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OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 1/25/22

Is the Anti-Democracy Movement Reaching a Tipping Point in the US and Around the World?

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Thom Hartmann
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Reprinted from hartmannreport.com

This debate about how humans should govern themselves is the real battle of our time, both metaphorically and literally, both internationally and right here at home.

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Democracy is in trouble, and the Russian/Ukrainian conflict highlights how imperiled it is becoming in the 21st century. The real issue in eastern Ukraine isn't just land, any more than the real issue in the US last week was the filibuster: that's all the noise on the surface.

What's grinding away below the surface, however, is the erosion or outright destruction of democracy itself, whether by invasion from without or corruption from within.

Ukraine and Taiwan represent possible tipping points for democracy internationally, while Republicans passing laws that allow politicians to ignore the results of elections - while the US Senate refuses to stand up for democracy - could be a tipping point here.

Around the world, and in America today, there are nations and politicians who do believe that democracy - governance via the will of the majority, carried out by elected representatives - is the best form of government for a republic.

At the same time, however, there are many who give lip service to democracy to accomplish their political ends but, in reality, believe that authoritarianism and oligarchy are better ways to rule a nation and keep peace around the world.

And that movement toward authoritarianism and away from democracy is growing.

Freedom House reported last year that:

"[T]he share of countries designated Not Free has reached its highest level since the deterioration of democracy began in 2006, and countries with declines in political rights and civil liberties outnumbered those with gains by the largest margin recorded during the 15-year period. The report downgraded the freedom scores of 73 countries, representing 75 percent of the global population."

One of those countries they identified as a place where democracy itself is under assault is the USA, where virtually the entire Republican Party has rejected supporting democracy at home and supporting democratic governments abroad. Case in point - yesterday Congressman Tom Malinowski tweeted:

Tom Malinowski @Malinowski

My office is now getting calls from folks who say they watch Tucker Carlson and are upset that we're not siding with Russia in its threats to invade Ukraine, and who want me to support Russia's "reasonable" positions.

January 24th 2022

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Thom Hartmann is a Project Censored Award-winning New York Times best-selling author, and host of a nationally syndicated daily progressive talk program on the Air America Radio Network, live noon-3 PM ET. www.thomhartmann.com His most recent books are "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight," "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights," "We The People," "What Would Jefferson Do?," "Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle (more...)
 

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