When democracy becomes "bread and circuses", trouble is not too far to follow

[myata]

The U.S. democracy is in a crisis; there's no clear ways out of it. The last more or less functional institute: judiciary is going down the partisan drain.

Democracy is not the rule of an angry mob; that phase ends very quickly in one of two ways: an oligarchy; or authocracy/dictatorship. Democracy is a product and responsibility of active and responsible citizens. Keeping it requires nothing less than ongoing reason; responsibility and commitment to its principles.

And if/when the responsibility becomes an entertainment and the citizens become pueblo interested in little else but bread and circuses, the demise of democracy becomes all but inevitable. It was tested two millennia back and uncounted times since.

So nothing new here. Only the citizenship test.

 

[Nationalist]

Are you becoming a Trump voter @myata? Sounds like you've identified the Brandon administration perfectly here.

Edited June 16, 2024 by Nationalist

[Michael Hardner]

1 hour ago, myata said:

The U.S. democracy is in a crisis; there's no clear ways out of it. 

And we will all follow it. The way out of it is for the center to wake up and tell the noise makers on either side to be quiet.

[Nationalist]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

And we will all follow it. The way out of it is for the center to wake up and tell the noise makers on either side to be quiet.

Center would be nice after both Pixie-Dust and Brandon.

I actually see Polievre as center-right. 

One of the biggest problems to smoother political waters is the MSM. For instance, the recent EU elections. The entire MSM called the movement to more conservative candidates as "far-right". They present as many disparaging terms for those conservatives as possible within 1 article. It's gotten to the point where the Libbies are trying to find out just how far they can go, before the public goes, "Hey wait a minute. Nobody wants what you're selling." 

Which people have been doing all over Europe and the MSM either pretends it's not happening...

Or publish disparaging terms like "far-right".

The conservatives never wanted this "culture-war". The Libbies have insisted on it.

Edited June 16, 2024 by Nationalist

[Michael Hardner]

15 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

1. I actually see Polievre as center-right. 

2. ... disparaging terms like "far-right".

3. The conservatives never wanted this "culture-war". The Libbies have insisted on it.

1. He's still unknown.  Until he has power we won't know what's rhetoric and what's not.

2. I don't buy the left and right tags anymore.   

3. Not as much as Russia did.

[Nationalist]

10 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

1. He's still unknown.  Until he has power we won't know what's rhetoric and what's not.

2. I don't buy the left and right tags anymore.   

3. Not as much as Russia did.

1. True...I think he's sincere but we will see.

2. That doesn't surprise me at all. And indeed I have tried to explain that the "political spectrum" is more like a sphere than a line. But it's to the point now that, the "new normal" is simply destructive in every measurable way. Unfortunately, "the establishment" has decided to choke it down our throats...or in our arms, if you will...That Mike, is what it stinks like.

3. Russia? Explain please?

Edited June 16, 2024 by Nationalist

[myata]

To everything that lives Time has to give these tests, once in a while or how would it it know that we're still alive or didn't go bonkers? Our ancestors last century did many dumb things but when they faced their test they came around and passed it. Of course, very obviously and clearly, to the one that we will face now that doesn't add even a grain of guarantee. None. Non existent. We will pass it or we will fail the test of Time, it's in our hands and nobody else's.

Only the citizen's test.