General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen democracy is gone, will you miss it?
Many people do not trust elections, and democracy is under dire threat.
Democracy is a very fragile system of governing to begin with. Nowhere is it written in stone that democracy will last forever. What will change in our lives when democracy is gone?
The "free market" system will no longer be "free". Products will become more scarce. Bribery and corruption will rule the marketplace.
"Free speech" will not be the same. There will need to be a seal of approval before some words are spoken or images are shown. An authoritarian government would put a clamp on free speech.
With modern technology, your freedom of movement could be greatly hindered. You could be stopped and questioned at any time.
Is this really what people want? Or do they think it could never happen?
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)actually happen, while obsessed with the imaginary bad things they fear happening.
NewHendoLib
(59,940 posts)If Watergate were to have broken as news today, Nixon would have been fine - it would have been fake news.
Sure, this all started with Reagan, but it went ballistic when the big lies and reduction of freedoms after 9/11, the lies that led us to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, were all allowed - the perps allowed to walk....it was all in a way a practice run for what we are seeing today. And today is a practice run for what could end up happening.
If I was 35 instead of 65, I would be scared shitless of this mess. There are too many root causes for why we are where we are - but certainly big corporate money in politics, politicization of the Supreme Court, and decades of right wing hate media bring us to this point - and social networking seems to be the catalyst.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)We see what is happening in TX and other states. It is very authoritarian in nature. It is not democratic or socialistic.
If the present environment is any indication, we are headed toward authoritarianism.
Johnny2X2X
(18,745 posts)The natural order of things is not self rule, for most of history large populations have had dictators/monarchies ruling over them. Democracy is not spreading right now, it's retracting, as it does when people don't fight constantly for it.
We're seeing democracies fall at an alarming rate worldwide. I think as a result of social media being weaponized to weaken Democracy by Far Right forces. Democracy is about to fall in Brazil, and I fear the US won't be far behind if the Republicans get their way.
LiberalLoner
(9,761 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)Bayard
(21,805 posts)The great majority are complacent about democracy. Even with the steady march of authoritarianism, they think--it can't happen here. I'm afraid by the time they realize its already here, its too late.
Elessar Zappa
(13,650 posts)have been predicting the end of democracy for twenty years. People claimed Bush would become a dictator. Were in a tough spot right now but we can still fight and turn things around. Im certainly not giving in to the fascists without a fight.
joetheman
(1,450 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,911 posts)Americans have long been lulled into complacency. Funny, I was just listening to an old favorite album of mine; The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo this morning in the car, and when the cut "You Don't Miss Your Water Till The Well's Run Dry" played I was struck by what a simple but profound truth that is.
stillcool
(32,626 posts)out of the ashes who knows what will rise? Ends make for great beginnings. One door closes, another opens, but its hell in the hallways.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)Just like the first one.