A blow to democracy in the United States
Superficially, it does not seem to be anything more than a classic force measurement that is typical of the world for the United States, thanks, among other things, to the Netflix series. In a two-party country, part of the bad style is to block the opposing party by all means, to prevent its political success in order to secure a majority in one, if not both, house in some of the next elections. A tactic used by democratic politicians in the past. That should not be forgotten.
But what we see now in the United States is elementary, existential. After 4 years, Trump and the Republican Party, which is still trapped in his lies, the political system in the country is endangered. It may sound exaggerated, but it is not.
To prevent blacks from voting
Democracy is also defined in that all citizens can vote freely and secretly and are entitled to the same rights regardless of origin, sexual orientation, religion, age or income. But that right is now being undermined. Already in 14 states, Republican governments have changed the right to vote. Several others are on their way to join in order to minimize the possibility of black people and other minorities influencing the election result, as well as to ensure that Republicans remain in power.
In a country where the white majority will be gone in a few years, the party is thus trying to stay in power. Thus, the constituencies are redesigned, a rule for identification is introduced where older signatures are declared invalid, and voting in writing is abolished or made more difficult. Texas even bans voting on Sunday mornings. This, in turn, is the classic voting timing of the black population that links the exercise of civil rights to going to church. But the most dangerous are the changes that make it significantly easier for election commission chairmen to simply declare the election invalid. To understand the context: the vast majority of Republicans without any evidence and despite all the counts to date claim that Donald Trump actually won the election last November.
Everything is at stake
These are bleak prospects with consequences that are difficult to predict, not only for the upcoming 2022 elections, but also for the 2024 presidential elections. Electoral College, ie the gathering of delegates, so that the president elected by the people can de facto take office.
January 6, the day when Donald Trump supporters attacked the Capitol precisely to prevent this process, showed what can be expected. Democratic forces in the United States have been on the alert ever since and recognize exactly what is at stake.
All democracies need to be aware of exactly what is happening
All democracies in the world need to closely monitor the situation in the United States and learn lessons.
1. There is no such thing as "just being a little anti-democratic." Whoever enters into coalitions with anti-democratic figures and parties for the sake of power, loses. Republicans see that they can no longer control the populist spirit of Donald Trump.
2. No one has an answer as to how the bubbles of fake news on social media can burst. The United States is a poignant example of how quickly information can be replaced by lies if the facts undermine the world of one who spreads lies.
3. The credibility of politicians begins with respect for voters. Donald Trump has become what he is thanks to the arrogance of political elites who have ignored the concerns of many Americans.
4. Democracies can only survive with independent and critical media that are able to reach a large circle of people.
5. And most important of all is the education of young people. To acquire media literacy and to encourage the desire to think for oneself. It all starts at school. But that may be the end of the process.
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