Harsh reality for those not in denial and who might resist.
Under the presidencies of Regan and Clinton, the ruling class began to dominate America, and the country started to turn away from true democracy. The old American democracy was never perfect, and there has always been a fascist-leaning thread in evidence, but the administrations of those two men marked a move toward deliberate harvesting of the country for personal profit.
Since Regan-Clinton, there has been a continual stripping away of the common people’s rights and power. Presidents have always paid lip service to voting rights, freedom of speech and press, checks and balances, and rule of law; but they simultaneously chipped away at them. Among other atrocities, they took away the strength of unions, militarized the police, and all but eliminated taxes for the rich. They also provided unfathomable power over elections to the billionaire class through Citizens United. This charade was traitorous, and paved the way for Trump.
The charade is over, and it could be the final chapter for American democracy
Trump is the perfect opportunist to take over the weakened remnants of today’s American democracy. He is more crass and “in your face” than his predecessors, delighting in aggression and hurting people, and dedicated to his wealth. Trump eradicated agencies of importance to common people, like the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Education, and continued to threaten the Postal Service. Trump and his administration steals with impunity, aggressively and openly, while dictating unsanctioned wars abroad and in the streets of the homeland.
The Supreme Court and Congress are prime examples of how amoral and dysfunctional the government has become. They openly do the bidding of the parasitic billionaire ruling class, in blind service to the fascist state of Israel, not common Americans.
Ever eager to serve the criminal oligarchy is the throng of MAGA, America First, and the Armageddon-ready white Christian fascists. The stated intent of Project 2025 is to choke the country out and it is largely working. There is no people’s party or plan to counter the assault. At this point, there are opinions questioning whether the USA is a functioning democracy.
The former bastion of liberal democracy, America, could be in its final chapter
The USA is in a morbid state of moral and social decay, with all wealth funneled to the top, and fear-based coercion being used to control an immiserated citizenry.
World War II reinforced that military might and free trade leads to peace and global prosperity. This gave liberal American democracy a refined meaning. But that was before world leaders had to deal with Trump’s nonsense and backstabbing. So, Vladimir V. Putin can say “the liberal idea” has “outlived its purpose,” and Xi Jinping says their rigid autocratic order “simply works better”, as reported by Damien Cave of the New York Times.
Now the world’s number of autocracies is more than the number of democracies. The bright city on the hill can barely keep its lights on.
Are We a Liberal Democracy? Do We Want to Be?
American democracy is under relentless assault. Anyone who is looking sees coordinated attacks on liberal democracy from within, by choice, from the halls of power. At this juncture, under an openly lawless racist regime, our demise is becoming irretractable unless timely strong action is taken.
To avoid the end of the American era, we must re-establish and enforce the rule of law, separation of powers, and proper state functioning in context of the republic. In other words, get back to the liberal democracy basics. And more. Please share your best ideas.
I’m a pessimist for a couple reasons. First, our strongest bastion against growing autocracy is an informed public. Right now, people are either willfully ignorant, or they’re readily swallowing the disinformation of the fascist right. If there’s money to be made lying, regardless of the costs further down the road, opportunists will provide the lies. Staying informed requires effort, and most people don’t want to put in the effort. Second, as the climate continues to deteriorate, the masses will first look for scapegoats, and then they’ll look for easy solutions. As they are the problem and there are no easy solutions, things will continue to deteriorate, a golden opportunity for an autocrat who will provide the scapegoats and the easy solution. For a while the solution has been to blame the messenger and continue on the wrong path. Once Trump came into office I knew we were screwed, because the window to effect real change was closing rapidly. I fear that it’s already closed. This is something I hope I’m wrong about, but I see very little to contradict my beliefs. Sadly many young people see what’s happening too, which explains a lot of their behavior. My 24 year-old daughter informs me that her generation is both burdened with the dark future and the expectations that they’re supposed to fix it. No wonder so many are just checking out.
Patrick, thanks for being engaged and writing your thoughtful articulate reply. I sense your genuine caring, and I hope you don’t give up. Your response cuts to the heart of the challenge. I agree the chances are slim and it will be difficult. One of my worries is that Putin screws it up so bad that the “leaders” take it as a win and justification for continuing their misguided cannibalization. I understand the disappointment as expressed through your daughter. My son is distraught and hurt and withdrawn over the broken social contracts; that’s why I will never stop fighting. I went to prison, as you know, and I use to be able to tell him “you’re in a much better place than I was at your age” due to being locked up – but it’s not so clearly true anymore.