America's Democratic Resilience Amidst Political Turbulence

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Despite claims of a democracy in crisis, the American political system demonstrates resilience, even through extraordinary challenges. As author and professor James Gibson explains in *Democracy’s Destruction?*, understanding the balance between genuine threats and mere hyperbole can be difficult, especially in the context of events surrounding the 2020 presidential election.

 

Former President Donald Trump’s claims of having “absolute proof” of election fraud, along with his criticism of the Supreme Court for being “weak” in rejecting these claims, were indeed a serious test of the country’s democratic integrity.

 

Yet, the system held firm, with 86 judges—some appointed by Trump himself—siding with democratic norms over party loyalty. Even Vice President Mike Pence, under intense pressure, upheld the electoral process by refusing to reject state-certified results, despite chants of “hang Mike Pence” echoing through the Capitol. In the end, the institutions prevailed.

 

Gibson’s analysis extends to public opinion, examining anti-democratic sentiments in surveys taken after these events. Questions about whether Americans would ever acknowledge Joe Biden as president or respect laws passed under his administration revealed that fewer than 12 percent of respondents endorsed such views—a percentage similar to those who still believe the moon landings were faked.

 

The data indicates that while there is room for improvement, there is not substantial evidence of impending democratic collapse. Demand for democracy may even be increasing, as seen when the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade returned abortion rights legislation to elected state legislatures. This move did not result in any widespread desire to diminish or abolish the Court’s authority; instead, Americans generally continued to express faith in the system, even if some were dissatisfied with specific outcomes.

 

Concerns about the future persist, however. Surveys reveal that 72 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of Republicans worry about the integrity of democracy in upcoming elections, fueled by polarized perceptions of figures like Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Some view Trump as an authoritarian, while others see Harris as emblematic of a systemically flawed political establishment.

 

Yet, Trump’s various legal troubles—culminating in 34 charges—have not prevented him from leading in national polls in several swing states. The enduring lesson appears to be that the most effective means of defeating a candidate is still through democratic elections, rather than legal action or attempts to disqualify opponents.

 

This tendency to equate losing an election with democratic decay is not exclusive to the United States; similar claims were made in Britain post-Brexit, with some, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, casting Brexit in a nationalist and populist light. But these reactions, often resorting to accusations of “fascism” in opposition to populism, miss the larger democratic message. The rise of populism across Europe signals the need for established parties to address long-ignored issues—like demographic shifts—rather than dismiss opposing voices.

 

In some cases, restrictions on freedom arise from popular support, not authoritarian imposition. During the pandemic, measures like lockdowns were largely backed by the public, which shows the need for those championing liberty to make their case more convincingly within a democratic framework. Whether viewed as a reactionary force or a corrective, Trump is not meaningfully fascist, and both political sides now recognize that the outcome of the next election will be determined by turnout, with each side casting the race as a battle between democracy and dictatorship.

 

America excels at high-stakes political theater, captivating voters with intense campaigns and portraying elections as existential struggles. British Labour activists often seek to experience this firsthand, drawn by the unmatched energy of American campaigns. In the end, rather than signaling a democratic crisis, these fervent contests reflect the vibrancy and endurance of the American democratic system—one still capable of staging the world’s most dynamic political spectacle.

 

Based on a report from the Daily Telegraph 2024-10-26

 

 

 

[Thingamabob]

The record is not that good. The assassination, or attempted assassination, of a President is nothing to be proud of.