Democracy isn’t in trouble; it’s functioning exactly as intended. Trump was elected by a majority and is now implementing policies supported by a sufficient share of the voters. This is how democracy works, and if you support democracy then you are supporting what is happening right now with the MAGA takeover.
What is in trouble is Western civilization itself, which is turning away from liberal political ideas, which means, rights-protecting government in politics, and capitalism in economics. Certainly, no one on that panel could be described as a genuine supporter of these principles. They are all advocates of government involvement in every aspect of our lives, and call it things like "robust safety nets," as opposed to authoritarian.
Orban and Modi once moved cautiously while the idea of a liberal superpower still lingered, but as the US falls, it becomes clear that there are no longer any liberal guardrails anymore, and there really haven't been in a long time. I.e. Orban and Modi needn't have worried and could've moved much faster anyway.
Unless we urgently begin platforming politically literate voices, advocating for individual rights and capitalism, (actual liberal values, not socialism disguised as democracy) then I don’t see how this can be turned around.
How is democracy functioning exactly as intended when someone that attempted to overturn an election he lost is allowed to run again? It's pure assclownery to claim that the MAGA takeover is democracy working as intended. Also ludicrous to claim it is politically literate only to advocate for capitalism.
I think what’s really in trouble is the rights-protecting government and capitalist system that built the modern world, not "liberal democracy."
I think correctly framing the fundamental issues at play is important, especially when terms like "liberal democracy" are used by the likes of Bernie Sanders, AOC, Mamdani, etc, to describe their very anti-liberal ideas.
So, it comes across as: while you're anti-MAGA, it's not really clear how you're differentiating from those who are basically just blue-MAGA instead.
You ask, "where the liberal left went wrong," but I'd say they were never right, and they were never liberal. They're just another flavor of authoritarians and just coopting the term "liberal."
In my opinion, these people are all responsible for this entire mess, and unless they're changing their position towards *actual* liberal values, (which will means support for rights and capitalism) then they haven't learnt a thing, and they're not allies in the fight against Trump, nor against authoritarianism in general.
Everything you have written is just documenting how our President is turning back the forces that have attacked the rights of real Americans. We have a real President for the first time in decades. Just living it…
Political power is like money: mostly a shared belief. When you are openly authoritarian, in principle it is very difficult to win elections. But if you win, you have massive political capital. Being elected in an openly authoritarian agenda, after a coup attempt, implies absolute control of your coalition, that will resist all along the authoritarian consolidation path.
Democracy isn’t in trouble; it’s functioning exactly as intended. Trump was elected by a majority and is now implementing policies supported by a sufficient share of the voters. This is how democracy works, and if you support democracy then you are supporting what is happening right now with the MAGA takeover.
What is in trouble is Western civilization itself, which is turning away from liberal political ideas, which means, rights-protecting government in politics, and capitalism in economics. Certainly, no one on that panel could be described as a genuine supporter of these principles. They are all advocates of government involvement in every aspect of our lives, and call it things like "robust safety nets," as opposed to authoritarian.
Orban and Modi once moved cautiously while the idea of a liberal superpower still lingered, but as the US falls, it becomes clear that there are no longer any liberal guardrails anymore, and there really haven't been in a long time. I.e. Orban and Modi needn't have worried and could've moved much faster anyway.
Unless we urgently begin platforming politically literate voices, advocating for individual rights and capitalism, (actual liberal values, not socialism disguised as democracy) then I don’t see how this can be turned around.
How is democracy functioning exactly as intended when someone that attempted to overturn an election he lost is allowed to run again? It's pure assclownery to claim that the MAGA takeover is democracy working as intended. Also ludicrous to claim it is politically literate only to advocate for capitalism.
A lot of truth to what you say but this essay was about "liberal" democracy, not majoritarian democracy, being in trouble.
I think what’s really in trouble is the rights-protecting government and capitalist system that built the modern world, not "liberal democracy."
I think correctly framing the fundamental issues at play is important, especially when terms like "liberal democracy" are used by the likes of Bernie Sanders, AOC, Mamdani, etc, to describe their very anti-liberal ideas.
So, it comes across as: while you're anti-MAGA, it's not really clear how you're differentiating from those who are basically just blue-MAGA instead.
You ask, "where the liberal left went wrong," but I'd say they were never right, and they were never liberal. They're just another flavor of authoritarians and just coopting the term "liberal."
In my opinion, these people are all responsible for this entire mess, and unless they're changing their position towards *actual* liberal values, (which will means support for rights and capitalism) then they haven't learnt a thing, and they're not allies in the fight against Trump, nor against authoritarianism in general.
Crossfire Hurricane? Arctic Frost?
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along….
Everything you have written is just documenting how our President is turning back the forces that have attacked the rights of real Americans. We have a real President for the first time in decades. Just living it…
Wow, you are a delusional and hopeless Trump cultist.
Political power is like money: mostly a shared belief. When you are openly authoritarian, in principle it is very difficult to win elections. But if you win, you have massive political capital. Being elected in an openly authoritarian agenda, after a coup attempt, implies absolute control of your coalition, that will resist all along the authoritarian consolidation path.