America's growing democratic deficit

[Donkees]

The vaunted 'shining city on the hill' is beginning to resemble some Middle Eastern countries

Published: August 26, 2022, 5:00 AM

James Zogby

Dr James Zogby is the president of the Arab American Institute and a columnist for The National



Excerpt:

Newt Gingrich’s becoming speaker of the House of Representatives in 1993 began a new order in American politics. Congress became a partisan club used to pummel the administration of Bill Clinton, harassing him for six years, inventing scandals to investigate before finally succeeding in impeaching him for lying about a sexual encounter with a White House intern.

This partisan dysfunction has only grown uglier over time – today reaching such disastrous proportions that Congress is unable to muster the votes needed to pass an appropriation to provide vaccines to protect against new variants of the coronavirus.

Instead of a “city on the hill", we have become a lesson in what can happen without accountability and political comity. Our dysfunctions mimic those of Lebanon, where sectarianism blocks accountability for a prime minister’s assassination or a deadly explosion in Beirut’s port. Or like Israel, where a former prime minister on trial for corruption and influence-peddling stymies legislation favoured by his supporters to prevent giving his opponents a victory. Or like Iraq, where the losing parties block the winners from forming a government and the frustrated winners seize parliament, demanding a new election.

We’re not yet like some countries where criminal behaviour goes unpunished, ideological divisions create paralysis, and the lack of comity results in chaos. But unless we take a long hard look in the mirror, recognise the crisis facing us, and take corrective measures, that’s where we are heading.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2022/08/26/americas-growing-democratic-deficit/

[PortTack]

1. Kinda what President Biden said last night

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Gingrich set it up so this country would become balkanized, and less democratic.

A country of factions, not united. E pluribus unum is a quaint concept . . . .

[Irish_Dem]

3. We are headed for the loss of our democracy and superpower status.

Many of our rights will be taken away, along with government institutions and agencies.

As the politicians suck the money out of the American economy like other fascist leaders,
our standard of living with plummet as well.

[rubbersole]

4. The oligarchs are sucking the wealth of our country.

The politicians are merely employees of the international uber-wealthy. Changing that is the challenge of our time.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Corrupt politicians have sold out to the oligarchs.

And the oligarchs want it all.

All the nation's assets.

[rubbersole]

6. Nothing is stopping them.

We have only one chance. Majorities in the midterms. And every election from then on. Preaching to the choir here.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Nope, nothing is stopping them.

The GOP and oligarchs want what Putin has in Russia.

Complete, total permanent power.
White male Christian minority rule.
And access to all national assets.

Our enemies want to damage our democracy, make it look like a foolish form of government.
And to end our superpower status.
So they can take over world power.

All is going according to plan quite nicely.