The Assault on Democracy
There is an important series of posts taking up residence at Michael Bérubé’s blog, and I would urge you to read them at your earliest convenience. The series, written by guest blogger John McGowan during Michael’s (forgive the familiarity, but it’s those damn diacriticals) recent convalescence, echoes thoughts I’ve had repeatedly over the past couple of years; namely, that we’ve strayed too far from our understanding of our democratic institutions to effectively defend them.
#
McGowan’s series, “The Republican Assault on Democracy,” points to the consolidation of power by the wealthy, the rise of a rich/poor caste system, and a flagrant disregard for the established rules and norms of governance (most particularly, though not entirely, by Republicans) as severe threats to American democracy. McGowan reminds us that, like the frog in a pot of slowly heating water, we have not noticed that our once-fierce pride in our system of government is starting to boil away, evaporating into nothingness.
#
McGowan notes that liberalism has gotten a bad rap. Liberalism was meant to keep tyrants at bay, to promote the general welfare and to preserve a place where all viewpoints are free to peacefully co-exist. But now, “not only the Republicans, but the American nation as a whole, seem to have lost any sense whatsoever of what liberalism means and what it strives to insure.” Where liberalism was meant to keep the peace among disparate factions by giving everyone a voice, the new Republican goal seems bound to squash opposition, a strategy that will inevitably create only bloodier conflict.
#
All this suggests a Democratic strategy for the coming years: remind the American voters that our system of government was created so that all voices would be heard. Our Constitution protects us from the tyranny of the majority; it disperses power among three branches of government, so that all sides and all voices can get equal hearing. Obstinate power games, election shenanigans, and naked propaganda plays are beneath contempt, and our leaders should demand better. We should demand better from our leaders.
#
I believe that, beyond party loyalties, the majority of Americans are justifiably proud of our democracy. If they are reminded of its genesis and of its benefits, they will rally to its cause. The minority party should be stirring those embers of passion for liberty and justice, before they’ve gone out for good.
#
Sunday, June 19th, 2005 @ 11:46 am 
Politics Matters
RSS 2.0
Both comments and pings are currently closed.