Yep. Citizens United shows how much the USA now values dmocracy
15
Mr. Friedman:
it took a whole lotta words to get to the last two sentences here...
and therein lies the obvious difficulty that so many commenters have already raised in this discussion:
the good ole USA is losing its own version of democracy!
two reminders will assist the movement(s) that is/are mostly now downhill:
SCOTUS' repeated declarations that "corporations" are super-persons --- beholding to no institution and to very few rules;
and ALEC's ( et al ) many-state-driven efforts to substantially restrict or ultimately to end voting by the citizens...
also: in your world listings: how did the likes of Saudi Arabia miss out?
in the end: lack of inclusion and institutional greed
( ages-old nemeses to understanding, cooperation, and peace )
are once again forging to the lead.
it took a whole lotta words to get to the last two sentences here...
and therein lies the obvious difficulty that so many commenters have already raised in this discussion:
the good ole USA is losing its own version of democracy!
two reminders will assist the movement(s) that is/are mostly now downhill:
SCOTUS' repeated declarations that "corporations" are super-persons --- beholding to no institution and to very few rules;
and ALEC's ( et al ) many-state-driven efforts to substantially restrict or ultimately to end voting by the citizens...
also: in your world listings: how did the likes of Saudi Arabia miss out?
in the end: lack of inclusion and institutional greed
( ages-old nemeses to understanding, cooperation, and peace )
are once again forging to the lead.
7
Is the USA still a model of democracy? Can any form of democracy really work in mentioned Countries?
Even a foreign casual observer knows with Super Pac money - every one of our politicians are 'bought'. The driving force of every Congressional vote is to first evaluate how the 'donors' want legislation to be enacted. Republicains have turned 'money for votes' into a science.
Of course if that's not enough ... they can read up on voter repression - screw the poor - immigrants are equal to criminals - protect the 1% ... to name a few shining examples of our Democracy that these Countries can emulate on their way to improving their citizen lives.
Even a foreign casual observer knows with Super Pac money - every one of our politicians are 'bought'. The driving force of every Congressional vote is to first evaluate how the 'donors' want legislation to be enacted. Republicains have turned 'money for votes' into a science.
Of course if that's not enough ... they can read up on voter repression - screw the poor - immigrants are equal to criminals - protect the 1% ... to name a few shining examples of our Democracy that these Countries can emulate on their way to improving their citizen lives.
20
I have just reviewed Mr. Diamond's article upon which Thomas Freedom bases some of his arguments. Writing from the Hoover Institution at Stanford, a well known conservative think tank, I half way expected him to blame the decline of democracy on Barack Obama. Seriously though: It pains me to see that a number of the countries that he writes about depend, at some level, on foreign aid from the United States. Many presidents, in my recent memory, have indicated that unless many of these (and other) countries begin steps toward REAL democracies, foreign aid will be curtailed in a major way. It hasn't happened though. It seems the idea is a good talking point every four years, from Democrats and Republicans alike.
In our country, dating from 1789, Presidents have served an average of 5.1 years. I use that date as a marker because it is the year the Constitution took effect and we had our first presidential election. As a teacher, of among other things, American Government, students used to ask me why the US democracy has flourished while others haven't/didn't? I agree that it seems to be based upon a record and background of democracy. Then they ask if any president has refused to give up his post at the end of either four or eight years. The obvious answer is no.
Only history will tell us if the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United had anything to do with the decline of the United States.
In our country, dating from 1789, Presidents have served an average of 5.1 years. I use that date as a marker because it is the year the Constitution took effect and we had our first presidential election. As a teacher, of among other things, American Government, students used to ask me why the US democracy has flourished while others haven't/didn't? I agree that it seems to be based upon a record and background of democracy. Then they ask if any president has refused to give up his post at the end of either four or eight years. The obvious answer is no.
Only history will tell us if the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United had anything to do with the decline of the United States.
5
It's no accident that democracy has been in "recession" since roughly the start of the Great Recession.
Step back, please, and take a look at the bigger history. I am old enough to remember 50 years ago, in the depths of the cold war, when we could count the number of true democracies in the world on the fingers of two hands. It really looked like democracy might disappear completely. What actually happened? During the post WWII era of great prosperity, which has happened in several waves, an unprecedented prosperity spread, increasingly outside the "west" to include the rest; the iron curtain collapsed; democracy spread. By 2006 roughly half the nations of the world were democratic.
Democracy has always contracted during times of economic hardship. Ever since the 17th century (I'm thinking Holland and England), democracy has expanded during times of economic expansion, and contracted during times of economic contraction (think Great Depression). The advances, so far, have on balance far outweighed the contractions.
I confidently predict that, as we slowly come out of the Great Recession into an era of even greater, more widely-spread prosperity (this may take another decade or so), democracy will spread again. History is on the side of democracy.
That said, by all means let's double down and take the issues in this article to heart. Let's be vigilant and active to advance freedom. But let's also remember the bigger picture. It's very hopeful.
Step back, please, and take a look at the bigger history. I am old enough to remember 50 years ago, in the depths of the cold war, when we could count the number of true democracies in the world on the fingers of two hands. It really looked like democracy might disappear completely. What actually happened? During the post WWII era of great prosperity, which has happened in several waves, an unprecedented prosperity spread, increasingly outside the "west" to include the rest; the iron curtain collapsed; democracy spread. By 2006 roughly half the nations of the world were democratic.
Democracy has always contracted during times of economic hardship. Ever since the 17th century (I'm thinking Holland and England), democracy has expanded during times of economic expansion, and contracted during times of economic contraction (think Great Depression). The advances, so far, have on balance far outweighed the contractions.
I confidently predict that, as we slowly come out of the Great Recession into an era of even greater, more widely-spread prosperity (this may take another decade or so), democracy will spread again. History is on the side of democracy.
That said, by all means let's double down and take the issues in this article to heart. Let's be vigilant and active to advance freedom. But let's also remember the bigger picture. It's very hopeful.
13
To what degree is this a result of the Iraq war? We went into Iraq promising the Arab world that we would bring liberty, and instead we brough only chaos. After seeing the mess that Iraq became is it any wonder that the other couintries in the Middle East aren't interested in what we have to offer?
31
Democracy is the most difficult form of governance to maintain and to prosper. Free speech is the backbone of democracy with the best ideas ascendent. This takes an educated and motivated population, one that knows and understands what is in its best interests and not those who would rule rather than govern.
19
This is the same Thomas Friedman who wrote the 2009 column in praise of one-party autocracy. Autocrats don't need to argue from gridlock to support their cause - they just need to point out folks like Friedman who make their case for them. But pointing out that Friedman is shallow and naive is not interesting when there is a real problem. We made silly statements about democracy in Egypt and throughout the Arab Spring, and we are doing the same thing again: our short-hand description of democracy for what is really a more complicated combination of classical liberalism, constitutionally limited government and rule of law fails us when we want to track "freedom" in the world. The decline in democracy in the US has more to do with weakening of the idea of rule of law than it does about advertising dollars during campaigns. The real heart of the Friedman column in 2009 was that "rules shouldn't apply to my politicians" rather than support of autocrats. The issue of the financial crisis was not only about bankruptcy, but because of high level government decisions that rules did not apply to some folks. In that sense, Iceland was one of the few governments that got it right: they allowed lenders to fail due to their poor lending practices. The crisis in Greece is due to people supporting a system of corruption where government money is being siphoned off in so many directions no one can track it.
2
Why on earth are we surprised that the leading democracy in the world no longer leads? How about our Supreme Court Justice Kagan who held up the South African Constitution as a better example of democracy and freedom than our own? And now South Africa is well on the way to becoming a failed state. We are told at least weekly by some government leader or other that America is the world's problem; that we "are not the country we used to be" to quote our own president; that the world's terrorists only exist because of us : "our bad." We actually do lead according to many -- in everything awful -- so surely every other form of government is preferable to ours. Right? At the very least, they are all the same; no country or government is better than another...except that anyone is better than we. What we are seeing is a world without America. How's that workin' out?
Democracy is a means. The goal is good government.
Unfortunately many Western organizations that claim to promote democracy have lost the sight of this.
Unfortunately many Western organizations that claim to promote democracy have lost the sight of this.
7
Democracy works best for THOSE WHO RULE. The rich want everything and the poor are too dumb to get anything. And, it's still much easier to get the cash when you rule imperiously. We monkeys will never learn.
6
Though there is a general understanding about what the term "Democracy" means, its vagueness leaves ample room for interpretation and misinterpretation. In America, we celebrate the democratic nature of our political system, and democratic ideals, such as equal opportunity and justice for all. But the disparity between these ideals and actual practices is apparent to all, and is seemingly irredeemable. Each democracy operates according to its own dictates, so different from one another that the term democracy loses its value of as a distinguishing identifier. Perhaps it is time to find more descriptive terms for the dominant features of various political systems, rather than relying so frequently on a familiar term that, aside from ideals, has lost its specificity.
4
"Democracy Is in Recession" - that's the perfect title for an editorial about the gradual transmogrification of the democratic republic in America to the militaristic plutocractic oligarchy that Eisenhower warned us about and has now come to pass. However, I don't think Friedman even mentioned the U.S. as an example of one of the "democracies in recession".
8
I think the global rise or fall of democracy is a long-term story, like climate. It's awfully hard to tell what is a long term trend and what is just "weather", like the world-wide recession, individual wars, and revolutionary movements like the Arab spring. Maybe we should revisit this discussion in about five years, when hopefully some of the current bad weather has settled down a bit.
Guess that makes me an optimist.
Guess that makes me an optimist.
1
Democracy works best for THOSE WHO RULE. The rich want everything and the poor are too dumb to get anything. And, it's still much easier to get the cash when you rule imperiously. We monkeys will never learn.
4
By directly pitting the predictions of ideal-type theories against each other within a single statistical model (using a unique data set that includes imperfect but useful measures of the key independent variables for nearly two
thousand policy issues), we have been able to produce some striking findings. One is the nearly total failure of “median voter” and other Majoritarian Electoral Democracy theories. When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
Gilens and Page. Perspectives on Politics. 2014 12(3): 564-581
Though we may retain certain features of a democracy, the US has become a plutocracy. As John Jay once said, "Those who own the country ought to govern it."
thousand policy issues), we have been able to produce some striking findings. One is the nearly total failure of “median voter” and other Majoritarian Electoral Democracy theories. When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
Gilens and Page. Perspectives on Politics. 2014 12(3): 564-581
Though we may retain certain features of a democracy, the US has become a plutocracy. As John Jay once said, "Those who own the country ought to govern it."
8
A working democracy is predicated on an informed and educated electorate. We have handed over the task of informing the public to a small concentration of corporate owned media conglomerates who blindly pursue their profit making mission and political agendas set by their oligarchic owners with no responsibility or regulatory requirement to the public or society at large.
Simultaneous, we have abandoned the mission of adequately educating our young people to be citizens. We have allowed religious institutions a place in the public square flooding out reasoned debate with senseless dogma.
The result is we now have the government we deserve, the best money can buy, an idiocracy !
Simultaneous, we have abandoned the mission of adequately educating our young people to be citizens. We have allowed religious institutions a place in the public square flooding out reasoned debate with senseless dogma.
The result is we now have the government we deserve, the best money can buy, an idiocracy !
17
And btw, this article has absolutely nothing to do with Turkey, democracy, or any constitutional or public recessions or erosion per se. It is a fairly standardized way of imbedding special interest communication (occasionally referred to as 'propaganda') within larger emotional triggers and diversions (some call it 'catnip') that lead to cognitive confusion, false sympathy and a disarming of suspicion, which is especially active.
3
As opposed to Fair And Balanced No Spin Fox News?
3
Don't forget executive actions. The administration uses them because it can't pass "necessary" measures through the democratic process. Dictators world wide do the same thing.
3
That is a blatantly anti-Obama statement. In fact, Obama has issued fewer Executive orders in his six years than some of the more conservative presidents that Utah people love.
9
As to the point of Turkey. they are scheduled to get 100 F-35 top of the line stealth fighters. This is more than twice the number Israel may get. One has to wonder where we will see the Turkish jets fly.
Isn't it time to reconsider our military cooperation with Turkey and their role in Nato? Perhaps, they can move along to some other alliance and clarify their world view for us.
The Nato alliance must have a core of democracies, not theocratic tyrannies.
Of course, our President is reluctant to admit that theological factors actual mean anything in international decision making.
Isn't it time to reconsider our military cooperation with Turkey and their role in Nato? Perhaps, they can move along to some other alliance and clarify their world view for us.
The Nato alliance must have a core of democracies, not theocratic tyrannies.
Of course, our President is reluctant to admit that theological factors actual mean anything in international decision making.
9
A free and open society is by definition vulnerable to the nihilism which is on the rise, forcing unsavory compromises such as the war on terror supplanting promotion of democracy. In troubled times, people gravitate towards simplistic solutions and away from nuanced ones. Democracy is complicated. Autocracy, theocracy, and plutocracy are simple. And as the we in the US take note of the gains made by Russia, Iran, ISIS, and contrast with the economic crisis in Europe and the devolution of the Arab Spring into a series of failed states, we are easy prey for con artists decrying 'weak leadership' and 'big government' and clamor for our own Putin to deliver us to the promised land.
7
It is the little things, like drops of water that never cease falling, that erodes democracy as well as other institutions.
America is a democracy with more people in jail than any other country in the world.
America is a land that claims to be a land of immigrants and diversity, and its congress and president are in a fight to remove or to keep illegals and others whose children are born here and are American citizens even if those illegals have been here for many years, work and pay taxes and stay out of trouble.
America is a democracy where, if you have huge sums of cash on you when you get stopped by the police, regardless of where the money came or is intended to go, can arrest you and your money confiscated. Even when proven you had no illegal reason to have it, you may well not get it back.
America is a democracy that claims "all men are created equal" and has a vast amount of overt racism that is shown in refusing jobs, housing, even good social services to those of color. And now some states are also attempting to deny those services and opportunities to LBGT people by law.
America is a democracy where its highest court has declared corporations on the level of people.
There is a lot more about American democracy which is very off-putting to people who think that a democracy should not be that way.
America is a democracy with more people in jail than any other country in the world.
America is a land that claims to be a land of immigrants and diversity, and its congress and president are in a fight to remove or to keep illegals and others whose children are born here and are American citizens even if those illegals have been here for many years, work and pay taxes and stay out of trouble.
America is a democracy where, if you have huge sums of cash on you when you get stopped by the police, regardless of where the money came or is intended to go, can arrest you and your money confiscated. Even when proven you had no illegal reason to have it, you may well not get it back.
America is a democracy that claims "all men are created equal" and has a vast amount of overt racism that is shown in refusing jobs, housing, even good social services to those of color. And now some states are also attempting to deny those services and opportunities to LBGT people by law.
America is a democracy where its highest court has declared corporations on the level of people.
There is a lot more about American democracy which is very off-putting to people who think that a democracy should not be that way.
5
Freedom, not democracy, is America's national religion. It is to preserve freedom that our armed forces put themselves in harms way. Human experience seems to teach that democracy is the best political means of securing freedom. Abraham Lincoln made the connection explicit in his Gettysburg Address. Democracy may not be suitable to some cultures around the world as other commentators have said. But America is founded on the proposition that all humanity yearns to be free and should be free.
3
It is not about "democracy" versus "authoritarianism," but rather order versus disorder, stability versus instability--all driven by "eating" versus "not eating."
The big driver is the intersection of overpopulation and adverse climate change which is stressing traditional societies and their social structures as never before. Problems in Nigeria and Libya have nothing to do with abstract concepts like "democracy" and "authoritarianism."
Almost all authoritarian governments are oligarchies concentrating wealth and power among a privileged few at the top. One hardly sees how these regimes will successfully deal with the monumental problems coming in the future. The first wave might be strongmen, the second wave will surely be revolution.
The big driver is the intersection of overpopulation and adverse climate change which is stressing traditional societies and their social structures as never before. Problems in Nigeria and Libya have nothing to do with abstract concepts like "democracy" and "authoritarianism."
Almost all authoritarian governments are oligarchies concentrating wealth and power among a privileged few at the top. One hardly sees how these regimes will successfully deal with the monumental problems coming in the future. The first wave might be strongmen, the second wave will surely be revolution.
4
Because of the rise of unchecked corporate power, our great nation is now an oligarchy and not a democracy. The best indicator of this development is the cynicism around elections. Many people choose not to vote because of a belief that their vote doesn't matter. This is just what the oligarchs want people to believe because the less who vote, the more influence corporate money will exert on government officials and government policies.
10
A very simple word of gratitude, Mr. Friedman, for your diligence in keeping average people like me informed of the "present state of being" in something as crucial as Democracy in the World.
5
Great piece. I especially appreciate the fact that Mr. Friedman points the finger squarely at the United States. Many if not most of the countries he mentions have no tradition of democracy. It is much more difficult to develoip democratic institutions when there is such a long history of corruption and dictatorships in a nation.
In the US, however, our forefathers built a solid foundation essentially with a clean slate. Over the past 40 years we have damaged that system so severely that a recovery may not be possible.
The United States needs to focus on fixing its own failed democracy rather than trying to export it. It is now wildly apparent after all of these wars and young lives lost that some cultures and countries do not want to be governed by a democracy. And is that not ok? Should we not allow them to make tha choice for themselves? If they want democracy, these countries must fight for it. Government of a people is not something the United States can impose or give out.
In the US, however, our forefathers built a solid foundation essentially with a clean slate. Over the past 40 years we have damaged that system so severely that a recovery may not be possible.
The United States needs to focus on fixing its own failed democracy rather than trying to export it. It is now wildly apparent after all of these wars and young lives lost that some cultures and countries do not want to be governed by a democracy. And is that not ok? Should we not allow them to make tha choice for themselves? If they want democracy, these countries must fight for it. Government of a people is not something the United States can impose or give out.
5
Once again this writer sets himself up as an arbiter of good taste in government, ignoring the faux democracy we have here, that no one with good sense should bother to participate in. Since we have no place on our ballots to choose "none of the above" I have decided no longer to participate in the meaningless act of voting in any future election held here. The great issues of the day, the US surveillance state, endless US wars, and our foreign policy will not be discussed nor voted on, only social trivia will be debated, And the military/criminal industrial complex will continue to make policy, independent of any vote. This place is bankrupt and is no democracy at all.
3
When we hear Tom Friedman worry about "democracy" in a Middle Eastern country, we should know what's next = "regime change." Our Middle Eastern policy has carefully targeted the most educated and secular countries and people in the region for war, occupation, and chaos (Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and now Turkey). Then we complain about the unleashing of religious extremism. What is that permits these so-called pundits to continue to press their neo con case? (By the way, Freedom House is a largely U.S. government funded operation -- not a watchdog -- that has been involved in clandestine operations in a number of countries -- the most recent example is Ukraine.
1
Guantanamo.
About thirty years ago everyone was moaning that democracies were disappearing. Maybe this is just a cyclical thing.
However we're such a mess now who would want to emulate us anymore. Not only are we destroying our own democracy but the potential for democracy world wide. Mostly the Republican party. Not honest.
About thirty years ago everyone was moaning that democracies were disappearing. Maybe this is just a cyclical thing.
However we're such a mess now who would want to emulate us anymore. Not only are we destroying our own democracy but the potential for democracy world wide. Mostly the Republican party. Not honest.
2
No surprise there, Tom! Look around. When the world is in discord and is either at war or bombarded with the news of wars and conflicts/crisies day in day out, people will prefer the security and false peace under democratic dictators (a.k.a. autocrats) to the right to freedom that could result in more bloody mess and abuse on the streets, physical harm, and economic insecurity. In any conflict- and poverty-ridden regions of the world, the traditional and conservative forces prevail over more liberal and democratic ones. South Koreans endured and persevered under President Park in 1960's and 70's. So did many other countries. We will see more decline in democracies until they get better. Democracy needs educated vigilantes. Let's educate the Millennials right, who can keep autocrats scared and on their best behavior.
1
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks, 1915-1923. Over 1.5 million Armenians were deported from their ancestral homes, butchered, their women raped, burned alive and murdered...and to this day Turkey, especially under autocrat Erdogan, denies this horror and tries to rewrite Turkish history, against all existing documented facts. (No wonder their attitude towards ISIL barbarism, across their borders, seems to be one of benign neglect).
How can anyone call Turkey a democracy under Erdogan, when they deny their past and intimidate their own journalists and dissenters in their academia. Incidentally, many of these academicians and journalist have begun to reveal the propaganda lies spread by Erdogan and his 'yes men' regarding the 'non-existence' of the Armenian genocide.
How can anyone call Turkey a democracy under Erdogan, when they deny their past and intimidate their own journalists and dissenters in their academia. Incidentally, many of these academicians and journalist have begun to reveal the propaganda lies spread by Erdogan and his 'yes men' regarding the 'non-existence' of the Armenian genocide.
4
Ironic that Mr. Friedman did not spend any time describing the most greatly diminished democracy of all, the United States. We have completed the transition from democracy to a pure plutocracy in the past two decades, and it is among the saddest things I have ever seen.
7
Are the scales finally falling from Friedman's eyes? Perhaps he'll next turn his gaze on the numerous extralegal activities of the Obama administration. There is something at least faintly odiferous about Friedman's opining on democracy's failings abroad while it is being trashed by his own 'progressive' president.
1
As a confirmed Realist, I chalk off most current issues to simply the end of post WW 2. Our current role which seems most citizens want to drop, is the Worlds Policemen if an event suits our interest. We invade Iraq, Putin invades the Ukraine, question mark what is China's end game as they are reportedly building a major military. Germany's role is obvious scant leadership hiding behind the Holocaust when convenient. Therefore some cohesive Democracy is not working.
All over the world power is shifting from nation-states, many of which still have democratic institutions, to multinational corporations - the huge financial and resource extraction entities that dominate the world stage these days. These institutions are autocratic to the core, though many don the democratic fig leaf of "responsibility to shareholders." As money power ascends, people power declines. This is a very worrisome long term trend, and frankly, I don't know how it can be reversed.
5
A stable and healthy democracy requires individual members of the electorate to be comfortable and tolerant of those who hold differing beliefs and opinions. This is much easier to do when individual economic needs are met. But when one feels personally threatened vis-a-vis their ability to make a decent living and maintain their culture, democracy takes a back seat to preserving a set of comfortable beliefs.
Democracy also requires people to make informed decisions at the voting booth. This means having enough critical thinking abilities to choose public policies that are constructive. Unfortunately political tribalism usually wins over thoughtful consideration in these matters.
Democracy works best with the electorate is well-fed and educated. The long decline in manufacturing and job availability I've witnessed over the past decades does not bode well for our democracy. And since we've never been big on education--the quarterback is the high school star, not the valedictorian--I have even less hope that the US will recover anything like a functional democracy in my lifetime.
Democracy also requires people to make informed decisions at the voting booth. This means having enough critical thinking abilities to choose public policies that are constructive. Unfortunately political tribalism usually wins over thoughtful consideration in these matters.
Democracy works best with the electorate is well-fed and educated. The long decline in manufacturing and job availability I've witnessed over the past decades does not bode well for our democracy. And since we've never been big on education--the quarterback is the high school star, not the valedictorian--I have even less hope that the US will recover anything like a functional democracy in my lifetime.
3
Here we witness the age-old strategy to demonize your perceived enemies and anyone that resists you're achieving your objectives. Turkey dared to stand up publicly and denounce the policies and actions of the current Israeli government...... ergo it must be denounced by such articles in the press whenever the opportunity arises.
And I had thought Friedman to be above participation in such polarized activity.
And I had thought Friedman to be above participation in such polarized activity.
2
I proffer the reason for democracy's decline is the misconception that capitalism is sacred globally regardless of a nation's rule book. It's like holding a World Cup where every nation have their own soccer rules. The worst will prevail, bad money will drive out good and the failure to provide a decent living for the masses will lead to all sorts of dissent and religious fanatics feeding on the betrayed. ISIS was born out of such failed states.
2
Well, if democracy is rule by the people, and corporations are people, it doesn't sound like we're doing too bad.
1
In Pennsylvania, there were more votes for Democrats than Republicans for the US House of Representatives. But due to anti-democracy politics, the Republicans had gerrymandered the districts so that 13 Republicans represent the state in the House, while only 5 Democrats represent the state.
13 to 5 - that's 260%. The majority of voters wanted Democrats, but the Republicans wound up with over *two and a half times* as many representatives. Democracy? No, not in anybody's definition.
13 to 5 - that's 260%. The majority of voters wanted Democrats, but the Republicans wound up with over *two and a half times* as many representatives. Democracy? No, not in anybody's definition.
11
The "progressives" here argue that capitalism is somehow not consistent with democracy implying that we should follow the example of Venezuela and Cuba. Unbelievably flawed logic, what has our education system done?
Democracy in America may suffer the influence of plutocrat money, gerrymandering, venal politicians and a right wing media anger machine, but more than anything else it suffers from Apathy of the Majority.
And until that changes, we will continue the downward slide into industrial militarism and destruction of useful government functions like building infrastructure, higher education and investing in basic research that is unattractive to the private sector.
And until that changes, we will continue the downward slide into industrial militarism and destruction of useful government functions like building infrastructure, higher education and investing in basic research that is unattractive to the private sector.
2
Democracy was dealt a most deadly blow when the Bush presidency used the methods of despots to engineer the invasion of Iraq. The world was not transfixed with shock and awe, but rather with confusion and disgust.
The subsequent failure of the greatest military force the world has ever seen to install a democratic government by force ended forever our ability to effect our wishes by moral suasion. Now, if we are unwilling to do it with a carrier force we cannot do it at all.
One day soon history will brand Bush the Lessor as not just the worst President of the United States, but as the worst leader of a democratic government of all time.
The subsequent failure of the greatest military force the world has ever seen to install a democratic government by force ended forever our ability to effect our wishes by moral suasion. Now, if we are unwilling to do it with a carrier force we cannot do it at all.
One day soon history will brand Bush the Lessor as not just the worst President of the United States, but as the worst leader of a democratic government of all time.
8
Mr Skinner, the problem today is that technology allows for things that were not an issue during the days of FDR. In a world, where we spend so much time spying on the average citizen and promoting fear, FDR would not be able to do the things that he did back then today. It's sad because once you deprive people of education, which is a particular goal of the Republicans, (note what's happening in Wisconsin and Illinois, with their respective Republican Governors), doing all that they can, to keep knowledge at a minimum and when this is the case, a feeling of helplessness follows and this is what you have, for the most part, today. Lessons learned from those days. Lessons learned from the 60s, when we were worried about the Russians and there was a point to push people to learn, but the problem with that is that when you do learn, when you do have education, then you start to think and when you start to think, then you realize there's more and you want a part of it. Well, in a finite world, things start to run out, which is what is happening here. That, combined with the Regan years and this tearing down of regulations, again, along with technology, as allowed those in power to set in motion laws that allow them to take all and throw a crum or two to the masses and this will continue, as long as this sense of apathy does not dissipate. Maybe if we could get rid of these so called reality shows, which is the main dumbing down of America poison, we'll have a decent start.
1
It was 1980 when Canada gave up much of its democracy for a little economic security. The Masters of the Universe demanded we surrender our National Energy Program to fit the needs of their global economy.
It is 2015 and my wife and I plan our May trip south for our grandson's college graduation we watch the price of petroleum everyday to see if American dollars will cost us $1.25, $1.50 or who knows what in May. I was an Albertan in the 1980s and democracy was just a commodity that we were willing to trade for the right price. Alberta's population had as its largest immigrant group Americans so it was no surprise that America gave up democracy for economic stability and chose Reaganism and its entrenched oligarchy as its new political religion.
I could say today Turkey, tomorrow the world but I know my history and where there is Turkey there is always Greece and so goes the world. There is Greece and the hope for democracy lives on. Today we have Greece tomorrow maybe Canada and the US. If democracy returns to the US maybe my grandchildren might say, "today America tomorrow the world."
It is 2015 and my wife and I plan our May trip south for our grandson's college graduation we watch the price of petroleum everyday to see if American dollars will cost us $1.25, $1.50 or who knows what in May. I was an Albertan in the 1980s and democracy was just a commodity that we were willing to trade for the right price. Alberta's population had as its largest immigrant group Americans so it was no surprise that America gave up democracy for economic stability and chose Reaganism and its entrenched oligarchy as its new political religion.
I could say today Turkey, tomorrow the world but I know my history and where there is Turkey there is always Greece and so goes the world. There is Greece and the hope for democracy lives on. Today we have Greece tomorrow maybe Canada and the US. If democracy returns to the US maybe my grandchildren might say, "today America tomorrow the world."
2
It comes down to simple priorities. Laws since the 70's have enabled the freedom of the individual over the responsibility of citizenship. When right are the mantra, a people can be swayed by power brokers offering those unaccountable rights...
More and more I get the feeling that we in the US are living in a police state where 'law enforcement' personnel are quite above the law, shooting, strangling, or beating unarmed civilians without the slightest threat of legal prosecution. Those very courts that decide if there was any wrongdoing are in league with the police anyway. So much for objectivity. Is anyone in authority held accountable for their actions these days? Not as far as I can see.
1
As I digest Friedman's column it strikes me that if we were to take a portrait of democracy's current state internationally it would not be a conventional bit of portraiture but rather an enormous "selfie". What I mean is the time of the U.S. holding itself up as the settled paradigmatic portait for democratic values is long since past, and I believe this all for the good. Especially if we can realize this for what it is-- we like every other society on the planet is necessarily and unavoidably aspirational when it comes to making substantial the ideals of democracy. Struggle, with all its successes and significant failures, is every much as necessary for a society's development as a humanitarian community as it is for the individual citizen's healthy growth. Democracy is not an end in itself but a means or tool for enhancing human happiness and well being, starting and always returning to the life of the individual human being. When we in our nation can demonstrate how democracy is enhancing the lives of all our citizens, rather than serving as a banner for advancing free markets globally, this will serve as an example rather than a barrier to the adoption of democratic means to solving the challenges of poverty, sustainable economies, adequate clean drinking water, basic, preventive healthcare and universal primary education uniquely experienced by each society. This picture of all nations equally challenging each other to help their citizens is a "selfie" worth saving.
1
Form v Substance. Before lecturing the rest of the world, let us look to our own shores to assess the healthnod democracy. Does anyone, anyone at all, imagine that registered voters Dave and Chuck Koch have no more political power than Mary and Louise Sixpack? If fundamentalists are rising in Ankara, what about Arkansas or Alabama? Are the three so, so different, when it comes to separation of mosque and state?
If I were the lazy student, I'd ask to be assigned to write an essay on "Why the USA continues to lead by example." Why, I could cite Thos Friedman's op-ed as Exhibit A, and go on to mention Gerry Mander's electoral map, Tony Scalia's ideas about corporate personhood--now the Law of the Land, dontchanknow--and pretty soon I'd end up ay the corner of Wall and Broad in Bosphorus-on-the-Hudson, site of the first and future presidential inauguration, where candidates from *both* parties go to collect their campaign finances...and their policy instructions. No need to go into technical details, such as how a majority of just 36% of the registered voters (let's keep the math simple and call it 20%) in one-third of the states can and did turn the tide in the Senate. Fuggedabout the idea that 500,000 Cowboys from Wyo. have the same number of Senate votes as 36,000,000 Californians!
Democracy? What's that's supposed to mean ... In America, c. 2015?
If I were the lazy student, I'd ask to be assigned to write an essay on "Why the USA continues to lead by example." Why, I could cite Thos Friedman's op-ed as Exhibit A, and go on to mention Gerry Mander's electoral map, Tony Scalia's ideas about corporate personhood--now the Law of the Land, dontchanknow--and pretty soon I'd end up ay the corner of Wall and Broad in Bosphorus-on-the-Hudson, site of the first and future presidential inauguration, where candidates from *both* parties go to collect their campaign finances...and their policy instructions. No need to go into technical details, such as how a majority of just 36% of the registered voters (let's keep the math simple and call it 20%) in one-third of the states can and did turn the tide in the Senate. Fuggedabout the idea that 500,000 Cowboys from Wyo. have the same number of Senate votes as 36,000,000 Californians!
Democracy? What's that's supposed to mean ... In America, c. 2015?
8
Prof. Diamond refers to the insulation of autocrats from accountability so long as they "help" with the "war on terror." We have seen this movie before: the pass given brutal dictators who were "anti-communist" during the Cold War (the Shah of Iran, the Samosas, Trujillo, et al. ) or "anti-drug" (Noriega). We now are allied with countries which fund the spread of aggressive fundamentalist interpretations of Islam. In addition, we ignore our allies such as the Afghan mujahadeen once they are no longer of any use to us.
And, of course, American governmental dysfunction does not help. We are showing weakness while an emerging superpower (China) is displacing us in sub-Saharan Africa at a time when we need friends there.
A facet of that weakness id demonstrated in confronting the so-called Islamic State. Having squandered lives and materiel in Iraq and, to some degree, Afghanistan, we cannot mount offensive operations against IS with a military in need of rebuilding and a political class too self-involved to respond to the need of the nation.
The American democracy appears to be too extended militarily and unable to resolve its internal contradictions to respond to the world's current crises.
Winter is coming.
And, of course, American governmental dysfunction does not help. We are showing weakness while an emerging superpower (China) is displacing us in sub-Saharan Africa at a time when we need friends there.
A facet of that weakness id demonstrated in confronting the so-called Islamic State. Having squandered lives and materiel in Iraq and, to some degree, Afghanistan, we cannot mount offensive operations against IS with a military in need of rebuilding and a political class too self-involved to respond to the need of the nation.
The American democracy appears to be too extended militarily and unable to resolve its internal contradictions to respond to the world's current crises.
Winter is coming.
1
If you look at the history of the human race for the past 3000 years, you will find mostly monarchies and dictatorships and feudal societies. Maybe democracy is not the norm for our species.
Please leave Mr. Erdogan alone. At least, he is serving the interests of his people rather than the interests of the rich elite as we do in the United States. Please don't try to export our 'sham' democracy anywhere else. We are suffering enough already.
This deterioration of democracy can be the result of long running democratization after cold war.
Any body who was born before 1980's can easily remember, Cold war era was a typical segregation of world nations. The nations under USSR umbrella were generally accepted as non-democratic nations, Also entire Latin America was waking up with long strangling military run states , rare but very bottom ones such as South Africa was literally coming out from racial segregation.
Those nations are today more or less complete their democratic transition, of course we all know that democracy is always prone to stagnation and set backs.
Today's generations were born in Democracy including in Russia, For them Putin type dictators are new and promising hope to get out of Democracy's stagnation. They have never experienced what is living under the non democratic regimes.
Friedman is right to present Turkey is one of the Text book example, which in fact almost 60 70 years of democracy ( which interrupted with multiple army coups) is also eroded very severely last 10 years.
Turkey's democracy problem is not different than Russia or Venezuela any other, Whenever democracy stagnates, people are in search for strong leaders, the leaders are all about to keep democracy intact. However usually power corrupts much faster and almost all leaders become authoritarian, that is exactly happened to Putin and Erdogan. Both of them are created a great rift in the society.
Any body who was born before 1980's can easily remember, Cold war era was a typical segregation of world nations. The nations under USSR umbrella were generally accepted as non-democratic nations, Also entire Latin America was waking up with long strangling military run states , rare but very bottom ones such as South Africa was literally coming out from racial segregation.
Those nations are today more or less complete their democratic transition, of course we all know that democracy is always prone to stagnation and set backs.
Today's generations were born in Democracy including in Russia, For them Putin type dictators are new and promising hope to get out of Democracy's stagnation. They have never experienced what is living under the non democratic regimes.
Friedman is right to present Turkey is one of the Text book example, which in fact almost 60 70 years of democracy ( which interrupted with multiple army coups) is also eroded very severely last 10 years.
Turkey's democracy problem is not different than Russia or Venezuela any other, Whenever democracy stagnates, people are in search for strong leaders, the leaders are all about to keep democracy intact. However usually power corrupts much faster and almost all leaders become authoritarian, that is exactly happened to Putin and Erdogan. Both of them are created a great rift in the society.
1
We need to face the facts that "democracy" as defined by the US and EU is not what many cultures and people and countries want. To many Western democracy is hedonistic, immoral, irreligious and destructive of local cultures. People do not consider that something they want in their country. We need to face that fact and stopping pushing our version of democracy on other countries.
2
In Central Africa, they call what we have to offer "boko".
Mr. Friedman, your column is interesting, factual, and prescient. However, there is one glaring omission and that is the crumbling democracy here at home in the United States. No, we don't have armed coups or "strong man" (Putin) ascent. Neither do we have military rule (el-Sisi).
What we do have is a descent into plutocratic undermining of our fundamental democratic processes. When the Koch brothers and their ilk, abetted by a faction of the Supreme Court, dictates who will run and under which banner they will serve, we have lost the essence of what was put forth 239 years ago.
The customary swing of the American political pendulum usually returns us towards center, slightly left or slightly right of midpoint. But since 2000, when an election was decided by our highest court, the pendulum had been moved to the right and then locked in its far right extreme, following Mr. McCain's error of judgement by inviting Ms. Palin to the pulpit. The Obama wins, not disregarded but of limited productivity, have us remaining in stark political conflict and under the growing control of the financially elite and the corporate agendas.
So, we have fingers to point at others as the world recalculates its political will but we must not see other's problems while ignoring our own.
What we do have is a descent into plutocratic undermining of our fundamental democratic processes. When the Koch brothers and their ilk, abetted by a faction of the Supreme Court, dictates who will run and under which banner they will serve, we have lost the essence of what was put forth 239 years ago.
The customary swing of the American political pendulum usually returns us towards center, slightly left or slightly right of midpoint. But since 2000, when an election was decided by our highest court, the pendulum had been moved to the right and then locked in its far right extreme, following Mr. McCain's error of judgement by inviting Ms. Palin to the pulpit. The Obama wins, not disregarded but of limited productivity, have us remaining in stark political conflict and under the growing control of the financially elite and the corporate agendas.
So, we have fingers to point at others as the world recalculates its political will but we must not see other's problems while ignoring our own.
7
So, did you read the article? Check the last paragraph.
I am thankful that the Annapolis class dunce demonstrated his senility too vividly to ignore when he chose Ms. Palin for his running-mate.
1
A very important article. If any solace is to be drawn, however, it is by comparison to the last great global depression. In the 1930's, democracies newly established after WWI withered on the vine and turned despotic: Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, etc. Practically every newly established country stemming from the Versailles Treaty became despotic between 1919 and 1939, save for poor Czechoslovakia, a vibrant democracy sold out by the West.
Perhaps by comparison this relapse is less significant, as it is primarily occurring where democracy has never been particularly verdant. That said, an unfortunate reminder that political progress is always a game of two steps forward, one step back.
Perhaps by comparison this relapse is less significant, as it is primarily occurring where democracy has never been particularly verdant. That said, an unfortunate reminder that political progress is always a game of two steps forward, one step back.
1
As usual, Mr. Friedman used democracy as if it is really good and well practiced in the West and particularly in the United States. We Americans vote for whomever candidate we choose but the real power rests with the same rich autocrats that run our, and the world, affairs the way they always do. What democracy? Forget it. It is a great fallacy that in fact means nothing. Democracy cannot co-exist with inequality. Let us not teach the rest of the world about our 'democracy'. They are better off without it.
1
Democracy is an active sport, you can't have the players on the sidelines, as this society seems complacent to do. And the dysfunction of Government dissuades the citizenry from participating. Corruptible money seems widely available, a corpocracy of sorts dictating its terms, to the detriment of the majority, in a typical Machiavellian fashion (the end justifies the means), and the final goal a petty one, the evil of greed. If you call it recession, fine; I would call it decadence, its consequences unforeseen as yet.
1
Unfortunately today we have to accept the fact that America only used to be an inspiring example of democracy. People here, in the US, have lost their way. It is also disappointing, that voters cannot vote intelligently when the news one reads is biased and full of outright lies.
4
Democracy in regression you say? In recent local elections in New Delhi, the common man party - galvanized by college students - won a landslide victory. I never seen a democratic election where one party wins 67/70 seats in the assembly. And even the popular prime minister Modi campaigned against them! Only dictators win with such margins. So at least in some parts of the world democracy is still thriving!
A government promoting something as lofty as democracy has to lead by example. We never regained moral high ground after what we did to the legally elected government of Iran, and Iran does a good job of not letting anyone forget it. And there's the Contras in Nicaragua. And Hamid Karzai? How many billions did he pocket while his sketchy family seemed to be in the drug trade. That's the get out of jail free card you talk about, except Karzai wasn't even pretending to be on our side. I could go on, but you get the idea. Who are we to preach lofty aspirations only to abandon them, reluctantly or not, when we choose?
3
Democracy is fine,with limited govt.When govt growth is unlimited,you have the problems the U.S. is suffering.
1
I don't understand why everyone's after the Jews.
A small peaceful nation which has enriched the world with Nobel Laureates,Thinkers,scientists,financiers....
is being continuously pilloried without a valid reason.
Being a Jew,specially in Europe seems an anxiety prone.
A Jew has as much right to practice peacefully his religion as anybody else.
What's Erdogan harping on....
A small peaceful nation which has enriched the world with Nobel Laureates,Thinkers,scientists,financiers....
is being continuously pilloried without a valid reason.
Being a Jew,specially in Europe seems an anxiety prone.
A Jew has as much right to practice peacefully his religion as anybody else.
What's Erdogan harping on....
4
Who would have thunk that bringing life to deserts would be like selling ice to Eskimos?
1
Please let us also celebrate that Democracy is strong, robust and thriving for over a Billion people in India in spite of upheavals in her neighborhood and in spite of us, the world's oldest democracy, trying our best to suppress it during the cold war years.
1
The US isn't really a democracy and the British parliamentary system is older.
1
Dear Mr. Friedman,
Democracy has little value if the collective personality of the people is flabby, feckless, and fearful. Turkey can be forgiven for straying from the reservation. What's our excuse?
Cordially,
S.A. Traina
Democracy has little value if the collective personality of the people is flabby, feckless, and fearful. Turkey can be forgiven for straying from the reservation. What's our excuse?
Cordially,
S.A. Traina
4
I would include the USA on the list of democracy "degradation." Why do we not see it? And, as far as lists are concerned, add my name to the one enumerating those who support the demise of Erdogan. He's a dangerous menace. I hope the EU is wiping its brow...
Just for the record --Turkey's leadership isn't ONLY about anti-Semitism. Their record on Human Rights, in general is rather abysmal. Coptic Christians, Women, Students, Anti-Government Protestors, and the like are ALL in the cross-hairs of President Erdogan, who after building his palatial residence has now returned his full attention to dismantling what few strains of democracy might have been left in his country.
4
Canada, for instance, became significantly less democratic after 2006 when the country came to be controlled by a corrupt right-wing regional party that was heavily financed by international corporations and which ascribed to the Neoliberal policies of privatization and one-party rule. The social programs that had come to characterize Canada were defunded, downsized, and/or cancelled altogether - the money being channeled to those same multinational Corporations (roughly 25% of the Federal Budget each year, and resulting in nearly 30% of Canada's debt since 1867). Opposition parties (for the first time in Canadian history) were allowed NO input into government policies and legislation, and voter fraud, gerrymandering, and legislation designed to maintain government control of elections became the "new normal". All of this was being funded by billions of taxpayer dollars being used each year to support government propaganda and legal expenses in order to secure control of the government's message and to crush opposition and public debate. The political and economic swing - much like in the rest of the world over the past few decades, has been toward the anti-democratic and pro-capitalist extreme right wing of the political and economic spectrum.
5
First, Erdogan is worried about Kurdistan. With global support in the fight against ISIS, the Kurds may well emerge as a nation, Iraq, Iran, Syria, notwithstanding. That would be just.
Second, the phalanx of neocons are still preaching the overthrow of every strongarm ruler on the planet without provision for the subsequent welfare of the people. That failure to promote the general welfare seems to be a trope of right-wing politics.
Second, the phalanx of neocons are still preaching the overthrow of every strongarm ruler on the planet without provision for the subsequent welfare of the people. That failure to promote the general welfare seems to be a trope of right-wing politics.
2
Given that the US (and increasingly European) brand of democracy seems to lead to ridiculous wealth and opportunity inequalities, it's not surprising that the rest of the world has become less enamored with it.
1
One of the greatest mistakes in recent American history was to give political rights to corporations. Now the American "democracy" is governance for the corporations by the corporations. Now the people are simply bystanders.
8
You might want to add the U.S. to the list of democracies in decline. When partisanship is so severe that it leads to continual gridlock to the detriment of the country and elections are controlled by big money, the will of the people becomes thwarted. We are rapidly approaching a Banana Republic status. Can a nation long stand when its people are so divided that neither side is willing to consider the ideas of the other?
3
There is one party in particular in the United States that is implementing the types of anti-democratic ideals that you are decrying, Mr. Friedman - the GOP. From voter suppression to shutting down the government to activist judges who rule based on solely the GOP party-line.
One very important problem you omitted from your article is the false equivocating by pundits such as yourself about WHO is the primary source of the policies that restrict democracy or erode our democratic institutions. You named the bad actors in many of these countries - Turkey's Erdogan, for example.
I refer to people like yourself, Mr. Friedman, who write factual, persuasive columns but fail in the final analysis, to actually name the culpable criminals who would destroy our democracy in the name of business and profit - the GOP. I suggest that you know better and you are not being honest with us.
You are obviously intelligent, Mr. Friedman. So if I am wrong, who is the culprit? Who is making our country less free and more repressive? SAY IT OUT LOUD. We are waiting.
One very important problem you omitted from your article is the false equivocating by pundits such as yourself about WHO is the primary source of the policies that restrict democracy or erode our democratic institutions. You named the bad actors in many of these countries - Turkey's Erdogan, for example.
I refer to people like yourself, Mr. Friedman, who write factual, persuasive columns but fail in the final analysis, to actually name the culpable criminals who would destroy our democracy in the name of business and profit - the GOP. I suggest that you know better and you are not being honest with us.
You are obviously intelligent, Mr. Friedman. So if I am wrong, who is the culprit? Who is making our country less free and more repressive? SAY IT OUT LOUD. We are waiting.
4
Is not the man who wrote the world is flat something of a hypocrite?
We allow ourselves to binge in the trough of cheep products produced by cheep labor in non-democratic China. They take our money we paid for those goods and use it buy influence from the petty dictators around the globe to extract their natural resources with which to make more products to sell to us all the while not giving a dame about the people why abuse in the process.
Then American Son's and Daughter's have to go die when those petty dictators get too far out of line.
One cannot have it both ways for an indefinite amount of time.
Either we only trade with people who share our values in a serious way or we will loose our Democracy or we will be sending our Son's and Daughter's to die to prop up the existing order.
We allow ourselves to binge in the trough of cheep products produced by cheep labor in non-democratic China. They take our money we paid for those goods and use it buy influence from the petty dictators around the globe to extract their natural resources with which to make more products to sell to us all the while not giving a dame about the people why abuse in the process.
Then American Son's and Daughter's have to go die when those petty dictators get too far out of line.
One cannot have it both ways for an indefinite amount of time.
Either we only trade with people who share our values in a serious way or we will loose our Democracy or we will be sending our Son's and Daughter's to die to prop up the existing order.
2
Although Mr. Freedman's analysis is spot on in many cases, I'd like to see him take apart the current state of American democracy also.
Elections in the US don't mean a thing because these days final decisions - if there are any - are always made by the judiciary; not by elected presidents, representatives and senators.
It's a disgrace, because the dysfunctional US democracy affects the rest of the world, and not in a good and desirable way.
Elections in the US don't mean a thing because these days final decisions - if there are any - are always made by the judiciary; not by elected presidents, representatives and senators.
It's a disgrace, because the dysfunctional US democracy affects the rest of the world, and not in a good and desirable way.
2
A friend of mine once said, "It's easier to unite a million dollars than to unite a million people." It was in response to my observation that the huge amount of campaign money swishing around is all to one end -- getting our votes; and if the voters can be smart about our votes, there is nothing they could do.
So we can blame it on too much money in politics or self serving corrupt politicians, but as far as the United States is concerned, our system of demcoracy declined because our citizentry got lazy and stupid. A thief will steal, but if we willingly open our door and says, "Welcome, to help me relieve of the wealth I don't deserve because I am only a taker!" why complain later?
I think one of the first prerequisite to any self governance is to be aware of our capacity for selfishness. When we are selfish, we arguely smartly things that benefit only ourselves but make it look like it's benefiting everybody else. People who are clueless and too lazy to think for themselves will buy it wholesale without examination or question.
It might sound simple and simplistic to say, "People will always be self serving....," our selfishness is the root of all our evil deeds wheter in regard to corrupt communist or capitalist system, a dictatorship or a democracy. So if people in their infinite wisdom decide to exercise their freedom to not engage in critical thinking, hey, who are we to say they shouldn't?
So we can blame it on too much money in politics or self serving corrupt politicians, but as far as the United States is concerned, our system of demcoracy declined because our citizentry got lazy and stupid. A thief will steal, but if we willingly open our door and says, "Welcome, to help me relieve of the wealth I don't deserve because I am only a taker!" why complain later?
I think one of the first prerequisite to any self governance is to be aware of our capacity for selfishness. When we are selfish, we arguely smartly things that benefit only ourselves but make it look like it's benefiting everybody else. People who are clueless and too lazy to think for themselves will buy it wholesale without examination or question.
It might sound simple and simplistic to say, "People will always be self serving....," our selfishness is the root of all our evil deeds wheter in regard to corrupt communist or capitalist system, a dictatorship or a democracy. So if people in their infinite wisdom decide to exercise their freedom to not engage in critical thinking, hey, who are we to say they shouldn't?
An entire piece on the decline of democracy with no mention of the EU's attempt to nullify the valid results of free elections in Greece.
1
So many people writing in with only negative things to say about this country - a country, by the way, with a thriving economy, having low inflation and unemployment, with more Hi-Tech innovation than anywhere else in the world, which has come so far from segregation of 50 years ago, that we have chosen to elect and re-elect our first black president, where gay marriage is legal in almost every state - soon ever state - where freedom of religion and expression is not only guaranteed and tolerated, it is also encouraged, including the right to publish almost any inane, baseless, stupid and hateful thing you can think of.
Give us a break!
Give us a break!
1
I would suggest to Mr. Friedman that if his claim in this derivative column that democracy is in recession is true, it's is primarily because the current administration has misapplied the lessons of statecraft in domestic and foreign affairs. At home we have a democratic revolt against a briefly dominant party that attempted to impose an agenda that most citizens rejected. That party has now been roundly disciplined in two historic mid-term elections that have reduced it's numbers in all levels of government around the country to numbers not seen in a century. This reduction and refutation was achieved through democratic means. Democracy is working in the US. It's always messy, but it is working. Democrats overplayed their hand and are being punished for it.
In foreign affairs, we have an administration that is morally, politically, and militarily in retreat. The impudence and disrespect shown by the president in withdrawing from Iraq after a strong bi-partisan majority endorsed the invasion/occupation of Iraq and the deposing of its leader cannot be overestimated. 4000 Americans died to take that ground and then Mr. Obama gave much of it back, implying that they died in vain. The United States left 200,000 troops for half a century in Germany after World War II. There is no reason a residual force could not have been left to defend nascent democracy in Iraq. If the United States won't fight to preserve democracy, who will?
In foreign affairs, we have an administration that is morally, politically, and militarily in retreat. The impudence and disrespect shown by the president in withdrawing from Iraq after a strong bi-partisan majority endorsed the invasion/occupation of Iraq and the deposing of its leader cannot be overestimated. 4000 Americans died to take that ground and then Mr. Obama gave much of it back, implying that they died in vain. The United States left 200,000 troops for half a century in Germany after World War II. There is no reason a residual force could not have been left to defend nascent democracy in Iraq. If the United States won't fight to preserve democracy, who will?
3
The US expends countless lives in denial that the already-dead died in vain.
President Obama probably would not be where he is if the Republicans had run serious candidates against him.
President Obama probably would not be where he is if the Republicans had run serious candidates against him.
Obama is a once in a lifetime candidate for Democrats. He had enough style and luck to overcome the political tide. And his race was and is a huge advantage and virtually assures he will not be impeached. The next time you see his poll numbers and are inclined to compare them to Bush's at a similar point in his presidency, remember that Obama gets 90% black support and Bush got about 10 percent in those kind of polls. Obama has a built in advantage but is in the process of alienating the white majority.
I suspect you will see how good a candidate he was when the next Democrat runs without his constituencies fully on board.
After him, the deluge. It's already begun.
I suspect you will see how good a candidate he was when the next Democrat runs without his constituencies fully on board.
After him, the deluge. It's already begun.
I think that rather declaring democracy to be in recession--as if this a mere slump before the march towards some inevitable democratic nirvana--it would be more accurate to acknowledge that what was perceived to be some inevitable movement--particularly in the first decade of this century--was more hype and hope than reality.
The fundamental truth is that what people--in every society on the planet--want, first and foremost, is security and stability.
The extent to which autocratic systems were toppled in the last 15 years was as much--if not more so--the result of the failure of those regimes to deliver security--in a world where the expectation has--legitimately--become that includes economic security.
It's worth noting that the trigger point for the so-called "Arab Spring" was a the decision of Tunisian street vendor--desperate to escape the predation of Tunisian "security" forces--to set himself on fire.
Americans who believe the rest of the world is looking at the U.S. and yearning for American-style democracy and "freedom"--in the odd ways that term is defined by many here--are deluding themselves.
The fundamental truth is that what people--in every society on the planet--want, first and foremost, is security and stability.
The extent to which autocratic systems were toppled in the last 15 years was as much--if not more so--the result of the failure of those regimes to deliver security--in a world where the expectation has--legitimately--become that includes economic security.
It's worth noting that the trigger point for the so-called "Arab Spring" was a the decision of Tunisian street vendor--desperate to escape the predation of Tunisian "security" forces--to set himself on fire.
Americans who believe the rest of the world is looking at the U.S. and yearning for American-style democracy and "freedom"--in the odd ways that term is defined by many here--are deluding themselves.
37
The Millennium is evidently still waiting to happen.
1
The recession of democratic principles and practices by nations around the world is most likely due to FEAR - powers that oppose democratic ideals have managed to either suppress them (with or without foreign assistance) or supplant them with generous public programs.
A special combination of talented and dedicated leaders, public perception of societal improvement, and a capacity to establish and maintain institutions that will sustain those democratic principles must occur simultaneously for democracy to have a realistic chance of survival. It happened here in the late 1700's, and even in Japan after WWII.
A special combination of talented and dedicated leaders, public perception of societal improvement, and a capacity to establish and maintain institutions that will sustain those democratic principles must occur simultaneously for democracy to have a realistic chance of survival. It happened here in the late 1700's, and even in Japan after WWII.
I understood there was no democracy in America when the supreme court not the people who voted in George W Bush. I understand there is no democracy left when 2 brothers , the Koch's who aren't elected by anybody can buy elections. I don't worry about democracy in Turkey or even in China or Russia, they have not ever known a true functioning democracy. I worry about America.
5
The Supreme Court of the United States has subverted our Democracy dramatically and often: 1. When it handed the presidency to G.W. Bush in spite of an electoral victory for Al Gore in 2000. 2. In the Citizens United decision, which opened the electoral process to new horizons of influence buying. 3. Subverting the 1965 Voting Rights Act by declaring that states could reinstate discriminatory voting laws without federal oversight. If Democracy is in recession around the world, our own government would seem to be in the vanguard of the back sliders.
6
I can only add my sense that TF is entirely on-target with this piece.
The world needs moral leadership to ward-off the charlatans and thugs who lust greedily for absolute power. America has squandered its capacity to lead; Europe is too feckless; China is too corrupt; neither Brazil nor India are yet ready for prime time.
That leaves Canada. Canadians, throw a touchdown pass; toss a three-pointer; score a hat trick; step up to the plate! The batter's box is empty. The democratic world needs you, or all is lost.
It'll cost ya, though, and the sports analogies might drown you.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
The world needs moral leadership to ward-off the charlatans and thugs who lust greedily for absolute power. America has squandered its capacity to lead; Europe is too feckless; China is too corrupt; neither Brazil nor India are yet ready for prime time.
That leaves Canada. Canadians, throw a touchdown pass; toss a three-pointer; score a hat trick; step up to the plate! The batter's box is empty. The democratic world needs you, or all is lost.
It'll cost ya, though, and the sports analogies might drown you.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
1
In spite of different platform policies, in reality there is little distinction between Democrats and Republicans advancing freedom and democracy here or abroad. Both parties and their elected representatives allows their greed to lead America to wars while hiding from the American public the cause. Though not mentioned in press releases our government goes to war fighting to control the flow of oil and gas in the global economy, which protects the US Petro-dollar. Check your maps; Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan are at the heart of existing or proposed oil/gas pipelines. Through direct interfere in other countries, trade agreements, economic promises, even resorting to using terrorist for invasions and overthrowing governments our presidents do their business of engagement. It would be a better world if PEACE became our government’s business.
Section 6 of the US Constitution says our representatives be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses except for Treason, Felony and Breach of peace. BREACH OF PEACE is in the same category as Treason. Our involvement in breaching the peace is not only a violation of the US Constitution, but of international law.
Section 10 says in times of PEACE, states cannot engage in War, unless actual invasion or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay. As long as we have a so-called war on terrorism…it gives our president(s) the power to do whatever he wants.
.
Section 6 of the US Constitution says our representatives be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses except for Treason, Felony and Breach of peace. BREACH OF PEACE is in the same category as Treason. Our involvement in breaching the peace is not only a violation of the US Constitution, but of international law.
Section 10 says in times of PEACE, states cannot engage in War, unless actual invasion or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay. As long as we have a so-called war on terrorism…it gives our president(s) the power to do whatever he wants.
.
1
Democracy is a big boys job. Nothing is more polarizing for mankind today. It's been attacked, and more importantly defended, to the DEATH for centuries.
It's easy to critique without knowing the intricacies of running the Federal Government, but it seems that today's Central Government is too caught up in managing and controlling business, wages, health care, and education. We were always taught that the role of the Central Government was foremost to protect our God given rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Unfortunately in the past decade we've been hammered by two of the most disruptive forces Democracy has seen in over 100 years - a direct attack on Life by extremist terrorist groups, and a crushing recession that has stalled the Pursuit of Happiness for over 8 years.
Combine this with the recent digitization of the world that has allowed BILLIONS of more people to see first hand our struggles, and it's not surprising to see why we're here today.
That's not to say we can't improve, but it comes down to basic democratic principles of voting and electing the right leaders for the job, and if we don't we have no one to blame but ourselves.
It's easy to critique without knowing the intricacies of running the Federal Government, but it seems that today's Central Government is too caught up in managing and controlling business, wages, health care, and education. We were always taught that the role of the Central Government was foremost to protect our God given rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Unfortunately in the past decade we've been hammered by two of the most disruptive forces Democracy has seen in over 100 years - a direct attack on Life by extremist terrorist groups, and a crushing recession that has stalled the Pursuit of Happiness for over 8 years.
Combine this with the recent digitization of the world that has allowed BILLIONS of more people to see first hand our struggles, and it's not surprising to see why we're here today.
That's not to say we can't improve, but it comes down to basic democratic principles of voting and electing the right leaders for the job, and if we don't we have no one to blame but ourselves.
"the world’s leading democracy is increasingly dysfunctional"
The New York Second Avenue Subway saga, waiting almost a century to built a limited partial incomplete inadequate subway line, is an example.
The New York Second Avenue Subway saga, waiting almost a century to built a limited partial incomplete inadequate subway line, is an example.
2
Its laughable the number of people on here who want to tslk about how corpoatism is somehow destroying America as we know it....all while they are clothed, fed, housed, entertained, and kept alive by corporations. But apparently that very central role to the function of society doesnt include a say in how things are run.
If you finish school, go to college, and get a degree in a marketable field, your future prospects remain very bright. Arguably brighter than they were even for those at the peak of late-50s industrial egaltarianism.
Despite our "surveilence state", you are still free to worship and speak and write and assemble as you please. And where there are restrains being placed on any of these, the restraints almost uniformly target those who hold traditional viewpoints, to the benefit od the "oppressed" groups of yesteryear - i.e. the baker or florist who is forced to enable a homosexual wedding, or the statues of ten commandments that were ripped from courthouses, or the suppression of prayer in schools.
Globally, democratic governance may well be in retreat. Perhaps even in America. But the collapse of our society here is far better laid at the feet of self indulgent liberalism than anything on the right.
If you finish school, go to college, and get a degree in a marketable field, your future prospects remain very bright. Arguably brighter than they were even for those at the peak of late-50s industrial egaltarianism.
Despite our "surveilence state", you are still free to worship and speak and write and assemble as you please. And where there are restrains being placed on any of these, the restraints almost uniformly target those who hold traditional viewpoints, to the benefit od the "oppressed" groups of yesteryear - i.e. the baker or florist who is forced to enable a homosexual wedding, or the statues of ten commandments that were ripped from courthouses, or the suppression of prayer in schools.
Globally, democratic governance may well be in retreat. Perhaps even in America. But the collapse of our society here is far better laid at the feet of self indulgent liberalism than anything on the right.
Jesus Christ said that satan was, ' The Ruler of this world', and the 'Father of All Lies ". We are in a war between good and evil, not democracy and its alternatives. The ISIS butchers support what Christ told us in that we can know what in this vile world is, 'Of God' by the good fruit it bears. The Martyrs just murdered for their Christian Faith will be a help in our war against evil, for they identify the Evil that is the Muslim false religion that spawned them. The world can see the consequences of those who teach these satanic acts in the name of God.
But having said that let no one imagine hate and violence is the way to conquer such evil, man must turn from his sinful ways, renounce evil, and pray to God who alone can grant us peace. Let the blood of these Martyrs cry out to God loud enough to bring us each the grace to turn from evil as we begin the season of Lent on this Ash Wednesday.
But having said that let no one imagine hate and violence is the way to conquer such evil, man must turn from his sinful ways, renounce evil, and pray to God who alone can grant us peace. Let the blood of these Martyrs cry out to God loud enough to bring us each the grace to turn from evil as we begin the season of Lent on this Ash Wednesday.
Only we the people can make taking the name of God an empty exercise of vanity.
"But that will only stay true if the big democracies maintain a model worth following. I wish that were not so much in question today."
Right here in the U.S.A.
Right here in the U.S.A.
1
Churchill also said the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. Let's not forget that hyperpolarization and corruption have only taken root in the US because American voters have chosen it. It's easy to blame 34 years of GOP-led (and Democratic-followed) right-wing, feel-good populism that has undermined confidence in government, science and intellectual inquiry. But it's harder to face the greater truth, which is that the undermining of such confidence has occurred because voters have chosen to go along with it. Combined with voter apathy, the Great Hoodwinking - to put it in Friedmanian terms - is the reason people like Ted Cruz, Scott Walker and Joni Ernst get into office and rich people like the Koch brothers flood our democracy with money.
You can't vote your dinner onto the table, and free speech won't give your children an education. While China's authoritarian government has lifted millions out of poverty and built the world's biggest high-speed rail network in only a few years, America has entire political movements devoted to blaming poverty on its sufferers and can't seem to even build one HSR line right. While Singapore has built an ultra-modern city, our own showcase city, NYC, is a filthy, decrepit mess. So can you're someone like Victor Orban or Vladimir Putin, which system will you find more attractive?
You can't vote your dinner onto the table, and free speech won't give your children an education. While China's authoritarian government has lifted millions out of poverty and built the world's biggest high-speed rail network in only a few years, America has entire political movements devoted to blaming poverty on its sufferers and can't seem to even build one HSR line right. While Singapore has built an ultra-modern city, our own showcase city, NYC, is a filthy, decrepit mess. So can you're someone like Victor Orban or Vladimir Putin, which system will you find more attractive?
3
Clearly there are many reasons why democracy is declining. One that bears closer scrutiny is the invasion of Iraq by the United States. Of the several reasons offered to justify that invasion our desire to help that country to become a democracy and serve as a show case for democracy in the Middle East. Things have not worked out so well. There is a serious debate about whether or not the United States should work with Assad against ISIS. I'm not seeing much criticism of al-Sisi. If people in the United States now think that Hussein and Qaddafi were better alternatives than ISIS and the current chaos in the Middle East and North Africa, one has to wonder what those living in those regions think.
As we have seen over and over again, regions and nations, where tribal and sectarian hatreds control decisions of who lives and who dies, are not equipped for democracy. Whether in the Middle East, Far East or Latin America, these incursions into the lives of other countries have been utter failures. When American corporations have opposed the results of free elections in Iran and Chile, for instance, dictatorships erupt with disastrous and bloody results affecting the entire country.
We have seen what happens when some dictators are displaced leaving a power vacuum to be fought over by illiterate tribal leaders willing to commit genocide against a neighboring tribe practicing a different form of faith. Perhaps some dictators understand the need to suppress those tribes and their traditions of killing over a simple trifle.
As for America's democracy, the Republican party, with a strong voice from the right-wing Christian sector, has chosen to dismantle everything that has made America great, while supporting the forces of The New Gilded Age. Ironically, this is a group suggesting an allegiance to Jesus Christ while turning its back on what he taught about empathy and compassion for the infirm, the poor, the elderly, the homeless. Clearly, Jesus was actually a great progressive in that regard. Conservatives had him killed then. Now the conservatives use Jesus as a cover story while shunting aside his principles of compassion and empathy. Good bye, democracy.
We have seen what happens when some dictators are displaced leaving a power vacuum to be fought over by illiterate tribal leaders willing to commit genocide against a neighboring tribe practicing a different form of faith. Perhaps some dictators understand the need to suppress those tribes and their traditions of killing over a simple trifle.
As for America's democracy, the Republican party, with a strong voice from the right-wing Christian sector, has chosen to dismantle everything that has made America great, while supporting the forces of The New Gilded Age. Ironically, this is a group suggesting an allegiance to Jesus Christ while turning its back on what he taught about empathy and compassion for the infirm, the poor, the elderly, the homeless. Clearly, Jesus was actually a great progressive in that regard. Conservatives had him killed then. Now the conservatives use Jesus as a cover story while shunting aside his principles of compassion and empathy. Good bye, democracy.
3
Democracy may be in recession in Turkey, but democracy is thriving in many countries and I do not find the case of Turkey particularly illustrative of the matter. Generalizing here from Turkey to South Africa, may lead to quite a false impression. What I think the concern may be among the Hoover folks, such as Larry Diamond, * is that not every country is becoming a reflection of the United States.
* http://www.journalofdemocracy.org/sites/default/files/Diamond-26-1.pdf
* http://www.journalofdemocracy.org/sites/default/files/Diamond-26-1.pdf
1
Part of the problem, at least, is the pernicious influence of "market economy". The case is often made that democracies can only exist with "free" market economies, and visa versa, that market economy supports the ideals of democracy.
Especially during the Cold War it was fairly easy to make that case - Western, non-communist countries had greater wealth, seemingly more equally distributed, and had much greater individual freedoms.
However, it is becoming ever more obvious that market economies are extremely powerful tools to concentrate wealth, and thus power, within a tiny minority of the polulation. The supposed "freedoms" of democracy are increasingly misused to facilitate ever more concentration of wealth and power within this small minority.
The US is a prime example for this trend, where the Supreme Court ruled that money = freedom of speech, and thus opened the floodgates for the wealthy few to usurp more and more power through the supposedly egalitarian democratic institutions. And the economic religious dogma of "The Invisible Hand" supposedly ensuring a "optimal" distribution of income, is complete fiction, used primarily to justify the excesses of the rich and powerful - "greed is good".
In China they exceute powerful leaders who misuse their position, private or public, for insane personal gain. In the US the heads of Chase and Bank of America, whose greed and stupidity ruined millions of lives, are given government subsidies to continue their greedy activity.
Especially during the Cold War it was fairly easy to make that case - Western, non-communist countries had greater wealth, seemingly more equally distributed, and had much greater individual freedoms.
However, it is becoming ever more obvious that market economies are extremely powerful tools to concentrate wealth, and thus power, within a tiny minority of the polulation. The supposed "freedoms" of democracy are increasingly misused to facilitate ever more concentration of wealth and power within this small minority.
The US is a prime example for this trend, where the Supreme Court ruled that money = freedom of speech, and thus opened the floodgates for the wealthy few to usurp more and more power through the supposedly egalitarian democratic institutions. And the economic religious dogma of "The Invisible Hand" supposedly ensuring a "optimal" distribution of income, is complete fiction, used primarily to justify the excesses of the rich and powerful - "greed is good".
In China they exceute powerful leaders who misuse their position, private or public, for insane personal gain. In the US the heads of Chase and Bank of America, whose greed and stupidity ruined millions of lives, are given government subsidies to continue their greedy activity.
6
"Part of the problem, at least, is the pernicious influence of "market economy"."
We don't have a true "free market" economy, but what would you replace it with? Would you rather have an economy centrally planned through some new Cabinet-level department?
"However, it is becoming ever more obvious that market economies are extremely powerful tools to concentrate wealth, and thus power, within a tiny minority of the population."
What is clear is the influence that businesses have in our nation's capital, which wouldn't happen if both our elected and business leaders had a better moral compass.
"And the economic religious dogma of "The Invisible Hand" supposedly ensuring a "optimal" distribution of income, is complete fiction, used primarily to justify the excesses of the rich and powerful - "greed is good"."
The "Invisible Hand" was never intended as a wealth-redistribution scheme where some nameless government angel could magically figure out what each of us deserve. And how do you define "greed"?
And while China might execute those who misuse their position, what we should promote is a separation of business and government as much as possible. There should be absolutely no federal subsidies (provided by taxpayers) for businesses, period. If they truly believe in the free market system, then businesses have no need for government handouts.
We don't have a true "free market" economy, but what would you replace it with? Would you rather have an economy centrally planned through some new Cabinet-level department?
"However, it is becoming ever more obvious that market economies are extremely powerful tools to concentrate wealth, and thus power, within a tiny minority of the population."
What is clear is the influence that businesses have in our nation's capital, which wouldn't happen if both our elected and business leaders had a better moral compass.
"And the economic religious dogma of "The Invisible Hand" supposedly ensuring a "optimal" distribution of income, is complete fiction, used primarily to justify the excesses of the rich and powerful - "greed is good"."
The "Invisible Hand" was never intended as a wealth-redistribution scheme where some nameless government angel could magically figure out what each of us deserve. And how do you define "greed"?
And while China might execute those who misuse their position, what we should promote is a separation of business and government as much as possible. There should be absolutely no federal subsidies (provided by taxpayers) for businesses, period. If they truly believe in the free market system, then businesses have no need for government handouts.
The Invisible Hand from Adam Smith, was probably a reflection of his religious belief. A moral man of his day, he did argue for the provision of services to the unfortunate--by government and paid for by taxes when market mechanisms broke down,
1
The US actually has a "mixed" economy, with both public and private sectors. However, due to the prevailing innumeracy, the variables are poorly separated.
If one wants to make a clear distinction between the two sectors, one might say that you have to sell it get money for it in the private sector, and you have to tax to pay for it in the public sector.
If one wants to make a clear distinction between the two sectors, one might say that you have to sell it get money for it in the private sector, and you have to tax to pay for it in the public sector.
The US is not a democracy. Never was meant to be. The founders discussed this issue. It was meant to be a republic. A democracy describes absolute majority rule; a republic allows for representation of various groups having impact making and modifying laws of the land. The ancient Athenians had a democracy but not democratic by casual American definition. The word "democracy" is loosely and incorrectly used, usually wrapped in patriotic zeal in the US. If we used "republic" instead, would we be unpatriotic? Democracy in recession? How about representative government in recession? That better describes what is now happening in the US.
3
I think it fair to describe the parliamentary system as it evolved in England after the Magna Carta as a practical form of democracy representing self-organizing factions.
I think the distinction you are making reflects the insufficient respect for democracy your founding fathers had. Let's recall they only had one living representative of it to guide them and - ah - you fought a war to win freedom from the dictates of that parliament - so it is unsurprising that they did not respect it as much as they should have! But truthfully the US is a democracy AND a republic just as the UK is a democracy AND a constitutional monarchy. You are splitting hairs!
1
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?" -- Mahatma Gandhi
3
Today Mr. Friedman's point seems to be that the U.S. and the West are still qualified to remake the whole world, as if they know all the answers.
For he wrote:
"Since 2000, added Diamond, “I count 25 breakdowns of democracy in the world — not only through blatant military or executive coups, but also through subtle and incremental degradations of democratic rights and procedure. ...."..
"Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey are the poster children for this trend, along with Venezuela, Thailand, Botswana, Bangladesh and Kenya. "
He omitted Zimwabwe (formerly Rhodesia), where many white settlers had their lands confiscated and were even murdered.
Nor South Africa, where now unemployment has risen to over 25% (over 50% for people under age ~25, and the economy is in a shambles.
So now does he presume to have right to denounce governments like in Turkey or Russia, where for countries there was at least as autocratic rule as is there today?
Then Iraq, then Syria, became excuse for toppling 'dictators'. ... causing destruction of society and govts., allowing terrorists, previously effectively controlled, to run rampant and create chaos.
Yet he adds: "(Their govts.) have developed and shared “new technologies of censorship and legal strategies to restrict civil society [groups] and ban international assistance to them,”
But what good have such groups done except to further rile up or confuse the people?
For he wrote:
"Since 2000, added Diamond, “I count 25 breakdowns of democracy in the world — not only through blatant military or executive coups, but also through subtle and incremental degradations of democratic rights and procedure. ...."..
"Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey are the poster children for this trend, along with Venezuela, Thailand, Botswana, Bangladesh and Kenya. "
He omitted Zimwabwe (formerly Rhodesia), where many white settlers had their lands confiscated and were even murdered.
Nor South Africa, where now unemployment has risen to over 25% (over 50% for people under age ~25, and the economy is in a shambles.
So now does he presume to have right to denounce governments like in Turkey or Russia, where for countries there was at least as autocratic rule as is there today?
Then Iraq, then Syria, became excuse for toppling 'dictators'. ... causing destruction of society and govts., allowing terrorists, previously effectively controlled, to run rampant and create chaos.
Yet he adds: "(Their govts.) have developed and shared “new technologies of censorship and legal strategies to restrict civil society [groups] and ban international assistance to them,”
But what good have such groups done except to further rile up or confuse the people?
One might reasonably direct their attention to such a recession in a more relevant domain: the U.S.
As for the writer's cultural and political sentiments, he remains perhaps the least transparent of retail columnists vis-à-vis conflicts of interest and external institutional agency.
As for the writer's cultural and political sentiments, he remains perhaps the least transparent of retail columnists vis-à-vis conflicts of interest and external institutional agency.
2
After 2008 a lot has changed including democracies and now with the concentration of wealth and power in a few hands we will witness a further decline of democratic values. East Europe is a powerful example of a promising
democratic awakening at first , now falling back to the old days.
democratic awakening at first , now falling back to the old days.
1
Mr. Friedman's point seems to be today that the U.S. and the West are still qualified to remake the whole world, as if they know all the answers.
For he wrote: "Since 2000, added Diamond, “I count 25 breakdowns of democracy in the world — not only through blatant military or executive coups, but also through subtle and incremental degradations of democratic rights and procedure. ....".. "Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey are the poster children for this trend, along with Venezuela, Thailand, Botswana, Bangladesh, Kenya."
He omitted Zimwabwe (formerly Rhodesia), where many white settlers had their lands confiscated and were even murdered. And South Africa, where now unemployment has risen to over 25% (over 50% for people under age ~25, and the economy is in a shambles.
So now does he presume to have right to denounce governments like in Turkey or Russia, where for centuries there was at least as autocratic rule as is there today? Then Iraq, then Syria, became excuse for toppling 'dictators'. ... causing destruction of society and govts., allowing terrorists, previously effectively controlled, to run rampant and create chaos.
He bemoans: "(Their govts.) have developed and shared “new technologies of censorship and legal strategies to restrict civil society [groups] and ban international assistance to them, ...”
But what good have such groups done except to further rile up or confuse the people?
For he wrote: "Since 2000, added Diamond, “I count 25 breakdowns of democracy in the world — not only through blatant military or executive coups, but also through subtle and incremental degradations of democratic rights and procedure. ....".. "Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey are the poster children for this trend, along with Venezuela, Thailand, Botswana, Bangladesh, Kenya."
He omitted Zimwabwe (formerly Rhodesia), where many white settlers had their lands confiscated and were even murdered. And South Africa, where now unemployment has risen to over 25% (over 50% for people under age ~25, and the economy is in a shambles.
So now does he presume to have right to denounce governments like in Turkey or Russia, where for centuries there was at least as autocratic rule as is there today? Then Iraq, then Syria, became excuse for toppling 'dictators'. ... causing destruction of society and govts., allowing terrorists, previously effectively controlled, to run rampant and create chaos.
He bemoans: "(Their govts.) have developed and shared “new technologies of censorship and legal strategies to restrict civil society [groups] and ban international assistance to them, ...”
But what good have such groups done except to further rile up or confuse the people?
1
When people see it done really well, they want to copy it, whatever it is.
Just one more smudge on Obama's legacy I suppose. Already the worst president in American history, now he's just solidifying it.
2
This has nothing to do with Obama.
1
It seems incredible that the Supreme Court should have been instrumental in the dismantling of democracy through the Citizens United decision. What a great shame to the political process and the institution of justice in the United States! Americans deserve better than a gang of unruly loud-mouthed (or occasionally catatonic) clowns making their laws.
5
Here in the U.S. one party is doing everything it can to capitalize on this trend -- using every trick, gaming every system, telling every lie, and persuading uninformed voters to vote against their interests.
There is long-term danger in this right-wing power grab, which tightens inexorably and doesn't want to loosen.
There is long-term danger in this right-wing power grab, which tightens inexorably and doesn't want to loosen.
4
This is a rater ironic essay since, in America, political power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of elites, and the masses are relatively powerless.
3
The decline of democracy in Turkey can be directly related to the decline of the influence of the Turkish military, which might seem ironical, but is true. Ever since Turkey’s founding in 1923, the Turkish Armed Forces ensured that it remained a secular democracy per the wishes of its founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Even if this meant staging strategic coups, the last one of which against the current Islamic government of President Erdogan failed in 2010.
But Mr. Friedman’s larger point is true, in that, “…Turkey’s drift away from democracy is part of a much larger global trend today: Democracy is in recession.” But this can be linked to other global events in the post-9/11 era, such as the western world’s mistaken belief that the toppling of Middle East dictators would lead to more democracy, not less. Then there is the Global Recession (2007-09) and the increasing disparity between the haves and have-nots, which has even leading western economists wondering about the future of “Capital in the Twenty-First Century?” And, China – that beacon of “state capitalism” – muscling its way into various parts of the world with huge investments, including “as the most valued foreign aid provider in much of Africa.”
Finally, Russia is trying to emulate China – noting that many of these developing countries put C (capital investments) before D (democracy) – and enforce its “near abroad” policy using energy as a weapon. So whither democracy, indeed, but downward?
But Mr. Friedman’s larger point is true, in that, “…Turkey’s drift away from democracy is part of a much larger global trend today: Democracy is in recession.” But this can be linked to other global events in the post-9/11 era, such as the western world’s mistaken belief that the toppling of Middle East dictators would lead to more democracy, not less. Then there is the Global Recession (2007-09) and the increasing disparity between the haves and have-nots, which has even leading western economists wondering about the future of “Capital in the Twenty-First Century?” And, China – that beacon of “state capitalism” – muscling its way into various parts of the world with huge investments, including “as the most valued foreign aid provider in much of Africa.”
Finally, Russia is trying to emulate China – noting that many of these developing countries put C (capital investments) before D (democracy) – and enforce its “near abroad” policy using energy as a weapon. So whither democracy, indeed, but downward?
As a Canadian living in NY these last 10 years I am perpetually amazed at the sense of futility and helplessness I see day after day in these comments. From my POV I see a country in transition with a lot of problems, like always, But now there is this despair. Mystifying, because the political challenges of the present look like a walk in the park against what FDR faced down in 1932 and again in 1941.
Most disturbing is the frequently expressed opinion, that a Democratic president isn't really different from a Republican one. I am not particularly a Hilary fan, but where do people get the idea that she's no better than Jeb Bush, so why bother to vote? She isn't Lincoln but then neither was Lincoln in 1861. Politics is messy and corruption is always with us, but if you won't choose the lesser evil, you will be very very sorry in 3 years.
Always, best luck to all my American brothers and sisters.
Most disturbing is the frequently expressed opinion, that a Democratic president isn't really different from a Republican one. I am not particularly a Hilary fan, but where do people get the idea that she's no better than Jeb Bush, so why bother to vote? She isn't Lincoln but then neither was Lincoln in 1861. Politics is messy and corruption is always with us, but if you won't choose the lesser evil, you will be very very sorry in 3 years.
Always, best luck to all my American brothers and sisters.
7
Do you think Canada will accept New York as a new province if the US collapses?
Democracy, whether it is in its infant stage, or maintenance thereof, requires outstanding leadership and,dedication, hard work, sacrifice(sometimes with ones life or limb) and love of country and belief in common purpose by the citizenry. Without all of these qualities being ingrained, or accepted into a overwhelming majority of a country's populace, the system cannot sustain itself and will fail;some at the start, some over time.
That is generally what is taking place around the globe.
That is generally what is taking place around the globe.
While the US may be one of the most democratic large countries, we are most certainly headed in the wrong direction: people who need to vote do not vote, the population in general is complacent and uninterested in anything but cheap gas and social media, political corruption by big $ and lobbyists is rampant, the NSA runs amok, Congress is broken, the opposition party is on another planet, corporations are people. I could go on but....
6
And our president refuses to acknowledge who our enemies are, proposes a budget twice what the countries income is, allows illegal aliens to do what they want and tries to give them handouts even legal citizens are not privy to, changes his own laws as he sees fit, goes golfing while Jordan and Egypt takes the fight to our enemies, doesn't read intel reports, pretends that the people who didn't vote in the last election spoke to him and he heard, I could go on but.......
Good thing we're not a democracy. We're a Constitutional Republic. Can we blame public schools, unions, and progressives for most of America not knowing this simple fact?
2
No we're not. We're an oligarchy.
1
It's tough to argue that the US has a functioning democracy. Republicans and Democrats don't talk to each other. Politicians spend more time raising money for their next campaign (or someone else's) than governing. Campaigns are filled with lies. The Koch Brothers and their billionaire colleagues finance candidates who will do what they're being paid to do. And our Supreme Court, with a one vote majority, says that's what our democracy is all about. Money. Abuse of power. Not exactly a standard for the world.
2
To save democracy, Citizens United must be overturned. It may not be as obvious as Dred Scott, but it's results are every bit as divisive. And it has proven to be exclusionary, pitting those who would "own" us against the population.
If the justices of the Supreme Court are wise, they will go shopping for a case that will override Citizens United and return governance to the people.
If the justices of the Supreme Court are wise, they will go shopping for a case that will override Citizens United and return governance to the people.
3
Make voting mandatory.
3
Israel is a democracy! A fine example of the merit of such a system?
As I have maintained all along, since Reagan, the Conservative economic policies are just a cover for the corrupt Republican and Democratic politicians who are bought and paid for by Big Energy, Big Pharma, Big Wall Street. It is so easy to argue nonsensical money policies and fill legislative time with theories that have been proven unworkable that there is no time remaining for discussion of what is really going on. Our democracy is now very fragile. We don't need terrorists to demolish our democratic system, we have corrupt politicians and naïve careless voters.
At 82 years old I have lived the best of America, it's up to you young people to turn off the noise, the constant music and chatter, and wake up to what is possible.
At 82 years old I have lived the best of America, it's up to you young people to turn off the noise, the constant music and chatter, and wake up to what is possible.
5
So few Jews, so many governments to topple. Tom, I'd laugh but that's really not funny. Unfortunately too many commenters really believe the same thing as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan--there is a Jewish cabal out there (probably led by the most hated Jewish group on the planet AIPAC) whose primary goal is to dominate and control as many governments as possible. Heck, a majority of the bloggers really believe that AIPAC already controls Congress!!
2
Hey Sharon! Guess who's coming to talk to Congress to try to convince them to ignore their own president because his actions aren't in the interest of a foreign, theocratic state???
One guess, Sharon!!! (We know who you'll be rooting for!)
One guess, Sharon!!! (We know who you'll be rooting for!)
Democracy can only work when the populace has a certain minimal level of legitimate education. So, to believe that Democracy can be "exportable" is silly foolishness. It keeps failing because we try to force-fit it in fledgling nations with little to no education for the populace.
In matter of fact, the education situation in the US is seriously threatening our own democracy. As we tolerate more and more exemptions for individuals and religions, we see the impact in our electorate...sad...
In matter of fact, the education situation in the US is seriously threatening our own democracy. As we tolerate more and more exemptions for individuals and religions, we see the impact in our electorate...sad...
3
Why do you think starting with Lord Reagan the republicans, with full cooperation of the democrats, have systematically dumbed down the US.
Surprised that Mr. Friedman did not mention United States where democracy is failing too seriously. I can imagine the uproar from your country and its op-ed columnist allies if the Speaker of French parliament inviting Syria's Assad to address them in how to degrade ISIS without informing President Hollande. I wish your lessons should start at home and not castigating other countries.
5
Can't comment long, but anti-democratic forces are strong in the US too, clobbering democracy in our jerrymandered Congress and state after state. The tools are lying propaganda that works with voting to gain power for oligarchs, as well as trying to intimidate those who express expert opinion or even alternative opinion. Democracy in Turkey may suck, but it sucks in America too.
20
Democracy suffers during hard times. That was the case in the 30s, and it's the case today.
Indeed, as the 30s saw worse times, democracy suffered all the more.
Indeed, as the 30s saw worse times, democracy suffered all the more.
2
The "Iron Law of Oligarchy" continues. One set of rulers simply supplants another. Czars --> Bolsheviks --> Communists --> Putin, for example, while the common people remain at the bottom. Although Ataturk moved turkey forward, he was a (benevolent) dictator and the rules he set up are the foundation for the present despot.
1
Democracy needs to lessen the effect of big money. In the U.S. big money causes the unlimited support for Israel found especially in Congress for decades, and unlimited support for globalization. Global corporations want to outsource U.S. jobs and technology, and jobs they can't outsource they want to fill with cheap immigrant workers, illegals for low skilled jobs, H-1Bs for high skilled.
Democracy should reflect the will of the people, not the elite.
http://www.paragoninsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150103-PI_Exec...
“Would you support or oppose Congress passing new legislation that strengthen the rules making it illegal for businesses in the U.S. to hire illegal immigrants?”
Support for this was overwhelming, 71–21, far greater than the other questions (strongly support/oppose was 45 percent to 9 percent).
Democracy should reflect the will of the people, not the elite.
http://www.paragoninsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150103-PI_Exec...
“Would you support or oppose Congress passing new legislation that strengthen the rules making it illegal for businesses in the U.S. to hire illegal immigrants?”
Support for this was overwhelming, 71–21, far greater than the other questions (strongly support/oppose was 45 percent to 9 percent).
1
When messaging and marketing become refined to the point that the impression is more valued than the substance, then democracy becomes a symbolic act without any real effect. Voters are voting based on what they have been trained and cajoled into believing to be true. So where is the democracy in that? You can't have a democratic public if that public is so impressionable that if they are told junk is gold, war is peace, and porn is art they are apt to believe it. The US has become fat with false democracy by rendering the public distracted and forgetful. We live in a world of half histories, half truths, funny news, pity parties and selfies. The spin masters like Vladimir 'move along nothing to see here' Putin, and even ISIS know this. They know that democracy is a toothless state when all is relative. Our leaders have been showing the world what a powerful democracy looks like when it tries out policy and switches allegiances like it was trying out shoes it has every intention of returning.
2
Was Tom speaking of Turkey or of the US? Intimidating opposing parties, intimidating journalist, threatening business, using government power to intimidating opposing parties, ignoring the rule of law . . . gee, that all sounds so familiar.
But hey, he's my guy so What Me Worry?
But hey, he's my guy so What Me Worry?
1
Mr. Friedman's column points to examples of democratic recession, without identifying some of the causes.
One of those causes is the hesitant foreign policy leadership by the leader of the free world. You cannot set "red lines" in Syria, and then humiliate your ally Britain by backing down from those red lines, when your ally has stepped up to the plate.
You cannot refuse to identify your enemy, Islamic fascism, while that enemy cuts off heads of people who would be free (Kurds, Copts, and even moderate Muslims), and expect people to then be "democracy supporters."
You cannot watch Russia intimidate and actually encourage the invasion of Georgia and the Ukraine, without reminding folks in Eastern Europe how tenuous is their hold on democracy, when the West is half-hearted in the so-called "NATO umbrella."
You cannot "lead from behind" while Iran's hegemony grows, its nuclear threat growing daily, and your only response is to publicly feud with Israel and remain silent while moronic American student union groups, themselves intimidated by racist campus associations, find their most important contribution to be, not in furtherance of democracy, but in support of the same Islamic fascism (labeled in our Orwellian times as the "BDS" movement) which the White House refuses to identify.
You cannot watch from the sidelines, and expect democracy to grow because it "inspires."
Democracy is hard, and freedom needs to be actively defended.
One of those causes is the hesitant foreign policy leadership by the leader of the free world. You cannot set "red lines" in Syria, and then humiliate your ally Britain by backing down from those red lines, when your ally has stepped up to the plate.
You cannot refuse to identify your enemy, Islamic fascism, while that enemy cuts off heads of people who would be free (Kurds, Copts, and even moderate Muslims), and expect people to then be "democracy supporters."
You cannot watch Russia intimidate and actually encourage the invasion of Georgia and the Ukraine, without reminding folks in Eastern Europe how tenuous is their hold on democracy, when the West is half-hearted in the so-called "NATO umbrella."
You cannot "lead from behind" while Iran's hegemony grows, its nuclear threat growing daily, and your only response is to publicly feud with Israel and remain silent while moronic American student union groups, themselves intimidated by racist campus associations, find their most important contribution to be, not in furtherance of democracy, but in support of the same Islamic fascism (labeled in our Orwellian times as the "BDS" movement) which the White House refuses to identify.
You cannot watch from the sidelines, and expect democracy to grow because it "inspires."
Democracy is hard, and freedom needs to be actively defended.
3
Democracy is not working Mr. Friedman. We need to make a cocktail of Chinese and Singaporean model. And Capitalism must be dumped in it's present form. It inhibits democracy.
1
A friend of mine once told me, "There's only two laws that we'll ever need to worry about. 'One' is the written law that no one believes in ..... and the second is the unwritten law that everyone does believe in."
Yes, democracies are looking like Swiss cheese what with all the actual bullets and metaphoric ones, too: laws on blasphemy, the rise of theocracies, and then there was the Supreme Court here in the United States dumping voting laws....so, what did you think was going to happen?
Yes, Erdogan is a thug what with his forced religious 'instruction' taking over the schools, ratchet it all down another notch, but he's not alone in his distheocracy. He has plenty of company. Those 'legal strategies to restrict civil society' are rampant, worldwide. The USA and Israel are partners in this erosion, too.
Don't expect 'democracy' to win if you are relying on 'rule of law', for, as this world has proven, 'laws' can be anything that anyone wants them to be. I know because I am a female and an atheist, unequal and despised worldwide, not even Constitutionally 'equal' in this country. Nor welcome in Israel. Or Turkey.
Written law? Unwritten law? Or rule by the slogan "Guns and God"?
We all get to choose. The trick is in choosing wisely.
Yes, democracies are looking like Swiss cheese what with all the actual bullets and metaphoric ones, too: laws on blasphemy, the rise of theocracies, and then there was the Supreme Court here in the United States dumping voting laws....so, what did you think was going to happen?
Yes, Erdogan is a thug what with his forced religious 'instruction' taking over the schools, ratchet it all down another notch, but he's not alone in his distheocracy. He has plenty of company. Those 'legal strategies to restrict civil society' are rampant, worldwide. The USA and Israel are partners in this erosion, too.
Don't expect 'democracy' to win if you are relying on 'rule of law', for, as this world has proven, 'laws' can be anything that anyone wants them to be. I know because I am a female and an atheist, unequal and despised worldwide, not even Constitutionally 'equal' in this country. Nor welcome in Israel. Or Turkey.
Written law? Unwritten law? Or rule by the slogan "Guns and God"?
We all get to choose. The trick is in choosing wisely.
4
Unregulated capitalism and democracy don't mix, most especially in nations where democracy is nascent. Large numbers of people without living wages will follow whomever promises financial and civic security, even if they are demagogues. Better a daily job to go to and/or bread on the table today than some ideal of developed democracy. Add into that mix the usual prejudices of a populace and democracy takes a hit. We've seen it here on odd occasions in the USA in many southern states and northern cities, so we shouldn't be surprised!
2
"Unregulated capitalism and democracy don't mix..."
Government and business cooperating for their own benefit is a major problem.
Government and business cooperating for their own benefit is a major problem.
Many, including myself, have noted what is going on in Turkey. I, for one, have chalked Turkey off of my bucket list. If I die before I visit it, that's too bad, but if Turkey continues on its present course, they will wind up like the other mideast countries.
3
Friedman's view that “big democracies” still fire the imagination (in a positive way) is a dangerous illusion. For confirmation, check out “comments” in the NY Times.
2
When I was hiking in Turkey several months ago, I had purchased a Turk Cell SIM card for my phone. Although I had purchased many more minutes than I would ever use, my phone went dead after 7 days. After going back to the phone store to try to understand my problem, I was told that the government shuts off phones after a period of 7-12 days. If I wanted to continue to communicate with my family in the US, I would be forced to buy a Turkish phone. Small matter, but unsettling. Erdogan's control was very upsetting to the Turks I spoke with.
3
The decline of democracy correlates directly with the rise of conservatism.
24
Really? Then the decline in Venezuela is a result not of the rise of Marxism in that State? Reality is quite the opposite of your conclusion.
Oh I forgot we aren't a Democracy we are a Republic. I get a little weary when pundits try to equate Democracy and capitalism.
2
Facts Michael, America lost much of its influence under Carter then gained it back under Reagan. Lost much of its credibility under Clinton and gained it back under Bush. Now has lost ALL credibility, in ALL areas, under this clown of a president, Obama. You and others are the direct cause of the decline in America. Look in the mirror tonight and say to yourself, "I'm the reason my grandchildren will live a life worse than my own".
This coming from the guy who once wrote of his admiration for how the Chinese got things done and who believed the Muslim Brotherhood was going to be the birth of a new democracy in Egypt. Notice how he suggests our problem here is congress cannot pass a budget as opposed to our president regularly bypasses congress with extra-legal executive actions.
5
A very worrisome article. Democracy weakens geometrically with the decline of public education. WE may be the rough beast shuffling toward Bethlehem to be born.
11
"China, which has no democracy standards or problems with corruption abroad..."
Per capita Gross Domestic Product in China has grown at an average of 8.7% yearly for 37 years from 1977 through 2013 (with 2014 due to come in at about 7%). This accomplishment has dramatically changed the lives for the better of hundreds of million of people in China and provided a hopeful growth model for other countries.
China is surely not a problem when it comes to improving the ways in which people live, and China should be appreciated from a Chinese perspective rather than only an American or British perspective.
Per capita Gross Domestic Product in China has grown at an average of 8.7% yearly for 37 years from 1977 through 2013 (with 2014 due to come in at about 7%). This accomplishment has dramatically changed the lives for the better of hundreds of million of people in China and provided a hopeful growth model for other countries.
China is surely not a problem when it comes to improving the ways in which people live, and China should be appreciated from a Chinese perspective rather than only an American or British perspective.
6
Except for little things - such as the "cancer villages" resulting from uncontrolled pollution, seizure of property from the poor without compensation, private jails where anyone seeking to report corruption of local governments to the central government are imprisoned and beaten, lack of any free speech rights, widespread corruption...
On the other hand, I can see why the 0.1% over here envy the 0.1% in China - so long as one keeps the Party happy, it's much easier to trample the less fortunate underfoot in China. Sort of the Republican Party's dream, really.
On the other hand, I can see why the 0.1% over here envy the 0.1% in China - so long as one keeps the Party happy, it's much easier to trample the less fortunate underfoot in China. Sort of the Republican Party's dream, really.
23
China is raping Africa. It makes deals with cash-strapped African countries to build infrastructure, then brings in its own workers to do the job, leaving African workers just as unemployed as ever. In exchange for building this infrastructure, African countries sign over rights to natural resources in perpetuity for generations. Oh, and every time a project brings in Chinese workers, the wildlife parts - ivory, horn, skins, whatever they can carry - leaves with the workers as they rotate in and out of the host country. China's lack of a moral compass - other than that of ALWAYS acting in its own best interests - makes it a relentlessly predatory nation. To do an economic deal with China is to dance with the devil.
2
Except that most of those 0.1-percenters are Democrat.
Given that we only support democracy when it suits us, its no surprise that our influence has waned and few countries take seriously our commitment to democracy (No to in Palestine, no in Iran, No in Egypt) and freedom (free to spy on every resident in the world).
Sadly our own democracy, far from participatory and vibrant has become completely enmeshed in money and special interests. We can talk about corruption in Africa, but we have become the best value democracy that money can buy.
Sadly our own democracy, far from participatory and vibrant has become completely enmeshed in money and special interests. We can talk about corruption in Africa, but we have become the best value democracy that money can buy.
175
Thank goodness then that Palestinian citizens of Israel have the right to vote, unlike their brethren in Gaza who have been kept under authoritarian rule since 2005.
2
The corporations that control media are not represented by men sitting around a table carving up the world, although that is the intention of the Anglo-American international corporate terrorists who control the governments of the US and UK. This is evident in their attacking formal allies when they see a way to expand corporate Empire. The military leaders, CIA and others who do the fighting equate "American interests" with the interests of their corporate and Arab tribal puppet-masters. The mainstream press is serving as stenographers to those who would start wars for their masters.
Sipa111,
Why is our supposely free press last to notice? Laugh.
Why is our supposely free press last to notice? Laugh.
Today there is quoted: ” in the latest issue of the Journal of Democracy: 'Around 2006, the expansion of freedom and democracy in the world came to a prolonged halt. ...' "
Yesterday I was thinking about the sad state to which our own Republic, The United States of America, has been faring with respect to the meaning of our Republic, and for which the flag stands.
Majority rule can be usurped, taken beyond its intended function, when it succeeds in imposing laws that restrict the freedoms of a large fraction of the population, who lose rights and are effectively oppressed and even denied the right to express their views. This can be the result of laws passed by a so-called majority rule.
There should be a Constitutional amendment saying any such law, if passed, and implemented in such a way as to deny peoples rights as enunciated in the Bill of Rights, and perhaps even worse, is unconstitutional and must be abolished.
Yesterday I was thinking about the sad state to which our own Republic, The United States of America, has been faring with respect to the meaning of our Republic, and for which the flag stands.
Majority rule can be usurped, taken beyond its intended function, when it succeeds in imposing laws that restrict the freedoms of a large fraction of the population, who lose rights and are effectively oppressed and even denied the right to express their views. This can be the result of laws passed by a so-called majority rule.
There should be a Constitutional amendment saying any such law, if passed, and implemented in such a way as to deny peoples rights as enunciated in the Bill of Rights, and perhaps even worse, is unconstitutional and must be abolished.
7
Clearly the constitutional bar to faith-based legislation has been usurped in the US. Restrictions such as this on the powers of government itself are the only effective means to protect the rights of minorities.
2
Difficult to do when the ones writing the laws are the ones with the money to buy off the politicians passing those laws. How did it come about that oil companies create energy policy, bank executives create monetary regulation policy, etc. It also doesn't help that SCOTUS, whose principal duty is to protect those least able to protect themselves from excesses of those who actively seek to oppress them, are actually HELPING those oppressors.
In other words, one of the greatest declines in democracy is in the United Sates itself. What else is new. "Illegal" now means "undocumented". "Torture" is no longer torture. The right to fair trial has been suspended. The president can declare war anytime anywhere he wants. There is no right to privacy. There is not enough room here to list all the reasons. You might as well get used to it...until you hear a knock on your door in the middle of the night.
Tom Friedman's "Democracy is in Recession " reflects America's dominant elite views about the world. The USA is the hub and the rest of the world spoke and satellites.
Democracy -- understood by regular elections and alternance of power -- is indeed in 'recession' lately for a simple reason. It is no longer delivering growth, prosperity for all and social cohesion and stability. The fall of the middle class in America and Europe, worsening income distribution, inequality and the rise of nouveau poor are exhibits number one.
China, on the contrary, is delivering growth, prosperity for the majority and strengthening social cohesion. China 21st century political paradigm is now competing with US ageing 18th century political system.
Democracy -- understood by regular elections and alternance of power -- is indeed in 'recession' lately for a simple reason. It is no longer delivering growth, prosperity for all and social cohesion and stability. The fall of the middle class in America and Europe, worsening income distribution, inequality and the rise of nouveau poor are exhibits number one.
China, on the contrary, is delivering growth, prosperity for the majority and strengthening social cohesion. China 21st century political paradigm is now competing with US ageing 18th century political system.
52
When will you be moving to China? I agree that they're delivering prosperity to many of their people but at what point do their people start asking questions about "how" China delivers? Certainly your not suggesting that China is the new model we should all be emulating are you?
3
The problems you describe are due to insufficient democracy: not democracy itself.
China is a muddle of a run-of-the-mill one party police state combined with imagining its past affection for Marxism is somehow still relevant to it.
I would not rule out the US becoming the pride of the free world again - or China becoming a democracy before this century is over - if I was you.
China is a muddle of a run-of-the-mill one party police state combined with imagining its past affection for Marxism is somehow still relevant to it.
I would not rule out the US becoming the pride of the free world again - or China becoming a democracy before this century is over - if I was you.
1
In the 1940 Anne Lindbergh wrote the pro fascist book "The Wave of the Future." China, whose government is National Socialism on steroids, seems to have taken her views to heart, with results that should make every dysfunctional democracy worry.
It's worth mentioning that our current form of hypercapitalism plays a strong role in the degradation of democracy. The real economic power lies with international companies with no loyalty to any instititution or nation. In fact, democracy is a hindrance to them; it benefits them to make crony deals with local bureaucrats that are less than transparent. Their suppression of labor and government power _is_ an attack on democracy.
19
Democracy is in repression and suppression, not recession.
Those fighting democracy use medieval dollaracracy to achieve modern feudalism.
There was a brief period in history - roughly from the 1930's to 1980 - when the idea of democracy was practiced; since then, the rich have been outraged at the thought and have relentlessly assaulted the idea of democracy with every contemptuous greedy bone in their bodies.
Greed is the thing that weakens and fails democracies and all other forms of governments.
Regulation of greed is the answer, something the powerful and corrupt greedy will never accept....to everyone's inevitable ruin.
Those fighting democracy use medieval dollaracracy to achieve modern feudalism.
There was a brief period in history - roughly from the 1930's to 1980 - when the idea of democracy was practiced; since then, the rich have been outraged at the thought and have relentlessly assaulted the idea of democracy with every contemptuous greedy bone in their bodies.
Greed is the thing that weakens and fails democracies and all other forms of governments.
Regulation of greed is the answer, something the powerful and corrupt greedy will never accept....to everyone's inevitable ruin.
122
Please be careful with language like "regulation of greed". There is no universal definition of "greed". It is better to use mathematics to remove value judgments, to arrive at a recommendation to apply negative feedback to wealth concentration above levels that sustain families from generation to generation.
"There was a brief period in history - roughly from the 1930's to 1980 - when the idea of democracy was practiced..."
More like since the Great Depression, there has been a huge increase in the size, scope and power of the federal government. That's not my idea of how "democracy" should be practiced.
More like since the Great Depression, there has been a huge increase in the size, scope and power of the federal government. That's not my idea of how "democracy" should be practiced.
Which part of "Not ready for democracy do you not understand"?
Subtext: "Who the hell is"?
Certainly not the nation that reelected George II. Turkey? You answered your own question. Athens, the mother city of democracy? They snuffed Socrates.
The unfortunate fact of this matter is this: Democracy is a system of government of the people, by the propagandists, for the best liars.
Exactly half of the people of any nation are below average in knowledge, intelligence and understanding. A fair proportion of the remaining half has a dog or two in the fight. And finally, many of the best of that half are unwilling to engage in the pretext, pretense and annoyance associated with gaining the approbation of a majority of these nincompoops and scoundrels necessary to achieve public office.
What this world needs is more enlightened despots. That works.
Subtext: "Who the hell is"?
Certainly not the nation that reelected George II. Turkey? You answered your own question. Athens, the mother city of democracy? They snuffed Socrates.
The unfortunate fact of this matter is this: Democracy is a system of government of the people, by the propagandists, for the best liars.
Exactly half of the people of any nation are below average in knowledge, intelligence and understanding. A fair proportion of the remaining half has a dog or two in the fight. And finally, many of the best of that half are unwilling to engage in the pretext, pretense and annoyance associated with gaining the approbation of a majority of these nincompoops and scoundrels necessary to achieve public office.
What this world needs is more enlightened despots. That works.
Give me a benign dictator any day.
Socrates could have accepted exile, but he evidently preferred to make a statement that made him immortal.
Very powerful op-ed Mr. Friedman which raises a multitude of important and timely topics. Winston Churchill is arguably the most notable historical figure in terms of democratic freedom and resistance to totalitarianism. The entire notion of Democracy is threatened by a new, and severely heightened, sense of the Old Wild, Wild West in international politics and individual terrorist actors. Leaders like Turkish President Erdoğan only add oil to the fire when they make irresponsible propagandistic statements regarding Israel, Christians and the West.
All it takes is a combination of hateful rhetoric to inspire individuals to either join ISIL via Turkey, with what appears to be Erdoğan's blessings, and return to the soft underbelly of Democratic Western Europe and carry out violent attacks against any symbols of their hatred including synagogues, media outlets or artistic free speech gatherings. I don't want to compare Erdoğan to the extreme hate and propaganda that Adolph Hitler espoused, although there are some comparisons in style. Why the EU doesn't apply pressure on him to strengthen Turkey's borders as well as check his hate speech is beyond me.
In the new Wild, Wild West style of global politics, the U.S. battles Russia for international supremacy, while economic giants like communist China quietly spread their monetary influence around the world. The U.S. owes most of our national debt to China similar to how the town sheriff is paid by the mayor.
All it takes is a combination of hateful rhetoric to inspire individuals to either join ISIL via Turkey, with what appears to be Erdoğan's blessings, and return to the soft underbelly of Democratic Western Europe and carry out violent attacks against any symbols of their hatred including synagogues, media outlets or artistic free speech gatherings. I don't want to compare Erdoğan to the extreme hate and propaganda that Adolph Hitler espoused, although there are some comparisons in style. Why the EU doesn't apply pressure on him to strengthen Turkey's borders as well as check his hate speech is beyond me.
In the new Wild, Wild West style of global politics, the U.S. battles Russia for international supremacy, while economic giants like communist China quietly spread their monetary influence around the world. The U.S. owes most of our national debt to China similar to how the town sheriff is paid by the mayor.
8
"All it takes is a combination of hateful rhetoric to inspire individuals to either join ISIL ...."
Yes. And seeing your uncle/brother/father get his limbs blown off by an American drone... then watch as his son/brother/nephew, coming to his aid, get beheaded by the second "tap" probably has a little to do with it too.
Yes. And seeing your uncle/brother/father get his limbs blown off by an American drone... then watch as his son/brother/nephew, coming to his aid, get beheaded by the second "tap" probably has a little to do with it too.
"Leaders like Turkish President Erdoğan only add oil to the fire when they make irresponsible propagandistic statements regarding Israel, Christians and the West."
And commenters like you only add to the misinformation by taking everything you read in the American media (in a Thomas Friedman column, no less!) at face value.
Erdogan is no different than bin Laden: each was once the toast of the town. All that changed overnight.
But did bin Laden or Erdogan?
And commenters like you only add to the misinformation by taking everything you read in the American media (in a Thomas Friedman column, no less!) at face value.
Erdogan is no different than bin Laden: each was once the toast of the town. All that changed overnight.
But did bin Laden or Erdogan?
The issue of "democracy in recession" as Mr. Friedman puts it, is only one symptom of a larger trend that is most obvious in the world of business and industry, namely the move towards bigness. At some point ambitious people decided that "success=control" and that "centralization was preferable to decentralization" because it is more expeditious, effective, and efficient. Perhaps this started with the trend towards mergers and acquisitions during the Reagan years when business-favorable policies were all the rage? After all, it's much easier to buy a big company than build one. In any event, this trend passed easily into politics and future historians may view the present period as the "Age of the Oligarchs" just as the first half of the 20th century was the "Age of Dictators."
1
I guess the world really is flat. It is a two-dimensional map on which Freedom House and Friedman can trace the expansion or recession of "democracy" by rating a bunch of national shapes, like a Risk game. If democracy does not survive the twenty-first century, it will not be because not enough colors on the map turned democratic. It will be because a lot of countries that came out of World War II with established and still improving democratic institutions --leading them the USA and the UK-- let them decay and collapse. Of course democracy no longer has an international appeal when it no longer means a sound and comfortable middle class, upward mobility, popular determination of policies on taxation, labor, environmental protections, are respect for privacy or widening of the political franchise and greater access to good education. If the USA and the UK can no longer care to protect the fundamentals of democracy, why should anybody else? Friedman's "democracy" that he wants spread all over the world is rapidly approaching the condition of a cardboard place-holder, and Friedman doesn't seem to know or care.
3
It is 1930-ies all over again ,and for similar reasons. In developed societies power tilted too far towards capital, governments withdrew from the managed part of capitalism, except for some social safety net, and financial system was allowed to grow and replace income with debt. Once the economy saturated with debt, we arrived back in the 1930-ies. Today the problem is compounded by much larger population worldwide which puts strain on resources and makes it hard to bring poor masses from the status of cheap labor to the status of more affluent consumers. The virtuous circle once promised by globalization enthusiasts cannot close. The answer is the same today as it was then. A new commitment to democracy among developed societies ,a return to core ideas of Magna Carta, and a hope, unfortunately with no guarantees, that markets can bring to bear new technologies that over time will overcome resource constraints.
1
The United States is the leading proponent for democracy. Yet, we are such a poor role model for what we advocate. We start wars to force democracy on other nations, and then leave them to straighten out the mess. Within our borders we allow the very rich to buy congress, our courts are increasingly seen as instruments to force a certain ideology on people rather than enforce laws, congressional districts are gerrymandered so they are no longer competitive, and various techniques are devised to hold down voter turnout. The end result is that we have a federal government which does not perform. Why would anyone want to follow our example?
5
"Democracy promotion" has always been highly selective, and has occupied second place to other perceived interests. Further, what we think of as democracy only works when most people want it more than they want to force their views down everyone else's throat. In Egypt, for example, we long supported democracy, but what they had in mind was one free election, after which the Islamist winners would take over the entire society and run it in a thoroughly non-democratic manner. Successful democracy depends on a certain kind of view on the rights of individuals, which in lots of places is not widely held. What we're seeing isn't so much a democratic recession as the failure of some misguided attempts at cultural transplantation.
1
The problem used to be poverty, but now its full-fledged anomie. Today one is anonymous, holds only temporary associations with work colleagues and ex-family members, has no ties to community institutions, and is prey to viewing the rest of society as unrelated, if not threatening. Some grab a gun, others religion, others join the Tea Party, the remaining sane take anti-depressants.
We have descended from "give me your tired, your poor" to "hands off my stack," mostly because people now have a hard time seeing the real connect we have with others, and think of them as total strangers. One's voice and actions seem to disappear into an empty void, and we flop flaccidly before the boob tube for anesthetizing. No wonder there is little enthusiasm.
Political discourse is now a string of snap judgments, following misunderstood narratives, bereft of commitment to understanding, and too ignorant to argue from first principles. Anyone with half a brain has either tuned out, or, much more often, is happily working a broken system for gain.
Just don't get caught. That seems to be the only shared norm left.
We have descended from "give me your tired, your poor" to "hands off my stack," mostly because people now have a hard time seeing the real connect we have with others, and think of them as total strangers. One's voice and actions seem to disappear into an empty void, and we flop flaccidly before the boob tube for anesthetizing. No wonder there is little enthusiasm.
Political discourse is now a string of snap judgments, following misunderstood narratives, bereft of commitment to understanding, and too ignorant to argue from first principles. Anyone with half a brain has either tuned out, or, much more often, is happily working a broken system for gain.
Just don't get caught. That seems to be the only shared norm left.
2
If Democracy is roughly defined as a system in which two or more political parties can run for election to lead the country, and the United States is supposed to be such a place, and other countries around the world are looking to us to lead by example, is it any wonder that there is a recession.
Where ever wealth is in control, democracy cannot function well. We are the best example of it and the biggest problem is that many Americans remember when democracy did function pretty well.
We can't even present a good candidate to the public. The recession is well under way and I don't see an upswing any where in the near future.
Where ever wealth is in control, democracy cannot function well. We are the best example of it and the biggest problem is that many Americans remember when democracy did function pretty well.
We can't even present a good candidate to the public. The recession is well under way and I don't see an upswing any where in the near future.
Yes, our democracy is in recession...In fact, some would argue it has reached "great depression" status, but not for the reasons stipulated by Mr. Friedman.
Democracy within the United States has taken a major turn for the worst principally due to the system-shocking decisions of the conservative majority now in control of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Apparently, this Court now believes it is their solemn duty to preserve and protect the interests of the ultra wealthy. With the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court has essentially said that it can no longer support the long held principle of "one person, one vote". Instead, our system has been gamed and reconfigured by this Supreme Court to empower those with the most money -- a sort of "weighted average method" of establishing who ultimately will hold political power.
The net result of their subservience to the wealthy is that our government is no longer "of the people, by the people, and for the people". More to the point, it is "of the wealthy, by the wealthy, and for the wealthy".
This is a very, very sad chapter in our nation's history. These changes mentioned above are inherently anti-thetical to the type of democracy that historically we have come to know and cherish. Now, it's more of a free market, capitalistic approach to the structuring of who controls the levers of power in the United States. One thing is certainly clear: It's not "we, the people" anymore, that's for sure.
Democracy within the United States has taken a major turn for the worst principally due to the system-shocking decisions of the conservative majority now in control of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Apparently, this Court now believes it is their solemn duty to preserve and protect the interests of the ultra wealthy. With the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court has essentially said that it can no longer support the long held principle of "one person, one vote". Instead, our system has been gamed and reconfigured by this Supreme Court to empower those with the most money -- a sort of "weighted average method" of establishing who ultimately will hold political power.
The net result of their subservience to the wealthy is that our government is no longer "of the people, by the people, and for the people". More to the point, it is "of the wealthy, by the wealthy, and for the wealthy".
This is a very, very sad chapter in our nation's history. These changes mentioned above are inherently anti-thetical to the type of democracy that historically we have come to know and cherish. Now, it's more of a free market, capitalistic approach to the structuring of who controls the levers of power in the United States. One thing is certainly clear: It's not "we, the people" anymore, that's for sure.
9
Economic opportunity is essential for a true democracy. I would argue that they are in fact the same. The concentration of wealth at the top of our society has deprived the rest of us of the opportunity for meaningful participation. The farther down the economic ladder, the greater the deprivation. Having co-opted nearly every institution in our government and society, the very wealthy no longer even pretend that this country is a democracy, preferring instead, like true patriarchs, to tell the rest of us that they have our best interests at heart. The damage that has been done to our democracy over the last two decades may be impossible to undo. If there is any hope, it will rest with men and women with real guts, smarts and commitment--not to a political party, but to the country. Where are they?
2
I have no doubt that as a form of government, that a democracy, has the social, economic, and intellectual tools to outlasts governments whose sole tools are censorship and terror. Having said that, a democracy is a very sophisticated form of government that depends on an educated electorate and political class and most importantly, is vigilant in preventing money or religion or ideology from distorting the free exchange of ideas and the goal of serving the common good. My concern of late, is a public more interested in bread and circuses and a political class more interested in self preservation and personal wealth---which has permitted money, religion, and ideology to badly distort the intentions of our forefathers.
6
It is not just democracy that is needed, but combative democracy. The reason the US is doing better than most other countries at present is that there are multiple factions all fighting one another tooth and nail on every policy decision. No one person can attain enough power to collapse the system. Sometimes it looks like dysfunction (and sometimes it is), but mostly it is the most combative civil discussion in the world.
Funny that this very fact is what convinces some people that the system is broken.
Funny that this very fact is what convinces some people that the system is broken.
Democracy--neatly encapsulated as government of the people, by the people, for the people--is like virtue: a goal, an idea that is never fully achieved or realized. It is a vital entity that requires watchfulness and continuous striving to prevent decay. As such, there is a constant waxing and waning. Just now, world wide it's difficult to point to any example of an approach to the ideal. What seems most evident is the dispiriting waning of the striving for the ideal, especially in those jurisdictions which trumpet themselves as our best exemplars in the necessary striving.
The strength, ultimately, in any democracy worth the name is the awakening, and then constant reminding, of the people themselves to the strength they have to change the waning to a robust waxing through the ballot box.
I have faith in such an awakening.
The strength, ultimately, in any democracy worth the name is the awakening, and then constant reminding, of the people themselves to the strength they have to change the waning to a robust waxing through the ballot box.
I have faith in such an awakening.
3
Other countries have their own sins to own but we Americans do also:
- 1990s squandering opportunity to support democratic transition in the former Soviet Union
- late 1990s a President lying under oath; opponents without dignity of loyal opposition
- 2000 using extralegal methods to pick a President
- 2001-3 squandering chance to rally the world; instead we offer disrespect to the opinions of mankind
- Iraq and Afghanistan: acting without sensible plans for transition to self-governance
- 2005 failing at home: Hurricane Katrina
- 2008 delegitimizing capitalism after foregoing safeguards; letting greed rule
- 2010 Citizens United legitimizes electoral corruption
- since 2011 legislative paralysis: destructive partisanship over responsibility
- denialism of climate change & other science irrespective of impacts on others
- failing to adequately support democratic aspirations of Arab Spring
- what's next? 2016: may be a presidential election of one family dynasty versus another suggesting a banana republic; runaway amounts of money perverting elections, especially at local & state levels
- what continues: citizens who fail to vote or be involved politically
Although there are bright spots such as electing a mixed race man President, collectively we have not done enough to assure that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
We need to renew governance at home and in doing so also restore the power of our example.
- 1990s squandering opportunity to support democratic transition in the former Soviet Union
- late 1990s a President lying under oath; opponents without dignity of loyal opposition
- 2000 using extralegal methods to pick a President
- 2001-3 squandering chance to rally the world; instead we offer disrespect to the opinions of mankind
- Iraq and Afghanistan: acting without sensible plans for transition to self-governance
- 2005 failing at home: Hurricane Katrina
- 2008 delegitimizing capitalism after foregoing safeguards; letting greed rule
- 2010 Citizens United legitimizes electoral corruption
- since 2011 legislative paralysis: destructive partisanship over responsibility
- denialism of climate change & other science irrespective of impacts on others
- failing to adequately support democratic aspirations of Arab Spring
- what's next? 2016: may be a presidential election of one family dynasty versus another suggesting a banana republic; runaway amounts of money perverting elections, especially at local & state levels
- what continues: citizens who fail to vote or be involved politically
Although there are bright spots such as electing a mixed race man President, collectively we have not done enough to assure that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
We need to renew governance at home and in doing so also restore the power of our example.
9
Today's autocrats are reminiscent of the rise of totalitarian strongmen in the first four decades of the 20th century.
Parliamentary governance, whether structured as a republic as in the US or in another fashion of democratic election process, was under severe stress then. Facism and communism were the analogs to today's theocracies as well as de facto dictatorships of Russia and China. Both then and today, oligarchical or tribal power cloaked in ideological fanaticism led by ruthless strongmen compete for political ascendency with democratic institutions.
But this trend to authoritarianism will change for the simple reason of economics, education and communications. Totalitarian systems cannot compete over the long run with democratic systems built on regulated capitalism. Democratic systems have inherent intellectual dynamism that fosters technological, scientific, sociological, medical advances that leave totalitarian systems far behind.
Yes, democratic systems can exhibit appalling inertia, particularly when political partisanship has greater priority to politicians than does the quality of life of our citizens.
But over the long run, the collective strength of millions of free thinking individuals will always defeat the repressive policies of oligarchs.
That said, GWB's mission to export "freedom" has been a dismal failure. Foreign cultures who embrace the strongman model of repressive ideologies are not fertile ground for individual choice.
Parliamentary governance, whether structured as a republic as in the US or in another fashion of democratic election process, was under severe stress then. Facism and communism were the analogs to today's theocracies as well as de facto dictatorships of Russia and China. Both then and today, oligarchical or tribal power cloaked in ideological fanaticism led by ruthless strongmen compete for political ascendency with democratic institutions.
But this trend to authoritarianism will change for the simple reason of economics, education and communications. Totalitarian systems cannot compete over the long run with democratic systems built on regulated capitalism. Democratic systems have inherent intellectual dynamism that fosters technological, scientific, sociological, medical advances that leave totalitarian systems far behind.
Yes, democratic systems can exhibit appalling inertia, particularly when political partisanship has greater priority to politicians than does the quality of life of our citizens.
But over the long run, the collective strength of millions of free thinking individuals will always defeat the repressive policies of oligarchs.
That said, GWB's mission to export "freedom" has been a dismal failure. Foreign cultures who embrace the strongman model of repressive ideologies are not fertile ground for individual choice.
1
Why do democracy's hide behind the tax roles? It's not as if the IRS is looking for communists or those that evade paying taxes. Really now, that would be a red flag for those in government to investigate why individuals are evading paying taxes. But this is not the 1950's.
Being able to vote or buying a house and looking for employment would be a reason to live in a democracy. Not the other way around and live in countries that offer no entitlement programs such as social security or disability.
To have the Republican Party take entitlements from those that earned it or are not able to work would be a travesty to the civilized world. It would show that the Tea Party won.
Being able to vote or buying a house and looking for employment would be a reason to live in a democracy. Not the other way around and live in countries that offer no entitlement programs such as social security or disability.
To have the Republican Party take entitlements from those that earned it or are not able to work would be a travesty to the civilized world. It would show that the Tea Party won.
2
Mr. Friedman has warning track power and almost breaks out of his "break glass, pull handle" liberal orthodoxy of ultimately blaming America for everything until the very end of this piece. Democracy is hard to achieve because in the places where it is needed most poverty is a huge problem. A friend of mine who knows the third world pretty well once told me that democracy and freedom are not a priority when you don't know where your child's next meal is going to come from. Dictators and autocrats know that the best way to coerce a population is to feed them and provide the basic things we need for survival. Our democracy works perfectly. We have currently lost our ability to compromise in our government because Obama lacks any real leadership skills. That is not to say that he is not smart and capable but his lack of real experience, insecurity and ego prevent him from demonstrating the most basic aspect of true leadership which is to embrace those who oppose you. I suspect that whoever the next President is they will be much more conciliatory towards the other side and our government will become much more productive. Lest we forget that by the end of the Bush Presidency Democrats had as much animosity towards Bush as Republicans do know towards Obama yet Bush still managed to get things passed in a Democratically controlled Congress.
1
That says more about Democrats than it does about Bush. To be a leader you have to have people willing to be followers. John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have made careers (and fortunes) out of stubbornness, unreasoning hatred and an unwillingness to serve the American people. Blaming Mr. Obama for this state of affairs is wearing blinders.
18
Upon Obama's election the Republicans clearly and publicly stated that their strategy was to oppose him at every turn (and then complain about lack of leadership). The naive or biased public fell for it.
And don't make a false equivalency with Bush. He left us with two unwinnable pointless wars and an economic catastrophe. The animosity towards him was earned. That Democrats still worked with him says more about their decency than Bush's "leadership".
And don't make a false equivalency with Bush. He left us with two unwinnable pointless wars and an economic catastrophe. The animosity towards him was earned. That Democrats still worked with him says more about their decency than Bush's "leadership".
The media organs for the Kochs and other members of the oligarchy have made sure that any Republican that attempts to compromise will be replaced by a "Tea Party" candidate at the next election. Therefore, any attempt by Obama to compromise is rebuffed. The Republicans and the oligarchy would rather wait until an election when they can control all the functions of government and really get their way: the result? Tax cuts for the rich, elimination of environmental and safety regulations, eliminate Obamacare, reduce the safety net for seniors (sneakily, since they cannot afford to lose the old white voters), privatize essentially all government services particularly education, etc. It's likely going to get a lot worse before there is a chance of it getting better.
There was a time when even thoughtful Americans believed - naively - that democracy (read: "freedom") would inevitably spread across the globe, as mass communications made the possibility and benefits of democracy known. Bush 43 bought into that big time. The Arab Spring was painted as the manifestation of such a dynamic, right before our eyes.
Three things have become clear over the past five years: (a) whether or not it "fires the imagination" as Tom has written, the thirst for democracy/freedom is just not that deep or urgent in many societies as we'd like to believe; (b) that deep-seated desire for participatory government cannot be imposed from the outside; it has to really arise from the learnings and beliefs embedded over centuries in the society's collective consciousness; and (c) the example of democracy which America has set over the past several decades -- with its gerrymandered and entrenched national legislature -- is not going to fire anyone's imagination.
Three things have become clear over the past five years: (a) whether or not it "fires the imagination" as Tom has written, the thirst for democracy/freedom is just not that deep or urgent in many societies as we'd like to believe; (b) that deep-seated desire for participatory government cannot be imposed from the outside; it has to really arise from the learnings and beliefs embedded over centuries in the society's collective consciousness; and (c) the example of democracy which America has set over the past several decades -- with its gerrymandered and entrenched national legislature -- is not going to fire anyone's imagination.
7
True democracy requires a paradox--the limitation of economic power that distorts free speech. Plato's five regimes ideas and his ideal of aristocracy as the best form of government would strike many as problematic. Nonetheless, Plato understood that oligarchy (what our democracy has become) degrades almost naturally into tyranny.
I've increasingly come to believe that true democracy requires the recognition and empowerment of an aristocracy. To do otherwise is to convert democracy into tyranny. As long as the aristocrats can make a fair living but otherwise hate money and love beauty I think we will be safe.
I've increasingly come to believe that true democracy requires the recognition and empowerment of an aristocracy. To do otherwise is to convert democracy into tyranny. As long as the aristocrats can make a fair living but otherwise hate money and love beauty I think we will be safe.
"True democracy requires a paradox--the limitation of economic power that distorts free speech."
We have never really had a "true democracy" as a form of government (it wasn't designed that way). We need to reduce the size of the federal government. Democrats and Republicans alike are all for big government - they just have different spending priorities.
As for economic power distorting free speech - if the federal government wasn't so large you wouldn't see so many special interest groups pumping money into the process.
We have never really had a "true democracy" as a form of government (it wasn't designed that way). We need to reduce the size of the federal government. Democrats and Republicans alike are all for big government - they just have different spending priorities.
As for economic power distorting free speech - if the federal government wasn't so large you wouldn't see so many special interest groups pumping money into the process.
The United States has lost its way because it has abandoned democratic framework for empire building. We have the largest military system in the world and it is constantly growing. The word "peace" does not occur in any leader's mouth ever. We feel compelled to insert ourselves into every troublesome area of the world without invitation. We fight among ourselves ripping each other to shreds (congress). The President does not lead in a forceful way toward clarification of our aims and goals. Religion rears its ugly head and is included in discourse like it matters. We don't live with tolerance and grace toward each other. Democracy? Who needs it and what kind of representation do we present to other countries?
6
The challenges we face as a beacon of democracy are great. The light grows dimmer when we the people and our leaders loose sight of the values that forged our nation. Can we be mindful of our colonial times when rule from abroad and lack of representation led to revolution and the violent birth of our nation? Our greatest threat now is from within. To emerge stronger and resilient, we must acknowledge the dysfunction in our government and develop principles of effective governing that override the disproportional representation of big money.
6
Erdogan, Putin and other authoritarian leaders are very clear examples. Citizens opposing Erdogan policies are arrested all the time with charges of supposed "vilification". Putin runs an a la carte democracy that suppresses rights.
But EU has institutional problems regarding democracy as well. Many govts pass hard measures and reforms not through parliament but with edicts or legislative acts. In Greece many critical laws were passed by acts and parliamentary prestige suffered, but it happens even in core EU countries such as France, where the govt faces a motion of censure, for trying to bypass parliament vote for reforms using a presidential edict procedure.
In Spain new anti-demonstration law, incompatible with EU and international laws, suppresses constitutional rights.
Last but not least is the rise of extremists (such as ISIS) and of far-right all over the world, but especially Europe. Far right parties, even extremist, become more and more often govt partners in Europe (for example Hungary's Jobbik, Sweden Democrats etc).
In Greece what was previously an underground neonazi gang emerged as third party through the crisis, partly by concealing nazi past and selling an anti-system hyper-patriot profile instead. They organized militias that stab and kill immigrants or Greek political opponents and have strong anti-democracy and antisemitic rhetoric.
EU far right grows stronger, determines the agenda and makes the continent lean to a less democratic direction.
But EU has institutional problems regarding democracy as well. Many govts pass hard measures and reforms not through parliament but with edicts or legislative acts. In Greece many critical laws were passed by acts and parliamentary prestige suffered, but it happens even in core EU countries such as France, where the govt faces a motion of censure, for trying to bypass parliament vote for reforms using a presidential edict procedure.
In Spain new anti-demonstration law, incompatible with EU and international laws, suppresses constitutional rights.
Last but not least is the rise of extremists (such as ISIS) and of far-right all over the world, but especially Europe. Far right parties, even extremist, become more and more often govt partners in Europe (for example Hungary's Jobbik, Sweden Democrats etc).
In Greece what was previously an underground neonazi gang emerged as third party through the crisis, partly by concealing nazi past and selling an anti-system hyper-patriot profile instead. They organized militias that stab and kill immigrants or Greek political opponents and have strong anti-democracy and antisemitic rhetoric.
EU far right grows stronger, determines the agenda and makes the continent lean to a less democratic direction.
37
@Lefteris Sfakianakis - Excuse me but your statement seems like a very one-sided extreme leftist statement from a citizen of a country that is hoping to be bailed out by the very same "extreme right wing" EU that you are criticizing. Neither extreme party is the solution for a healthy and vibrant EU that wants to continue the prosperity of their historical past. Greece elected extreme leftists to government in a desperate attempt to solve their economic problems. It will be telling what these leaders are able to pull out of their magical hats for the desperate citizens of Greece.
2
Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal terrorist bigot who leads the American "ally" that attacked the U.S.S. Liberty and used the American traitor Jonathan Pollard to steal American secrets. Palestinians are not equal citizens nor human beings in or out of Israel. Israel is Jim Crow apartheid democratic caricature of human civil rights.
Netanyahu will join Winston Churchill in addressing the U.S. Congress for the third time. Churchill was an imperialist white supremacist bigot who led the nation that made an ethnic sectarian mess of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Will the Democrats join in cheering for the man whose nation managed to kill 500+ Palestinian kids in Gaza last summer?
Netanyahu will join Winston Churchill in addressing the U.S. Congress for the third time. Churchill was an imperialist white supremacist bigot who led the nation that made an ethnic sectarian mess of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Will the Democrats join in cheering for the man whose nation managed to kill 500+ Palestinian kids in Gaza last summer?
It's a simple question, really. How does the "world's premiere democracy" (as some see it) inspire others when we are setting such a poor example ourselves. Our republic has been stained by the corruption of one of it's premiere political parties. A party that has built a political machine intent on destroying all that stands in the way of completely imposing it's own ideology, while simultaneously brainwashing it's citizenry into accepting the outcome of their actions contrary to their own lot in life.
Meanwhile, the other major party plays the status quo as if nothing has changed in the past 5 decades, effectively abandoning any opportunity to grow it's stature and with it any chance to change course.
We're clearly not the textbook example for others to follow.
Meanwhile, the other major party plays the status quo as if nothing has changed in the past 5 decades, effectively abandoning any opportunity to grow it's stature and with it any chance to change course.
We're clearly not the textbook example for others to follow.
140
The leading country in the decline of democracy is the US. There is still hope that the trend may be reversed but it will not happen until mega-dollars are removed from the political process. The voters still have the power to revolt against candidates that are obviously indebted to wealthy contributors and the unseemly billions of dollars spent on lobbying Congress to pass laws that benefit narrow interests at the expense of taxpayers. One can still hope that disgust with the present corruption and corrosion will lead to a constitutional amendment that will limit the amount of money that can be contributed (and spent) on political campaigns and forbid hiring people whose main job is to lobby Congress.
13
"The leading country in the decline of democracy is the US"
This is a great comment for a comment section that will get lots of recommends but it has no basis in reality. As Americans, despite the unseemly influx of money into the political process, we still have the right to vote for anyone we want to. We still have the right to make decisions and express our opinions loudly and forcefully without being thrown in jail or getting our heads lopped off.
We, the people, still have the primary voice in government. If we refuse to elect the right people even in the face of all the negative forces that try to turn us into sheep that's not a failure of democracy. That's a failure of will and of education.
This is a great comment for a comment section that will get lots of recommends but it has no basis in reality. As Americans, despite the unseemly influx of money into the political process, we still have the right to vote for anyone we want to. We still have the right to make decisions and express our opinions loudly and forcefully without being thrown in jail or getting our heads lopped off.
We, the people, still have the primary voice in government. If we refuse to elect the right people even in the face of all the negative forces that try to turn us into sheep that's not a failure of democracy. That's a failure of will and of education.
82
That line was meant to be provocative. In the remainder of the comment I express the hope that voters will wake up and vote for representatives that will pass legislation to limit the buying of laws and politicians. So far, however, most voters have meekly accepted to let wealth dominate the political process. Thus government is being subverted with the consent of the voters. The rest of the world looks at the US and cannot see what is so great about a democracy that leads to greater inequality and cares little about the fate of its poorest citizens. Americans are still free to express their opinions but they are not heard if they do not have the money to advertise their views.
5
Yes. There is nothing we can do about presidential politics. Both candidates next year, whoever they might turn out to be, are going to spend a billion dollars on the campaign. Voters are unfortunately going to base their votes on what they see in commercials and hear from professional proselytizers posing as pundits on both sides. However, I am almost at the point of thinking: in races down the ballot, why don't we all just vote for the person we heard least about? OK, we should make sure they are not neo-Nazis or members of ISIS, but somebody like Mickey Mouse, except his/her name isn't a household word? Maybe. How many members of Congress and the state legislatures do people casually accuse of silliness and stupidity now? The equivalent of Mickey Mouse might not be worse, for at least Mickey goes to great pains to be honest. And when he isn't (see "Fantasia") look what happens to him, and he learns his lesson. No democracy is perfect. Every democracy has its flaws as Mr. Friedman points out with the Churchill quotation, but what makes democrats different from autocrats is that they do not assume that the only way to do something is their way of doing something. (Forget about the self-enrichment and corruption part.) Those who tell you there is only one solution to the problem, theirs, are demonstrably wrong and frankly, have a dangerous personality. They should not be heading governments. It is a shame they such leaders often engender zealous support.
3
The United States of America is the poster child - thanks to the ALEC/Koch brothers/Wall Street/radical religious right/nra/major media corporate conglomerate's 40+ year financial coup that culminated with their takeover of the catholic corporate male majority of justices on OUR Supreme Court and the financial takeover of OUR U.S. Senate last November and state governments across America. However, they didn't build America. WE did. They simply suck off the rewards of OUR labor. WE - the average people of America - are going to knock them off the ladder in the next elections.
11
You are right...but sadly, in my opinion the cultural elite of the liberal left have become nearly as corrupt--offering populist rhetoric that inspires us and gains our support--but when in power, they align with Wall Street and take care of their friends at Goldman Sachs. It's a club from Harvard, Yale and Stanford of people who gain celebrity and enrich themselves. Improving things for the middle class or ending extreme poverty is the furthest thing from their mind as they lunch at the Four Seasons. Democrats the same--no better--and more hypocritical because they claim to be champions of the middle class while vacationing and golfing on Martha's Vineyard.
2
Exactly how are YOU going to do that? The discussion revolves around democracy and it seems that YOU are more interested in revolution. When a country elects, democratically, a government that turns out not to be what was promised or proposed, but instead turns to government controlled by edict, where the elected officials run amuck, Egypt, Argentina, perhaps even the U.S.A., YOUR assertion that the "average people are going to knock them..." I trust that what YOU assert, will undoubtedly fail.
The US is a republic from inception
3
And your point is....?
Whether you call the United States a republic or a democracy, it's increasingly dysfunctional. Hard to believe, but along with gerrymandering and disenfranchisement, there's actually a movement to remove the election of Senators from the popular franchise and put it back into the hands of state legislatures - yet one more way of taking power from the people.
Whether you call the United States a republic or a democracy, it's increasingly dysfunctional. Hard to believe, but along with gerrymandering and disenfranchisement, there's actually a movement to remove the election of Senators from the popular franchise and put it back into the hands of state legislatures - yet one more way of taking power from the people.
30
The US is technically a republic, but to pretend that it is therefore not a 'democracy' is monomaniacal.
The founders designed the Constitution and intended the US to function on the basis of one-man-one vote - that's democracy.
The fact that one-man-one-vote has been superseded by one-dollar-one-vote is the only meaningful public policy issue left in this country today.
The founders designed the Constitution and intended the US to function on the basis of one-man-one vote - that's democracy.
The fact that one-man-one-vote has been superseded by one-dollar-one-vote is the only meaningful public policy issue left in this country today.
4
Does that mean that it's NOT a democracy? Or never was?
1
Are there any polls about how many citizen actually think they are 'leading' the country, or that they believe they have to go to the ballot to thwart the party they hate more than the party they elect ?
2
Tom, it's good that you touched on the decline of democracy in America at the end of your column.
I find it hard to worry about a recession of democracy elsewhere when I cannot feasibly reverse that recession here in my own country.
A nation where money talks, and everyone else is made to listen, hardly qualifies as a thriving democracy.
John Winthrop understood that his fledgling Puritan community would be seen as "like a city on a hill"; I shudder to think of what the world sees today when they turn their gaze to America.
I find it hard to worry about a recession of democracy elsewhere when I cannot feasibly reverse that recession here in my own country.
A nation where money talks, and everyone else is made to listen, hardly qualifies as a thriving democracy.
John Winthrop understood that his fledgling Puritan community would be seen as "like a city on a hill"; I shudder to think of what the world sees today when they turn their gaze to America.
107
As I sit here in Starbucks in Tribeca, patting myself on the back for reading the Times Editorial pages while others around me are reading the sports section of the Post....the truth is...Who Cares? Really Who Cares if democracy is faltering here or there. It really has little effect on life in America.
PS....the best form of government....the historically most efficient...is a Benevolent Despot...and that is as few and far between as a working efficient democracy...the USA included.
PS....the best form of government....the historically most efficient...is a Benevolent Despot...and that is as few and far between as a working efficient democracy...the USA included.
7
How true, but the succession plan for benevolent dictators is hard to guarantee.
2
I care.
1
Exactly what they said as the genocide of Jews began in Europe.
1
The politicians of today are controlled more by the ideology of their political party than by the will of their constituents. What difference does it make if you can vote if the vote doesn't really account for anything?
25
Not true - the primary motivation of members of congress is reelection, and they behave accordingly. The problem is that the individual incentives toward this end fail to align with the collective good under our simple-plurality electoral system/closed non ranked choice primary system. Thus, members adhere to primary voters and face general reelection in ever increasing ideologically homogenous districts. The result is that the collective makeup of the institution looks nothing like the preferences of the voters nationwide - even though all of the members adequately reflect the ideological makeup of their own constituents.
Votes do count when enough people listen, read and then think about what candidates really are saying; then vote for the man or woman, not the party. And keep on doing it and hope that others will too. What choice do we have? The US spring? We can all see how swell the Arab Spring turned out for all the countries with the exception of Tunisia.
1
Democracy is long gone as planned.
16
But not dead, Reaper.
2
Thanks, TF; and glad to see Larry Diamond's work getting notice. You quote: “Authoritarian state media gleefully publicize these travails of American democracy in order to discredit democracy in general and immunize authoritarian rule against U.S. pressure.”
Yes, the lights are going out in the shining city on the hill.
It’s probably true that the brightest of those lights were the economic boom and the sense of possibilities--actual achievement and further potential. Most Americans had confidence in government; they believed that tomorrow would be better and that their children would have a better life than they did. The economy took a hard hit, thanks in large part to greed and to flawed ideology. Confidence took a hit because of that, but we have no authoritarian state media to sell us lies. We do have a corrupt corporate media that does the job very thoroughly.
The extent to which lies and distortions are the daily chores of so many is hard to comprehend. Democracy is the best of a bad lot only if enough of the people can think. As with vaccinations, herd immunity is essential—immunity to the pathogens of ignorance, cynicism and hatred. Our herd immunity to despair has been deliberately sabotaged.
Yes, the lights are going out in the shining city on the hill.
It’s probably true that the brightest of those lights were the economic boom and the sense of possibilities--actual achievement and further potential. Most Americans had confidence in government; they believed that tomorrow would be better and that their children would have a better life than they did. The economy took a hard hit, thanks in large part to greed and to flawed ideology. Confidence took a hit because of that, but we have no authoritarian state media to sell us lies. We do have a corrupt corporate media that does the job very thoroughly.
The extent to which lies and distortions are the daily chores of so many is hard to comprehend. Democracy is the best of a bad lot only if enough of the people can think. As with vaccinations, herd immunity is essential—immunity to the pathogens of ignorance, cynicism and hatred. Our herd immunity to despair has been deliberately sabotaged.
14
Maybe it's just that the sellers of democracy, the U.S. in particular, have done a bad job showing how "wonderful" it is, especially when we try to force feed it to developing nations. Maybe we should use the method that worked here, letting it develope naturally.
4
Agreed. And if we had a strong foreign policy to that effect, perhaps we wouldn't need to spend the trillions we do on the military and homeland security.
When the world's greatest democracy became a surveillance state, fledgling democracies found an alibi to become high-handed to consolidate power to fire the economic engine (e.g. Turkey); when China's totalitarianism delivered 10 percent growth rates for decades against the political chaos and economic stagnation in emerging democracies, such countries found yet another reason to put aside democracy to fire their economic engine (e.g. Russia). But I am not pessimistic about "democracy recession" turning into the way of political life for the world, for the man standing in front of the moving tank in Tiananman Square reminds me that no people, in the final analysis, would want to live in a cage regardless of the sophistry offered by dictators and totalitarians to justify an "orderly, harmonious" state to assure economic growth.
10
That fact is, “Democracy” as cobbled together by US history is not working. Special interest consolidation among the economically privileged has destroyed any pretense of its viability.
In fact, it is being left in the “dust bin” of US – and planetary - history. The world is moving toward a new form of governance that will find its power within the confines of a sensitized public conversation among an informed intellectual elite centering governance on the care of all life and all nonlife on the planet. This elite is already forming; being heavily populated by scientists from all fields. (No attorneys as we see predominantly in governance today) Social theorists are assuming a key role.
Economic theory and the capital market system will take on an entirely new form. The physical sciences will become an all important part of the decision making process with the aim of assuring ecological planetary preservation and continuation. Broad democratic representation rising out of the masses will find a voice, but will take a back seat. The stakes will have become too high to rely on governance by Western democratic rule.
www.InquiryAbraham.com
In fact, it is being left in the “dust bin” of US – and planetary - history. The world is moving toward a new form of governance that will find its power within the confines of a sensitized public conversation among an informed intellectual elite centering governance on the care of all life and all nonlife on the planet. This elite is already forming; being heavily populated by scientists from all fields. (No attorneys as we see predominantly in governance today) Social theorists are assuming a key role.
Economic theory and the capital market system will take on an entirely new form. The physical sciences will become an all important part of the decision making process with the aim of assuring ecological planetary preservation and continuation. Broad democratic representation rising out of the masses will find a voice, but will take a back seat. The stakes will have become too high to rely on governance by Western democratic rule.
www.InquiryAbraham.com
2
Frankly, David, your bit about scientists populating the elite is nonsense. Elites rule by appealing to people's ignorance and prejudices. If it's to their political advantage, they will discredit science, whether it's on vaccination, evolution or climate.
Scientists are only taken on board when they help make the already rich richer. In agriculture, if you point out the downsides of monoculture, genetic engineering and overuse of chemicals, whether hormones or pesticides, you don't have a place at the table.
Scientists are only taken on board when they help make the already rich richer. In agriculture, if you point out the downsides of monoculture, genetic engineering and overuse of chemicals, whether hormones or pesticides, you don't have a place at the table.
3
"Informed intellectual elite." You mean sensitized fellows like Gruber?
In other words, hello Hunger Games.
In other words, hello Hunger Games.
Mr. Friedman,
Turkey isn’t our problem, America is.
I couldn’t care less about a lack of democracy over there. But, the same problems here at home are terrifying me.
The chronic foreign wars, the defense budgets equal to the military spending of the rest of globe, the chronic budget deficits, the enormous national debt, the corrosive trade deficits, the bribery of the elected politicians which are reduced to a level of the office mailmen that only deliver the bills from the corporate headquarters to the floor of the US Congress, the justice system that cannot make any distinction between the people and the corporations, equating the money to freedom of speech, spying on the fellow citizens in the name of freedom and liberty, the health care that costs two times more than comparable services at other developed countries in the world, senseless political bickering for the sake of bickering, us vs them mentality, brainwashing of the domestic population with the endless stream of senseless commercials aimed at our toddlers, kids, teenagers, adults and elderly...
Mr. Friedman, how can you care about Turkey and ignore the situation at home?
Does your loyalty belong to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey or America?
Turkey isn’t our problem, America is.
I couldn’t care less about a lack of democracy over there. But, the same problems here at home are terrifying me.
The chronic foreign wars, the defense budgets equal to the military spending of the rest of globe, the chronic budget deficits, the enormous national debt, the corrosive trade deficits, the bribery of the elected politicians which are reduced to a level of the office mailmen that only deliver the bills from the corporate headquarters to the floor of the US Congress, the justice system that cannot make any distinction between the people and the corporations, equating the money to freedom of speech, spying on the fellow citizens in the name of freedom and liberty, the health care that costs two times more than comparable services at other developed countries in the world, senseless political bickering for the sake of bickering, us vs them mentality, brainwashing of the domestic population with the endless stream of senseless commercials aimed at our toddlers, kids, teenagers, adults and elderly...
Mr. Friedman, how can you care about Turkey and ignore the situation at home?
Does your loyalty belong to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey or America?
114
What makes you think Tom doesn't care about "home"? He clearly does. His Schtick is energy, innovation and the middle east. Nevertheless, if you follow him, he has plenty of thoughts about our priorities and how we should proceed.
I am not fond of the writings of Tom Freidman, but your conclusion is off base. To question his loyalty to his country based on the subject matter of his commentary not including what you would prefer, is unfair and absurd. (You are not the only respondent by the way who went off on similar tangents.) I would wager, based on previous writings, he agrees with you on many of your points, but what do they have to do with the price of tea in China?
Just a question: did you read the column? All the way to the end?
4
Democracy is weaker in America when the few are living in ever fancier Manhattan towers of wealth, when elections are overrun by money, when representatives are beholden to lobbyists, and when campaigns are about health insurance plans, gun laws, and sexual freedoms.
Democracy is stronger in America when a house and senate and executive are determined to lead, to invest -- and not just patch repairs to roads and bridges, but to call for sacrifices -- to pursue common goals for this generation and the next, state of the art infrastructure, combined intelligence, international aid and services, exciting space exploration, truly clean rivers, trusted food production, and revolutionary energy management.
But given the chaos from the Arab Spring, democracy is not ideal. Many nations are not suited for democracy, or not prepared for democracy. What, except a failed state, if the House of Saud were toppled?
Democracy is stronger in America when a house and senate and executive are determined to lead, to invest -- and not just patch repairs to roads and bridges, but to call for sacrifices -- to pursue common goals for this generation and the next, state of the art infrastructure, combined intelligence, international aid and services, exciting space exploration, truly clean rivers, trusted food production, and revolutionary energy management.
But given the chaos from the Arab Spring, democracy is not ideal. Many nations are not suited for democracy, or not prepared for democracy. What, except a failed state, if the House of Saud were toppled?
23
When petitioning the government is the EASIEST way to grow as a company, the favored get the goods. (not unlike the aristocracy of old England). Don't blame the companies, blame the folks in DC that find doling out America's wealth in quid pro quo arrangements is the most efficient way to power. Elect better people!
Republicans in congress, happy to show how they can keep the country paralyzed for years and, bear major blame for America's fall from inspiration to sick man of the developed world. As they revel in showing the president is weak and can't keep promises, they subvert to power of our democracy both domestically and globally.
China, ruled by elderly communists, ascends over our failing democracy. It is sad that so many in the world look to China for inspiration.
Sad, but no surprise.
China, ruled by elderly communists, ascends over our failing democracy. It is sad that so many in the world look to China for inspiration.
Sad, but no surprise.
55
Mark E White, you wouldn't be able to write a comment like this in China. And don't forget, as much as you would like to blame the "Republicans" in congress, you forget that they were elected by the American people. You may not like it, but that is democracy. Ruling by fiat, even if you really, really, REALLY believe in the policy, is not.
“most worrisome dimension of the democratic recession has been the decline of democratic efficacy, energy, and self-confidence” in America and the West at large”
How many billions, maybe trillions, of dollars have been spent denigrating the government of the US since Pres. Reagan proclaimed the most fearsome words in a the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
How many billions, maybe trillions, of dollars have been spent denigrating the government of the US since Pres. Reagan proclaimed the most fearsome words in a the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
7
"...extended “partisan control over the judiciary and the bureaucracy..."
That statement rings true here in the US. Since our Supreme Court came out blatantly political in Bush v. Gore, we have witnessed the steady revelation of its Republican ideology. With all pretensions gone, this court is nothing more than an arm of the Republican Party.
And this Republican SCOTUS has been hammering away at the vestiges of democracy: corporations are citizens, corporations have religious rights that trump humans, corporations can give unlimited funds to political parties and candidates, corporations have voices that drown out the human voice, and restricting voter access to the polls is perfectly fine.
I'm not optimistic about the future of democracy in our Republic; Benjamin Franklin noted the challenge America would have to preserve our fragile democratic Republic and given our path since 2000, I'm not sure we can keep it.
That statement rings true here in the US. Since our Supreme Court came out blatantly political in Bush v. Gore, we have witnessed the steady revelation of its Republican ideology. With all pretensions gone, this court is nothing more than an arm of the Republican Party.
And this Republican SCOTUS has been hammering away at the vestiges of democracy: corporations are citizens, corporations have religious rights that trump humans, corporations can give unlimited funds to political parties and candidates, corporations have voices that drown out the human voice, and restricting voter access to the polls is perfectly fine.
I'm not optimistic about the future of democracy in our Republic; Benjamin Franklin noted the challenge America would have to preserve our fragile democratic Republic and given our path since 2000, I'm not sure we can keep it.
11
Many People in the US are disillusioned by the Supreme Court's handing victory to GWB in 2000 and handing unbelievable power to money in Citizens United. They are disillusioned by ruthless gerrymandering for political advantage that leaves utterly craven politicians and extremists in power, because they have effectively disenfranchised so many people. Either we have extremists in control as in some state legislatures, or we have utter dysfunction as in Congress.
And of course, having been led into the second Iraq war by lies about WMDS and the threat to America, we have actually engendered even worse fanaticism throughout the entire Middle East.
And of course, having been led into the second Iraq war by lies about WMDS and the threat to America, we have actually engendered even worse fanaticism throughout the entire Middle East.
19
Tom Friedman is just now realizing the democracy in the U.S. is crumbling? Two immoral wars (which he supported), Citizens United, a "war on drugs" which has disenfranchised large numbers of African Americans, a national surveillance state that tracks our every move, banks writing legislation to their own advantage and no comment until now? Oh, and a favorite of his, the Trans Pacific Partnership, being negotiated in complete secrecy -- except for corporations who are integrally involved. Our own legislators are not even included in the negotiations for goodness sake. All this decay is papered over by hollow references to "patriotism" and "liberty" and paeans to military might like American Sniper. For the U.S., "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
21
While the stagnation / decline of democracies globally is , indeed, troubling,
one must first submit the "Clintonesque" caveat of: "It depends on what you mean by democracy."
Does the US , for example , still practice democracy when vast income inequality and Citizens United decisions give license to the wealthy 1% to purchase the government? And how does that reality reflect upon Democracy as an institution in the eyes of the world?
one must first submit the "Clintonesque" caveat of: "It depends on what you mean by democracy."
Does the US , for example , still practice democracy when vast income inequality and Citizens United decisions give license to the wealthy 1% to purchase the government? And how does that reality reflect upon Democracy as an institution in the eyes of the world?
16
I always regarded the beginning of the end of democracy as the day that George Bush announced that the reason we were invading Iraq was to bring democracy to them.
17
go back further, about 40 years.
The most telling point in Mr. Friedman's excellent 'Democracy Is in Recession' piece is that the US, historically the bastion of freedom and democracy has degenerated into a democratic sham.
We torture, we buy elections, we suppress voters who might vote against what the 'rulers' want, we violate personal privacy in the name of 'security' and at the same time, we arrogantly and hypocritically hold ourselves up as the standard bearers of democracy. Who are we fooling?
Until we can get our own house in order, we are going to see not only a recession but a depression of democracy. That's a sobering thought.
We torture, we buy elections, we suppress voters who might vote against what the 'rulers' want, we violate personal privacy in the name of 'security' and at the same time, we arrogantly and hypocritically hold ourselves up as the standard bearers of democracy. Who are we fooling?
Until we can get our own house in order, we are going to see not only a recession but a depression of democracy. That's a sobering thought.
29
US democracy has bigger problems than decline of democratic efficacy. Diamond and Friedman only perceive the tip of the iceberg. Efficacy means the power to produce the intended result. It is a consequentialist gauge of democracy. And the consequence that he sees--dysfunctionality--doesn't grasp the full extent of deterioration of US democracy, in terms of the injury that the democratic process has suffered here.
The problem is that the United States is becoming increasing undemocratic, because, by the chief definitional criterion of democracy--political equality--we have sunk in the past 35 years into some category (as yet not well defined) of undemocratic rule. Yes there is lot's of corruption as Diamond says. But the problem is that our process of selecting top authority and making policy is no longer a democratic process. When campaigns are hugely expensive (in the billions of dollars) and when money has supplanted the vote as a way of affecting political outcomes, political inequality is so extreme that the country no longer warrants classification as a democratic political system.
Americans suppose that if you don't have an authoritarian or totalitarian government then you must have a democracy. But political equality can be attenuated to the degree that a country is not democratic. Dysfunctionality will pass with the election of a Republican President, but democracy-destroying political inequality will remain and increase.
The problem is that the United States is becoming increasing undemocratic, because, by the chief definitional criterion of democracy--political equality--we have sunk in the past 35 years into some category (as yet not well defined) of undemocratic rule. Yes there is lot's of corruption as Diamond says. But the problem is that our process of selecting top authority and making policy is no longer a democratic process. When campaigns are hugely expensive (in the billions of dollars) and when money has supplanted the vote as a way of affecting political outcomes, political inequality is so extreme that the country no longer warrants classification as a democratic political system.
Americans suppose that if you don't have an authoritarian or totalitarian government then you must have a democracy. But political equality can be attenuated to the degree that a country is not democratic. Dysfunctionality will pass with the election of a Republican President, but democracy-destroying political inequality will remain and increase.
7
Most people in this country don't believe in Democracy, and don't want it.
Think how many will give the president all the blame or all the credit for everything that happens, good or bad. Think how many are sick of Congress, but no more willing to accept compromise (the life-blood of democracy).
Think how many, when polls are pointed out to them on various issues, will loudly denounce the notion that America is a Democracy, and call it a "Republic" without, it appears, much sense of what that means other than that it justifies ignoring the will of majority in favor of the entrenched power of the minority.
Think how many here denounce "giving" rights to this or that group, as though rights were essentially privileges which the law giveth or taketh away as those in power choose.
It is hard to be a model of Democracy when the majority in your country don't believe in Democracy. We recognize this in other countries, but do we see it when we look in the mirror?
Think how many will give the president all the blame or all the credit for everything that happens, good or bad. Think how many are sick of Congress, but no more willing to accept compromise (the life-blood of democracy).
Think how many, when polls are pointed out to them on various issues, will loudly denounce the notion that America is a Democracy, and call it a "Republic" without, it appears, much sense of what that means other than that it justifies ignoring the will of majority in favor of the entrenched power of the minority.
Think how many here denounce "giving" rights to this or that group, as though rights were essentially privileges which the law giveth or taketh away as those in power choose.
It is hard to be a model of Democracy when the majority in your country don't believe in Democracy. We recognize this in other countries, but do we see it when we look in the mirror?
43
Yes Bejay the US is a democracy AND a republic. Like Australia is a democracy AND a constitutional monarchy. Like a housecat is a domestic animal AND a mammal. That some believe that because the US is a republic it isn't a democracy is very strange.
1
Several decades ago, students at a major Catholic law school were given situations t analyze and supprt. E.g. Should we let a person scream "I hate Catholics"? In each case a vast majority of the law students came down against Constitutionally-based rights and in favor of greater control over positions and conduct they personally did not share.
Never undersetimate ignorance and hypocrisy: the whole world is watching. They watched FDR once, Ike's last warnings were widely discussed. JFK's hopes and MLK's inspired people everywhere. Whom can they (or we) watch today? Boehner. McConnel. Rand Paul. Palin. Perry? Walker? Scalia. Roberts? And the whole world is indeed watching. Many see Warren.
Never undersetimate ignorance and hypocrisy: the whole world is watching. They watched FDR once, Ike's last warnings were widely discussed. JFK's hopes and MLK's inspired people everywhere. Whom can they (or we) watch today? Boehner. McConnel. Rand Paul. Palin. Perry? Walker? Scalia. Roberts? And the whole world is indeed watching. Many see Warren.
1
If there is truly a diminution in democracy we can't let it be said without making reference to the phenomena of "the revolution of the square." During recent years we've seen, and encouraged, revolts in the streets, that warm something deep in our souls about throwing off the oppressor's boot and moving as one into a bright new tomorrow. the problem is that when tomorrow comes, the ones that end up running things, are those that have waited and organized for just such a moment, or those with wealth who are always on the look out for "opportunity". In such a world, those in power pre-emptively tighten down on "trouble makers", and those with a "code" and a plan win.
4
The recession started here in sunny Florida in November of 2000.
54
Agreed, spot on.
1
Democracy simply does not function where people believe that God has a pony in the race.
55
One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.
1
Tucker, if you really believe that the US offers "liberty and justice for all" I'll concede the "under god" part. But it's gonna take a lot of convincing.
1
Meanwhile, globalization and unfettered capitalism are ascendant. Maybe there's a correlation?
23
The erosion of democracy is the result of our post-Reagan conventional wisdom:
"Government is the problem" and "The marketplace is the solution".
The result of this thinking is an increase in government outsourcing, the privatization of more public services, and loosening and lax enforcement of the regulations that provide safeguards for the public. Politicians funded by billionaires have persuaded voters that greedy public union members and lazy welfare recipients are taking their hard earned tax dollars and that regulations are strangling entrepreneurs. When we end up breathing foul air and paying high prices for drinking water we won't know how it happened because the decisions that affect the public's well-being all occurred behind closed doors in private business suites. Deregulated capitalism can respond rapidly to change, but it can do so because it makes decisions out of the public's view and without concern for the public's well-being.
"Government is the problem" and "The marketplace is the solution".
The result of this thinking is an increase in government outsourcing, the privatization of more public services, and loosening and lax enforcement of the regulations that provide safeguards for the public. Politicians funded by billionaires have persuaded voters that greedy public union members and lazy welfare recipients are taking their hard earned tax dollars and that regulations are strangling entrepreneurs. When we end up breathing foul air and paying high prices for drinking water we won't know how it happened because the decisions that affect the public's well-being all occurred behind closed doors in private business suites. Deregulated capitalism can respond rapidly to change, but it can do so because it makes decisions out of the public's view and without concern for the public's well-being.
67
Mr Friedman: I was wondering whether and hoping you would mention the example of the US - it is by far the most wealthy and powerful democracy after all! The US could provide a much better example. Establishing an independent statutory body - an electoral commission - to rid it of its gerrymandered electorates and to oversee all of its elections would be a good start!
Greater than the issue of the need for such reforms I feel - particularly in the US - is the cultural and philosophical issue of cynicism towards the idea of government altogether. Too many seem to feel that even better than "government of the people, by the people, for the people" would be no government at all: and ignore the fact that in the absence of democratic government "strongmen" and their militias step in to fill the void.
There is not enough respect for the understanding that democracy IS as good as it gets. Not enough effort is made to ensure that it works and does positively outshine the autocratic and other non-democratic alternatives. There's not enough participation and investment of time in it by average citizens.
Allied to this is neo-liberalism and the revolt of the very rich and corporations against acknowledging what they owe to democratic nations and their governments and paying the legislated amount of tax on the money they make in those nations to support their health and the health of their governments.
Such have become "parasitic" in relation to free nations.
And to the Earth itself.
Greater than the issue of the need for such reforms I feel - particularly in the US - is the cultural and philosophical issue of cynicism towards the idea of government altogether. Too many seem to feel that even better than "government of the people, by the people, for the people" would be no government at all: and ignore the fact that in the absence of democratic government "strongmen" and their militias step in to fill the void.
There is not enough respect for the understanding that democracy IS as good as it gets. Not enough effort is made to ensure that it works and does positively outshine the autocratic and other non-democratic alternatives. There's not enough participation and investment of time in it by average citizens.
Allied to this is neo-liberalism and the revolt of the very rich and corporations against acknowledging what they owe to democratic nations and their governments and paying the legislated amount of tax on the money they make in those nations to support their health and the health of their governments.
Such have become "parasitic" in relation to free nations.
And to the Earth itself.
18
I think there are a few other reasons why democracy is in recession. First of all it is a cultural thing. Democracy is very difficult to attain if you haven't had a history of it. For instance, the 'Arab Spring' was meant for the purpose of attaining democracy. Why it failed is because the institutions to ground and back it up didn't exist. Those institutions, as simple as minority and gender equality, take generations to build and accept.
Another reason is a disillusionment with democracy. I mean, democracy hasn't deliver the goods like many believed it promised. Democracy takes work. Many cultures don't have that work ethic.
Another reason is a disillusionment with democracy. I mean, democracy hasn't deliver the goods like many believed it promised. Democracy takes work. Many cultures don't have that work ethic.
56
I think it is more the case that in the process of becoming a self-centered society, only concerned with our own personal gratification or accumulation of wealth. Democracy is like a garden, it requires constant attention love to thrive and bear fruit. We have been neglecting our garden for some time now. It is not democracy that has failed to deliver the goods, it is we the people, who have not dutifully tended the garden.
I agree. The time of the Democracies may be coming to a close. So many symptoms are in evidence. Declining public confidence in America's sustaining institutions (Congress, President, Courts, Wall Street, Unions) is eating away at the U.S. government's claim as a legitimate framework for governing (to wit -- Justice Moore in Alabama, Clive Bundy and their ilk). As Mr. Friedman notes authoritarian government -- a fixture in China -- are filling the vacuum in Europe, America and elsewhere. Secular dictatorships in the Arab world are being replaced by religious ones that are just as ruthless but globally more ambitious. What a dark path our world is on. Almost everywhere you look the principles of the Enlightenment -- the founding principles of modern democracies -- are being savaged by religious zealots and other refugees from empirical discovery and an open mind.
184
With the rise of increasing tribalism we've seen a decrease in the desire of people to work together. It is as if all were working on another Tower of Babel, they lost the ability to speak to one another, and are now dispersing around the world, building more regional and local boundary's. The inability to speak to another is due to 'values' which are often expressed in the form of religion, but the problem affects those with more of secular bent too, including liberals and those among the left. The rage expressed by many in the pages of the NYTimes is no different than that of conservatives and the right wing, and our media and chosen forms of communication merely harden positions. It will get worse before it gets better.
42
The first issue for Mr. Friedman should be not the decline of democracy elsewhere in the world, but the marked decline of democracy right here at home, in good 'ole USA.
Democracy here at home lives on mostly in name now, because our form of present govenrment is actually a "dollarocracy", an oligarchy. Particularly since the Supreme Court's decision known as Citizens United five years ago, and then the McCutchen decision last year which removed the last vestiges of limitations in Citizens United.
We no longer have two actual and real political parties anymore, because both Democrats and Republicans, for once acting in an entirely bi-partisan way, are equally subservient and loyal to the Party of Business. So Democrats and Republicans differ more on style than on substance. They both have sold out to the Party of Business.
It is the giant banks in Wall Street who rule, and they alone -- the big bankers -- make up the class of super-citizens who never go to jail. They buy their way out of all wrong-doing, and our government chooses to assess them huge fines in cash in exchange for their continuing immunity.
Also, we have increasingly militarized American culture. Over time we more and more resemble an authoritarian state. Our movies and entertainment normalize violence. Schools, teaching to the test, no longer emphasize critical thinking, preferring instead to "train" people either rather than to educate them.
Genuine democratic dissent is discouraged now.
oz.
Democracy here at home lives on mostly in name now, because our form of present govenrment is actually a "dollarocracy", an oligarchy. Particularly since the Supreme Court's decision known as Citizens United five years ago, and then the McCutchen decision last year which removed the last vestiges of limitations in Citizens United.
We no longer have two actual and real political parties anymore, because both Democrats and Republicans, for once acting in an entirely bi-partisan way, are equally subservient and loyal to the Party of Business. So Democrats and Republicans differ more on style than on substance. They both have sold out to the Party of Business.
It is the giant banks in Wall Street who rule, and they alone -- the big bankers -- make up the class of super-citizens who never go to jail. They buy their way out of all wrong-doing, and our government chooses to assess them huge fines in cash in exchange for their continuing immunity.
Also, we have increasingly militarized American culture. Over time we more and more resemble an authoritarian state. Our movies and entertainment normalize violence. Schools, teaching to the test, no longer emphasize critical thinking, preferring instead to "train" people either rather than to educate them.
Genuine democratic dissent is discouraged now.
oz.
514
The reactionaries in the Republican Party have been working on this for a long time. To paraphrase a contemporary American author and journalist, the greatest hoax mankind has ever known is that perpetrated by our wealthy elite, that this country is a democracy and everyone has an equal vote in its direction. Now, however, the very wealthy are at a point where they no longer even try to perpetuate the hoax, instead merely assuring the rest of us that they have our best interests at heart.
And I completely agree with your comment on the militarization of our democracy, which again relates to money. The shared--democratic--sacrifice in a reluctant war has been one of the hallmarks of our modern democracy, and has earned us the admiration of the rest of the world. Now we have professional soldiers, doing the bidding of the very wealthy, who control our foreign policy. Through very astute propaganda, the wealthy have us fawning over these unwitting soldiers who are merely tools of the wealthy, praising them for protecting "us." Nonsense; they are risking their life and limb, literally, to further the agenda of a very small segment of our society.
Endless war, to keep the rest of us distracted from their increasingly tight grip on our country. Orwellian.
And I completely agree with your comment on the militarization of our democracy, which again relates to money. The shared--democratic--sacrifice in a reluctant war has been one of the hallmarks of our modern democracy, and has earned us the admiration of the rest of the world. Now we have professional soldiers, doing the bidding of the very wealthy, who control our foreign policy. Through very astute propaganda, the wealthy have us fawning over these unwitting soldiers who are merely tools of the wealthy, praising them for protecting "us." Nonsense; they are risking their life and limb, literally, to further the agenda of a very small segment of our society.
Endless war, to keep the rest of us distracted from their increasingly tight grip on our country. Orwellian.
7
I'm getting tired of reading these rants from disengaged citizens. America is what America has always been—a beacon of freedom for the world. So go ahead with your false narratives about the evils of capitalism and money. But I'm not buying it.
The word you're looking for is plutocracy: Government by the rich.
4
Considering how the US has declined to an almost dysfunctional federal government and a hatfield mccoy mentality among the populace, while the media reports only what is going wrong (as seen by the rest of the world), who would want to emulate that as a democracy? We are no longer a functioning democracy or even a republican form of government. Unless and until we get over this partisanship and apparent nascent oligarchy, we are not a model for anyone else.
20
And yet people like Erdogan and Putin have been reelected by their constituents by such numbers as to make the curbs placed on the press and the political opposition seem largely irrelevant to the final electoral outcomes. Let's face it: the tragic outcome of Turkey's attempt to brake the embargo on Gaza didn't do Netanyahu any favors. And innocent Turkish Jews are now paying the price.
4
Oops; make that "BREAK the embargo."
Another reason for the decline in the reputation of democracy might be the obvious conclusion that people can draw from the chaos that has followed the toppling of autocrats in the Middle East. Are the countries of Libya, Syria, and Iraq any better off since they lost their dictators? These examples support the opinion of Mr. Putin--not the most democratic-minded of leaders--on the subject of Syria when he said, early on, that removing Bashar would result in chaos. He seems to have been right. When dictatorship, which is the polar opposite of democracy, seems like a better system, then democracy takes a hit. Consider the case of Egypt, where a democratic election led to the election of a religious party, and the resulting tumult convinced the army that the country (and especially the army itself) was better off with a dictator; thus making a joke of democracy and exposing some of it's ambiguities. Democracy's decline, in addition to the reasons in this article, has something to do with its proponents idealistic dream that a dictatorship (at least in the Middle East), once it is displaced, will naturally evolve into a democracy--since it is God's chosen form of government--and it will happen overnight.
62
The current Turkish regime betrays of the ideals of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, father of modern secular democratic Turkey. Erdogan has run roughshod over the values of tolerance, democracy and civil society, which once ruled life in Turkey. Now, protesters of government abuse and corruption are prosecuted and imprisoned; law enforcement members who expose it are arrested and members of the armed forces, once the guardians of secularism and democracy, are now imprisoned. The evils of the corrupt Ottoman Caliphate have returned. Turkey has yet to honestly deal with the occupation of Northern Cyprus, self-determination and autonomy for the Kurds and even the century old Armenian Genocide. Erdogan has gone far to shred Turkey's alliances. Once a firm ally of Israel, Erdogan has severed that relationship by sending a boatload of armed IHH terrorists into Israeli territorial waters. He also proved unreliable as a member of NATO in the war against IS/Daesh.
In reviving anti-Semitism, Erdogan and his Prime Minister have established Bigotry as an essential element of A.K.P. Islamo-Fascism. Treatment of Jews has traditionally been the "Canary in the Coal Mine." Bigotry was previously seen in Turkish relations with Armenians, Kurds and Cypriots; will it happen with Israelis next? Will Erdogan's goal of seeking hegemony in the Islamic world, cut him off from the West?
If Turkey is to remain a reliable ally, it must rid itself of the corrupt kleptocrats of the Islamo-Fascist A.K.P.
In reviving anti-Semitism, Erdogan and his Prime Minister have established Bigotry as an essential element of A.K.P. Islamo-Fascism. Treatment of Jews has traditionally been the "Canary in the Coal Mine." Bigotry was previously seen in Turkish relations with Armenians, Kurds and Cypriots; will it happen with Israelis next? Will Erdogan's goal of seeking hegemony in the Islamic world, cut him off from the West?
If Turkey is to remain a reliable ally, it must rid itself of the corrupt kleptocrats of the Islamo-Fascist A.K.P.
23
There is no disputing the global recession in democracy. To Mr. Friedman's credit he does not absolve the U.S.A. from responsibility for this trend.
Short of 21st-century gun boat diplomacy, there is little we can do about the trajectory of the rest of the world. But the example we set is pitiable. Only in presidential elections do as many as half those eligible bother to cast a ballot.
If ours is the world's "leading democracy," then the autocrats–both globally and within our own nation–have momentum on their side.
Short of 21st-century gun boat diplomacy, there is little we can do about the trajectory of the rest of the world. But the example we set is pitiable. Only in presidential elections do as many as half those eligible bother to cast a ballot.
If ours is the world's "leading democracy," then the autocrats–both globally and within our own nation–have momentum on their side.
28
The US went religiously insane itself when it acquiesced to the unconstitutional legislation that put "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiiance.
12
I am told, never been there, that in Uruguay if you do not vote you do not get your Passport stamped and therefore, cannot travel abroad. Doesn't seem like such a big deal but Uruguayans travel to Argentina and Brazil frequently - it is enough to get out the vote.
Surely we can try something similar in the US - after creating true "freedom to vote" across all 50 states, might run into some Republican issues in getting that done.
"No Vote, No _____", I'm all for it. It is not fair to ask our young men to give their lives so we can have the freedom to vote and then not vote!!!
Surely we can try something similar in the US - after creating true "freedom to vote" across all 50 states, might run into some Republican issues in getting that done.
"No Vote, No _____", I'm all for it. It is not fair to ask our young men to give their lives so we can have the freedom to vote and then not vote!!!
2
How could you write a column like this, and not mention perhaps the most recent egregious example, that of Egypt? The obsession with Turkey is ill-founded, and unbalanced.
6
Tom, Agree that Egypt could use a mention, but the big deal is we were expecting so much more from Turkey, a seeming example of what a great Islamic country could be. Egypt has long been a dismal disappointment in many ways. After crushing of the brief hopes of the Arab Spring, little has been expected.
5
In the US, we have a democracy for the rich. I wonder whether our democracy in recession too.
135
Rich people who are not in the interlocked corporate directorship are not represented in the US either.
4
The US used to be a great example of democracy. Not so today. Our country is led by a party that is actively limiting the right to vote across most states. Our country is led by a party that's owned by the NRA and is actively promoting lawlessness, where shoot first ask later is becoming more common. Our country is led by a party that is actively repealing the basic right to health care through dismantling of the Affordable Care Act. This same party also is in full support of a food system (Big Ag) that is less healthy and not sustainable. This party is in full throttle to dismantle environmental, safety, health, education agencies at the state level. This party is in full denial of science and the laws of nature.
How did "democracy" give us the above? When there's no requirement for truth in advertising, or truth in news, we can see that we are well on the path of George Orwell's 1984 society. We are a democracy in name only.
Voters can't vote intelligently when the news one reads is biased and full of outright lies.
How did "democracy" give us the above? When there's no requirement for truth in advertising, or truth in news, we can see that we are well on the path of George Orwell's 1984 society. We are a democracy in name only.
Voters can't vote intelligently when the news one reads is biased and full of outright lies.
407
There is only one nationally elected political office in the US, the presidency. All the rest of our elected officials represent parochial arbitrary regions that are structurally gerrymandered and subject to radical distortions of apportionment.
10
As with many of the self created myths about America - whether it be the ideas about freedom, equality, or justice - the notion that we ever were a "great example of democracy" is pretty much a figment of our imagination. Its pretty hard to think of ourselves as a democracy when we are a nation built upon genocide against native Americans, slavery of Blacks, oppression of Woman, exploitation of children and workers, and all around bigotry and hate against minorities of every kind. The sooner we come to terms with our reality the sooner we might have a chance of actually becoming the nation in which our reality actually matches our high-minded words and ideals.
Unfortunately, I don't expect that to happen any time soon, if ever, given one whole wing of our political thought - the rightwing - in the country is based upon delusions wrapped in lies and built upon a foundation of hate.
Unfortunately, I don't expect that to happen any time soon, if ever, given one whole wing of our political thought - the rightwing - in the country is based upon delusions wrapped in lies and built upon a foundation of hate.
13
Excellent comment. Not until money is taken out of the electoral process is there any hope for this once great democracy. At every turn it is profits over people.
7
Why do people think we have a democracy in America. What we have is a Democratic Republic.
And the powers to be only let us vote for those who they approve.
And the powers to be only let us vote for those who they approve.
18
Quite right Kevin. Evidently most Americans either slept through, or weren't even required to take civics or American history in high school. A large contributor to their degree of self-delusion.
5
It must be said, the United States of America once a beacon for democracy has fallen very far from that perch. These days in order to denigrate the USA all you need do is print the truth. Runaway money corruption, torture, racial crimes, voter suppression, war making, failing infrastructure...etc. The list is very long. I can certainly understand why people in other countries might be concerned about our style of democracy.
172
How many are you willing to switch places with? Yes we have problems a plenty, but few think about moving to very many other better-run, better-off countries.
2
@Richard Fried: But those Americans (and Australians) who denigrate America don't print the truths you list. Instead, they deny them. They print and broadcast doom and gloom and tell their drooling fans that it's all the fault of one man, the Big O.
6
There is another element to this story not mentioned here: the rise of a capitalist culture throughout the world that masquerades as an ideology.
So what if the people aren't free, the money is flowing. This is China today, and Russia, and many, many other countries around the world.
The problem is most pronounced right here in the USA, because we have been promoting this system around the world for a long time. Now our president, supposedly an intelligent man, is pushing the Trans Pacific Partnership which will make things far, far worse. Why will it make things worse? Because it rewards all the wrong people - the accumulators, not the workers.
And more important, it has zero to do with governance and equality and everything to do with money.
We, in the USA, have lost our way.
So what if the people aren't free, the money is flowing. This is China today, and Russia, and many, many other countries around the world.
The problem is most pronounced right here in the USA, because we have been promoting this system around the world for a long time. Now our president, supposedly an intelligent man, is pushing the Trans Pacific Partnership which will make things far, far worse. Why will it make things worse? Because it rewards all the wrong people - the accumulators, not the workers.
And more important, it has zero to do with governance and equality and everything to do with money.
We, in the USA, have lost our way.
256
The evisceration of democratic norms started here in 2000 when Thurd Bush, the Governor of Florida corrupted the election by disenfranchising tens of thousands of legitimate voters and interfered with the vote count. Those criminal actions allowed Bush family retainers on the Supremes to appoint the supremely unqualified scion of the family as President.
The degradation of American norms came fast and furious. Needless war based on a lie, torture as USG policy, torture subcontracted to, among others, Bashar al Assad of Syria. The appointment of Roberts and Alito to the Supremes led straight away to Citizens United empowering the eco terrorists of Koch Propaganda & Pollution, ALEC, Sheldon "We must have war with Iran" Adelson and sundry plutocrats bent on destroying one man one vote and massive voter disenfranchisement schemes.
The degradation of American norms came fast and furious. Needless war based on a lie, torture as USG policy, torture subcontracted to, among others, Bashar al Assad of Syria. The appointment of Roberts and Alito to the Supremes led straight away to Citizens United empowering the eco terrorists of Koch Propaganda & Pollution, ALEC, Sheldon "We must have war with Iran" Adelson and sundry plutocrats bent on destroying one man one vote and massive voter disenfranchisement schemes.
263
Democracy was never so strong in America as Hollywood and the politicians would like us to believe. But certainly it got worse. The "victory" of Bush in 2000 was the culmination of decades of efforts--after all, the SCOTUS that stopped the Florida count had neither Roberts nor Alito as members. A major milestone in the GOP resurgence lies as far back as the defeat of Goldwater in 1964. That JFK could win in 1960 was a shock to the power structure, but Goldwater's failure in 1964 lit a fire under the Right. "Think tanks" were founded and funded. The Federalist Society was formed to promote right-wing judges etc., etc. Reagan, Gingrich, DeLay, Hastert, Boehner...
8
It’s not clear if democracies are in recession, as suggested by Thomas Friedman, or are less forceful in confronting autocrats than they ought to be. It is almost as if we have too much on our plate with the rise of ISIS, the recurrent mess in Ukraine, the saber rattling of Benjamin Netanyahu, the economic stagnation in Europe and the problems caused by Germany’s stubborn austerity and determination to punish Greece.
If we simply have not found the time to address a two-bit tyrant like Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, we better make time. He has dusted off an old and trusted tool of politicians trying to hide the failures of their regimes: blame everything on the Jews. Leaders of the western democracies absolutely must take time to condemn such anti-Semitic rants publicly – not as a passing comment in a news conference, but in speeches devoted solely to the subject.
Foes of democracy like Erdogan have a much easier job than politicians in a democracy, who gain and hold office only if an informed electorate is persuaded that they speak the truth. He lies with relative impunity. Erdogan, and others like him, happily take the world concern about Netanyahu’s efforts to thwart peace with the Palestinians and use that concern as a springboard to preach distrust of Israel and of Jews in general. It is up to leaders of democratic states to decry such tactics in loud and clear voices.
If we simply have not found the time to address a two-bit tyrant like Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, we better make time. He has dusted off an old and trusted tool of politicians trying to hide the failures of their regimes: blame everything on the Jews. Leaders of the western democracies absolutely must take time to condemn such anti-Semitic rants publicly – not as a passing comment in a news conference, but in speeches devoted solely to the subject.
Foes of democracy like Erdogan have a much easier job than politicians in a democracy, who gain and hold office only if an informed electorate is persuaded that they speak the truth. He lies with relative impunity. Erdogan, and others like him, happily take the world concern about Netanyahu’s efforts to thwart peace with the Palestinians and use that concern as a springboard to preach distrust of Israel and of Jews in general. It is up to leaders of democratic states to decry such tactics in loud and clear voices.
2
A politician cannot publicly speak plainly and directly about anything without igniting a mass media freak-out in the US.
This is extremely unfortunate, because politics is the only process we have to negotiate the social contract. One cannot negotiate contracts properly by denial of the real issues.
This is extremely unfortunate, because politics is the only process we have to negotiate the social contract. One cannot negotiate contracts properly by denial of the real issues.
3
If an American politician is going to be lambasted by the media no matter what the politician says, then speaking always carries a risk, but the content of what the politician chooses to say is risk free.
The only safe route is silence, until people start to notice the silence. but voicing an unpopular opinion is not as risky for a politician as people think.
The only safe route is silence, until people start to notice the silence. but voicing an unpopular opinion is not as risky for a politician as people think.
1
It is highly doubtful that Israel would want to topple Erdogan. Israel likes dictators that leave them alone, and for the most part Erdogan is a soon to be autocrat who usually sides with the US and Israel.
However, look at recent history. Netanyahu came to the US and interfered with our Presidential election, openly trying to supplant OUR leader with a person he felt he could better control. In just a few weeks Bibi returns with yet another attempt to undermine our President in front of our Congress.
It is no secret that the Israeli government seeks active regime change throughout the Middle East, most recently Iran. Netanyahu is seething that we haven't acted as his puppet and attacked Iran yet.
So its hardly farcical that Israel is meddling in Turkey, especially after Turkey sent aid to Palestine
Bibi is making no friends in the world these days. Only confirming the worst fears of the world.
As for American "democracy", where corporations are peoole and $1 =1 vote? Spare me.
We live in a Corporatocracy. Our leaders have learned from abroad, and are bringing financial crises and sectarian thinking to the US, in order to divide us so that they can break up our country and asset strip our wealth.
And they're winning. Easily.
Don't like it? Well you can vote for the pro corporate war hawk Clinton or the pro corporate war hawk Bush.
However, look at recent history. Netanyahu came to the US and interfered with our Presidential election, openly trying to supplant OUR leader with a person he felt he could better control. In just a few weeks Bibi returns with yet another attempt to undermine our President in front of our Congress.
It is no secret that the Israeli government seeks active regime change throughout the Middle East, most recently Iran. Netanyahu is seething that we haven't acted as his puppet and attacked Iran yet.
So its hardly farcical that Israel is meddling in Turkey, especially after Turkey sent aid to Palestine
Bibi is making no friends in the world these days. Only confirming the worst fears of the world.
As for American "democracy", where corporations are peoole and $1 =1 vote? Spare me.
We live in a Corporatocracy. Our leaders have learned from abroad, and are bringing financial crises and sectarian thinking to the US, in order to divide us so that they can break up our country and asset strip our wealth.
And they're winning. Easily.
Don't like it? Well you can vote for the pro corporate war hawk Clinton or the pro corporate war hawk Bush.
85
You're right on most points, but you end with the cynicism that the Right loves. SCOTUS after Bush or SCOTUS after Clinton? Your cynicism gives us the former. Wake up.
7
Ironically, Obama is trying to promote "regime change" in Israel by promoting the Herzog/Livni "Zionist Camp" in the upcoming March 17th Israeli national election. Despite the antipathy between Turkey's Erdogan and Israel's Netanyahu, both nations share a thriving and profitable bi-national trade relationship, which neither wants to disrupt.
Certainly, Mr. Netanyahu wants friendly regimes in the region, yet unlike the U.S. has not overthrown nearly as many governments as the U.S., as in Guatemala, Chile, and but for a post Cuban Missile Crisis agreement with the Soviet Union, Cuba. The U.S. has the "Monroe Doctrine" to prevent hostile intervention in the hemisphere; why shouldn't Israel, in the interest of its national defense, have its counterpart?
One critical correction in your assertion of "facts," must be made; Turkey did not send "aid" to the Palestinians, but sent a boatload of armed pro-Hamas armed terrorists into Israeli territorial waters for propaganda purposes. Nine armed Turks were killed when the Israeli Navy interdicted the ship, which Erdogan has exploited to raise his image among Palestinians.
Certainly, Mr. Netanyahu wants friendly regimes in the region, yet unlike the U.S. has not overthrown nearly as many governments as the U.S., as in Guatemala, Chile, and but for a post Cuban Missile Crisis agreement with the Soviet Union, Cuba. The U.S. has the "Monroe Doctrine" to prevent hostile intervention in the hemisphere; why shouldn't Israel, in the interest of its national defense, have its counterpart?
One critical correction in your assertion of "facts," must be made; Turkey did not send "aid" to the Palestinians, but sent a boatload of armed pro-Hamas armed terrorists into Israeli territorial waters for propaganda purposes. Nine armed Turks were killed when the Israeli Navy interdicted the ship, which Erdogan has exploited to raise his image among Palestinians.
3
What Friedman does not address in this otherwise excellent op-ed is the cultural and political context for much of what he describes.From a cultural perspective,the US is a democracy that is maturing chronologically but becoming more immature culturally,resulting in well known childish "truisms" like "age is just a number","I can afford it if I can make the payments" and "follow your dream".Tragically but predictably,this comes at a time when being an accountable adult is more important than ever,given the unprecedented importance of relevant education and skill in maintaining a standard of living.As a result,large groups prefer to play the "blame game",leading to the election of extremists,loud lightweights and opportunists and resulting in gridlock and subversion.Culturally,there is little difference between our denial of the inevitable if sad reality for the Middle Class as we knew it ,the Greeks electing a leadership that promised the impossible ,or the Germans conveniently forgetting that their economy boomed partly because the Euro made it possible for countries like Greece to get into the mess they are in.Add to that the chilling Winter following the Arab Spring and the evolution of Russia and it's Ex Soviet satellites into kleptocracies and once again it seems clear that culture trumps strategy or democratic ideals.
The good news is that while cultures takes a long time to change,it often does eventually adapt.Then and only then will Democracy come out of recession.
The good news is that while cultures takes a long time to change,it often does eventually adapt.Then and only then will Democracy come out of recession.
6
If our "democracy" is looked to as the gold standard that all others should aspire towards and emulate, the recent degradation of so many fledgling democratic systems around world is perfectly understandable. These countries are not, in fact, averting their eyes from our beacon, but have instead fixated their gaze on it. They are doing a wonderful job of heading our lead in expediting the changes towards increased militarization, plutocracy, corruption, inequality, callousness, polarization and anti-intellectualism we have been pioneering for some time now. In this, "American Exceptionalism" and Imperialism is alive and well.
90
And the symbolic importance of the fiasco which is the project of promoting democracy in Iraq, as pointed out in an earlier comment @Matt Guest. War on terror was framed as promoting democracy, not as supplanting democracy -- an important point to consider.
2
Our supposed "dysfunction" in America is entirely intentional. It is a strategy by the Republican party, and its far right allies, both to prove the national govt. can't operate successfully and to undermine the functioning capacities of our democratic system through barriers to voting. It can safely be compared to a war on democracy. It is being waged by massive amounts of money rather than arms. (Ferguson, Mo., represents an example of another front of democratic suppression, the entanglement of black citizens in the legal system to limit economic attainment and discourage civic participation.)
The movement against democracy has openly declared some of its goals, but the major media, seeking to be "balanced" and "objective" can't seem to push itself to report clearly and directly on these efforts. One, championed by Rick Perry of Texas, proposed to eliminate the direct election of US senators and return that responsibility to state legislatures, removing direct citizen voting.
Gerrymandering of House districts, carried out by both parties when they have the power, is an open means of discounting the votes of citizens. Voters are herded into multiple districts where their ballots can be countered by voters of opposing views.
The voters are angry and frustrated, swinging back and forth between optimism and complete pessimism. Our democracy is unlikely to survive the onslaught of outside, dark money along with these other efforts to undermine and destroy it.
Doug Terry
The movement against democracy has openly declared some of its goals, but the major media, seeking to be "balanced" and "objective" can't seem to push itself to report clearly and directly on these efforts. One, championed by Rick Perry of Texas, proposed to eliminate the direct election of US senators and return that responsibility to state legislatures, removing direct citizen voting.
Gerrymandering of House districts, carried out by both parties when they have the power, is an open means of discounting the votes of citizens. Voters are herded into multiple districts where their ballots can be countered by voters of opposing views.
The voters are angry and frustrated, swinging back and forth between optimism and complete pessimism. Our democracy is unlikely to survive the onslaught of outside, dark money along with these other efforts to undermine and destroy it.
Doug Terry
158
Gerrymandering seeks to concentrate all of the opposition's voters into as few election districts as possible.
9
Steve Bolger, I believe you are correct, but the second objective is to put the opposition into districts where their votes are cancelled out. In terms of concentrating Democrats votes into like minded areas, the Democrats did this to themselves in the effort to allow more blacks to be elected to Congress. By creating such districts, they also created safe Republican districts in neighboring areas.
3
There is still hope if enough people, in my country and yours, vote for their best interests in the upcoming elections in the next two years. This is crucial. It may be our last chance before we fall into the pit you describe.
1
Particularly important in Diamond's analysis is that the decline of freedoms and democracy around the globe is so frequently tied to corruption and nontransparent money influencing politicians, resulting in bad governance. Particularly troublesome is that this is occurring so visibly in our own back yard, and supported by a Supreme Court that has lost the idea that they are there to protect our freedoms rather than to enhance the power of the richest few.
32
The US Senate is the most grossly undemocratic elected body in any purported democracy on this planet.
5
When you think about the impact of all the Republican Gerrymandering after the 2010 election; the vast amounts of money going into elections and lobbying; rightwing efforts to undermine voting rights; and the generally dismal voter turnout even under the best of circumstances its hard to think of America as still a democracy in anything other then in name alone.
74
As for the decline of democracy here in the US, you can lay that right at the feet of those reckless Republicans who keep stopping our president at every turn, but offer little of their own solutions. We need an all-out campaign to make all Americans aware of the effects of these policies - world-wide. Also, many of the governments that are losing their democracy never had much of one to begin with. Religions, and tribal policies deter a real democracy in Africa. As for Turkey I feel sorry for the people of that country which I visited only a few years ago. Americans should vote with their dollars and their feet and avoid entirely visiting this country. The loss of tourist dollars will bring home to the more modern Turks the results and losses to their once proud country.
10
Democratic Government is the only way ordinary people have some say in how they are governed and democracy is too precious to be relegated to history.
6
Tell us how to rescue our democracy from the clutches of the Right and their lying corporate media?
12
Tom, has it ever occurred to you that not every country is meant to be a democracy? Most of the countries you've mentioned have been ruled by tyrants, dictators, warlords, and absolute monarchs for centuries. Only the strong survived at the top and whoever was in charge ruled with an iron fist. Therefore you can't expect subjected people who are used to being told what to do to suddenly decide who's going to be in charge for themselves. So why even bother. We mistakenly thought we could finally turn Iraq into the model of a modern Middle East democracy. That worked out great didn't it!!! Instead of democracy we're stuck with ISIS whose motto is Take Prisoners and Kill Them. And let's face reality--things aren't going to get better anytime soon.
3
Democracy indeed is in recession because Francis Fukuyama was wrong that history had ended because everyone had bought into liberal, democratic capitalism: radical, Islamist jihadists as well as resurgent dictatorial nationalists daily present alternatives to what Fukuyama argued 23 years ago was a creed that had been inarguably established.
What Fukuyama missed was the narcotic allure of the religious berserker who has nothing worldly of his own, so gives himself up utterly to the dictates of a deity whose laws are defined by men -- who often suspiciously define those dictates in ways that benefit the definers; and the interests of the state buccaneer who yearns for power fueled by the sweat of other people. If we do nothing about it, they may win; and thus we see democracy in recession.
The president sees failings in religious extremists, in Putin's post-Soviet imperial designs and even Erdogan's Turkey, that suggest that they don't pose an existential threat to the west. He's wrong. They're all offering alternatives to democracy: either access to heaven to compensate for dreadful lives, or national pride based on conquest of what others have built.
But his blithe dismissal of these forces is one with his entire view of America and its role in the world: we're no better than anyone else, so where do we get off throwing our weight around? Democracy is in recession because the man who should be its greatest defender isn't willing to pull the trigger and fight for it.
What Fukuyama missed was the narcotic allure of the religious berserker who has nothing worldly of his own, so gives himself up utterly to the dictates of a deity whose laws are defined by men -- who often suspiciously define those dictates in ways that benefit the definers; and the interests of the state buccaneer who yearns for power fueled by the sweat of other people. If we do nothing about it, they may win; and thus we see democracy in recession.
The president sees failings in religious extremists, in Putin's post-Soviet imperial designs and even Erdogan's Turkey, that suggest that they don't pose an existential threat to the west. He's wrong. They're all offering alternatives to democracy: either access to heaven to compensate for dreadful lives, or national pride based on conquest of what others have built.
But his blithe dismissal of these forces is one with his entire view of America and its role in the world: we're no better than anyone else, so where do we get off throwing our weight around? Democracy is in recession because the man who should be its greatest defender isn't willing to pull the trigger and fight for it.
7
How were U.S. interests advanced the last time a U.S. president pulled the trigger in the name of defending democracy? In his second inaugural, George W. Bush said "we have lit a fire ... it warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world." GWB said this in January 2005. As Larry Diamond documents, democracy in recession began twelve months later.
The Bush administration lit a fire alright. Far from turning into "an untamed fire of freedom," the spark turned into a conflagration of animosity that blazes to this day. And the arsonists? They're off painting self-portraits in bathrooms and doing book tours.
The Bush administration lit a fire alright. Far from turning into "an untamed fire of freedom," the spark turned into a conflagration of animosity that blazes to this day. And the arsonists? They're off painting self-portraits in bathrooms and doing book tours.
15
Such a short memory. The last president, the ready, fire, aim president, certainly said all the right things and pulled plenty of triggers. Where did that leave the world? The chaos in the ME and Russian expansionism seem logical in reaction to the realization that the USA can pull all the triggers it wants only to reveal our inability to actually shape events. The current president has made immense progress in reordering our priorities and making it clear that we are no longer the worlds policemen. Only thoughtful coalitions can address these hot spots. The bigger fear is here at home, where divide and conquer, race to the bottom Rebuplicanism has taken our democracy hostage.
10
@Richard Luettgen: The President doesn't want to fight for democracy and neither does the rest of this country. It's the rich and "powerful" who want us to do the fighting, sending the children of the poor to countries whose own citizens aren't, for the most part, much interested in democracy. So, Richard, whose kids do YOU want to send?
9
It's all but inarguable that the "democracy" put on display in Iraq after the American invasion in 2003 has given the word a bad name and disillusioned tens of millions to its potential. The previous US administration quite clearly convinced the world that the only democracies it preferred were the ones that deferred to the United States on major questions, whatever the actual people in those places wanted just wasn't very important to Bush's team. The failure of the Muslim Brotherhood to effectively govern a just-unshackled-Egypt was yet another blow for democracy. We're left in a terrible position, unwilling to support democratic movements in any number of places because the people there have a long memory of our cozy relations with their authoritarian, oppressive regimes and would vote accordingly, thus jeopardizing our perceived national interests in the region. Democracy is in recession in part due to our own mishaps, misjudgments, and the intransigence of the Republican Party, which remains bitter that all it ever really received from the days of Bush dominance were now-substantially reduced tax cuts and the Iraq War AND that the 2009-10-era, Democratic-driven laws are here to stay. It's an open secret around the world just how weak the wars of the last thirteen years have made the US; Ukraine, for one, is now paying that price.
12
"Finally, post-9/11, we let the “war on terror” supplant democracy promotion as our top foreign policy priority,..." -- this observation coming from one of the earliest and most fervent cheerleaders of the war on terror!
"...so any autocrat who collared terrorists won a get-out-of-jail-free-card from America." Hmm, it didn't help Gadaffi, who also gave up his nuclear program.
"...so any autocrat who collared terrorists won a get-out-of-jail-free-card from America." Hmm, it didn't help Gadaffi, who also gave up his nuclear program.
4
The flaws of democracy are evident to everyone. Nobody can argue that today's lobby-driven democracies, led by a tiny political/financial elite, truly reflect the will of the people? And yet, indeed, as Churchill said, all the other systems are worse.
Which raises two questions for political scientists:
1. With all the social media tools available to every citizen, with all our better capability to educate and inform, there must be a better way to take decisions than by choosing representatives in special-interest-financed elections who then take all decisions on all subjects for the next several years? What is the best option out there?
2. How can we (those of us outside the ruling elite) effectively push for a more just and inclusive form of government in a world where all the power currently lies with the political-elite who will surely resist any attempt to diminish or dilute their power.
I can imagine a world where issues like gun-control, immigration, going to war and the like would be openly debated and eventually decided by ALL the people. The details of how to ensure this works well, how to avoid a "dictatorship of the majority" and so on, would need some work, of course, but in principle it would be fairer and would lead to government of the people, by the people and for the people, which we definitely do not have today.
Which raises two questions for political scientists:
1. With all the social media tools available to every citizen, with all our better capability to educate and inform, there must be a better way to take decisions than by choosing representatives in special-interest-financed elections who then take all decisions on all subjects for the next several years? What is the best option out there?
2. How can we (those of us outside the ruling elite) effectively push for a more just and inclusive form of government in a world where all the power currently lies with the political-elite who will surely resist any attempt to diminish or dilute their power.
I can imagine a world where issues like gun-control, immigration, going to war and the like would be openly debated and eventually decided by ALL the people. The details of how to ensure this works well, how to avoid a "dictatorship of the majority" and so on, would need some work, of course, but in principle it would be fairer and would lead to government of the people, by the people and for the people, which we definitely do not have today.
8
Because it is politics, so ask a political scientist. Not bad. But don't forget historians, anthropologists, sociologists -- the everlasting and shining fruition of democracy. ha!
1
So I guess Friedman, coming from his corner, is hinting that this "breakdown" in US democracy is due to the wicked Republicans, as believe and accuse the nouveau left aka the Democrat Party, as it has now warped into. "Alas poor Yorick I knew him well".
2
It's interesting. Friedman barely mentions US politics (and then only to quote a source who blames no faction), but Mr. Rogg claims to know what Friedman is thinking - that it must be the fault of American conservatism and its decade of War on Everything...or maybe that's a conclusion he himself is struggling very hard to reject.
11
Dear Mr Friedman,
Perhaps there are two phenomena at work. On the one hand there is an authoritarian resurgence in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, etc. And in the west there is a crisis of legitimacy. After Enron, Bush V Gore, WMD, torture, Goldman Sachs, LIBOR, legislative breakdown, and on and on, people are right to start "taking note."
Perhaps there are two phenomena at work. On the one hand there is an authoritarian resurgence in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, etc. And in the west there is a crisis of legitimacy. After Enron, Bush V Gore, WMD, torture, Goldman Sachs, LIBOR, legislative breakdown, and on and on, people are right to start "taking note."
34
They vote in Turkey, do they not?
While Erdogan is certainly Cesarean and bigoted it seems you are judging non-western democracies by standards that only a few western democracies live up to.
While Erdogan is certainly Cesarean and bigoted it seems you are judging non-western democracies by standards that only a few western democracies live up to.
6
Is Tom Friedman trying to equate freedom with a country's willingness to go along with the neo liberals?
7
No. Not sure where you got that out of Mr. Friedman's piece. But as I look around the world and see the same things that Mr. Friedman does I would say that our own Declaration of Independence is the gold standard: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." Sadly, it is those rights that are under attack today, even here in the US. I believe that's what Mr. Friedman is referring to, not to the Koch brothers and their minions.
7
Good question, Carolyn Egeli. There is political economy, and then there is also the economic foundation of political systems. More established theories of democracy actually show that the political orientation of the powerful classes matters quite a bit, which seems to me an explanation of the decline in democracy right here.
6
One reason the autocrats and their helpers are so aggressive is that if things go against them, by popular uprising or palace coup, they can claim the fortune they moved abroad for this very possibility. For a fee, the world financial system will hide what the officials and businessmen have corruptly gained, so that they can retire in affluence if they have to flee. We court their money; New York, London, and Miami are full of their investment properties, which often stand empty most of the time but which are there if things go downhill at home.
Greater transparency in financial and legal matters would make it easier to track the real owners behind shell corporations, and for defrauded governments, corporations, and individuals to get their money back. As long as kleptocrats can keep their loot, we will have a multitude of kleptocrats. Ideological autocrats will bind many of their supporters by allowing them to accumulate fortunes abroad for their families. Without buying this sort of support, ideological autocrats must rely on fellow ideologues for support.
The autocrats have been doing better because finance is becoming more powerful and democratic control of finance weaker. More than before, money talks, everything is for sale, and the market itself writes the rules.
Greater transparency in financial and legal matters would make it easier to track the real owners behind shell corporations, and for defrauded governments, corporations, and individuals to get their money back. As long as kleptocrats can keep their loot, we will have a multitude of kleptocrats. Ideological autocrats will bind many of their supporters by allowing them to accumulate fortunes abroad for their families. Without buying this sort of support, ideological autocrats must rely on fellow ideologues for support.
The autocrats have been doing better because finance is becoming more powerful and democratic control of finance weaker. More than before, money talks, everything is for sale, and the market itself writes the rules.
186
Whhat about Egypt. No former President and friends or family are now in jail.
3