that we did not meet basic international standards for free open and democratic elections. It is no wonder that MSNBC, CNN and the rest of the right-wing press has shut him down.

 

[WelshBloke]

The points raised pivot on a thesis that I don't completely agree with, and they come from a source that I've never heard of in another country. Why should that be of any concern to me?

Well the thing to do then is to discuss those points not pretend that the issue is something else entirely.

The only opinions that really matter to me are those expressed at the ballot box.

And the integrity of the ballot box and electoral process?

 

[MrSquished]

Well the thing to do then is to discuss those points not pretend that the issue is something else entirely.


And the integrity of the ballot box and electoral process?

Plenty of Americans, including a chunk of conservatives, have also said the same thing, America's democracy is under peril. But @Greenman doesn't give a shit about that either. It's not just about this being info from, GASP, another country, it's just info he wants to suppress because ultimately at this point, he is cool with it. He is so willfully ignorant at this point he is complicit.

 

[Amused]

Not yet.
What really concerns me is far more fundamental that who certifies the vote.

Holy shit. You've bought into the batshit "stop the steal" conspiracy theories.

Despite all your dancing and denials, it boils down to this.

Despite 60+ failed court cases and ZERO evidence of ANY wide spread OR systemic fraud you STILL say this.

This very thing is the root of the GQP destruction of democracy in the US. They will use spurious claims of fraud to install their own people to "certify" elections in their favor.

And you are all for that.

 

[MrSquished]

Holy shit. You've bought into the batshit "stop the steal" conspiracy theories.

Despite all your dancing and denials, it boils down to this.

Despite 60+ failed court cases and ZERO evidence of ANY wide spread OR systemic fraud you STILL say this.

This very thing is the root of the GQP destruction of democracy in the US. They will use spurious claims of fraud to install their own people to "certify" elections in their favor.

And you are all for that.

It's just his way of going along with it while pretending to be in denial, which is just as bad as being part of it.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Will anyone listen?

Biden calls on leaders to end ‘backward slide’ of democracy

By AAMER MADHANI and COLLEEN LONG27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed alarm at a “backward slide” of democracy around the globe on Thursday, calling on fellow world leaders to work with him to bolster democratic institutions as his administration grows increasingly concerned about China's and Russia's push for global influence.

 

[m8d]

Some white people know that their status of being the majority race is ending. It scares the shit out of them.