Is democracy under threat in the USA?

Valletta

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I was tempted to answer that I agreed: that OAN, Newsman, Fox (particularly Hannity and Carlson), etc. have such lopsided reporting towards Republicans that it is threatening the nation. I find it odd that when Trump supporters talk of "the Media" they discount any right wing media -- even though other times they'll crow about how right wing media gets much higher ratings.

To me, this is where the real issue lies -- the polarization of the country. I've seen news reports (from right wing sources) and even speeches from those on the right where they talk about the left as "enemies of America" and "traitors," that they are all out to destroy America. Of course, objectively this is not true.

Yet we are quickly getting to a point where we have trouble even talking about it. I fully expect someone to argue with me that Democrats are actively trying to destroy America. It is this type of thinking -- that the other side is an "enemy" and must be stopped at all costs (and there is a lot of "fight" and "kill" rhetoric coming from some of the more extreme on the Right) -- that seems to be a threat to destroy the United States in the near future.
Not all Democrats, but the Marxists, call them progressives if you wish, have implemented policies which indeed are a great threat to America. Look at the cities run by these Democrats--Chicago, Portland, New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis--this is what happens when you abolish the rule of law.
 
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LockeeDeck

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We can't have fair elections without Voter ID. Without fair elections democracy is under threat. Yes.

Agreed on the fair elections but voter id is an overblown issue on all sides.

I'm more concerned with the gerrymandering and the recent laws passed that allow state legislators to overturn elections.
 
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grasping the after wind

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If the loser rejecting the results of an election puts democracy at risk, then it was at risk when Gore refused to accept the results of a free and fair election and again when Clinton refused to accept the results of a free and fair election. However, the people fear mongering about democracy being at risk because Trump did the same as the other two never spoke up against Gore or Clinton so their sudden concern seems to be no more than partisan political nonsense to me. Saying " I was robbed" won't bring down the democratic process as [proven by the fact that it has survived people saying that since the century began.
 
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LockeeDeck

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If the loser rejecting the results of an election puts democracy at risk, then it was at risk when Gore refused to accept the results of a free and fair election and again when Clinton refused to accept the results of a free and fair election. However, the people fear mongering about democracy being at risk because Trump did the same as the other two never spoke up against Gore or Clinton so their sudden concern seems to be no more than partisan political nonsense to me. Saying " I was robbed" won't bring down the democratic process as [proven by the fact that it has survived people saying that since the century began.

Two key differences, one is that they won the popular vote by a wide margin and in every democracy in the world except ours that would mean they won. The second is that they didn't go around calling election officials asking for them to overturn the election and then suggest to their supporters that the election was stolen and that they need to fight to take it back.
 
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NxNW

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We can't have fair elections without Voter ID. Without fair elections democracy is under threat. Yes.

Voter ID is just another poll tax to discriminate against people who can't afford documentation.
 
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NxNW

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If the loser rejecting the results of an election puts democracy at risk, then it was at risk when Gore refused to accept the results of a free and fair election and again when Clinton refused to accept the results of a free and fair election.

Neither of these things happened.
 
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DamianWarS

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A great many Christians seem to prefer a theocracy to democracy
Americans don't want a theocracy and if they say that they don't know what a theocracy is. They want a country run under a branding of God but not actually run by God in any way.
 
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Ana the Ist

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My American grandfather joined the British army to defend democracy over here in Europe in 1939. But is it now under threat back home in the USA?

I'd say so...to some degree.

There are a number of reasons why many amongst Americas many friends around the world have growing concerns.

I bet.

1) Trump lost the election, but a significant proportion of the Republican party continues to deny that. This non-acceptance of a clear result undermines the legitimacy of American democracy globally.

This gets overblown. There's certainly some fringe elements that believe this....but constantly talking about them makes the group appear larger.

I know many on the right...none believe Trump won.

2) Republican legislatures are busy changing the ways votes are counted so that Trump or Trump's candidate will win in 2024.

Are you referring to election laws?

3) A great many Christians seem to prefer a theocracy to democracy and consider that the Democrats have now gone so far beyond the pale with LGBTQ rights etc that is time for a forced restoration of Christian America whether or not the majority of people want that or not.

What do you think?

I've never heard of any Christian claiming to want a theocracy. They push their values and beliefs....like anyone else.

What I will say that despite being called immoral, sinful, godless, heathen, and every other name in the book...they never sought to remove me or my voice from the public sphere for disagreement.

I'm fully aware that as an atheist....many many Christians have a view of me that is innately a person of evil or at least untrustworthy. There's polls showing it.

Again, they have never sought to silence me....even once. Never said I should be fired for my views, never said that I should be banned for my beliefs.

So while they certainly feel strongly about several issues....they've been remarkably tolerant of those who disagree.

The problem is mostly on the left. It's caused a reaction on the right.
 
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Ana the Ist

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Definitely the most serious of the three. The baseless accusations of significant fraud are eroding confidence in our elections -- at least on one side. This is leading to them not voting. Once upon a time, that would have been fine. We used to say 'if you didn't vote, you don't get to complain'. But the participation of nonvoters in the Capitol riot shows that we're getting to a place where people mistrust elections enough to eschew voting and attempt to carry out their own method of choosing a successor.

You're saying this as if the left didn't spend 3 of 4 years under Trump trying to call shenanigans on his election because of some Russian connection....and when the report came back saying it wasn't enough, we all heard them openly state that Mueller should have just lied anyway.

The left has about the exact same confidence in elections as the right. It just manifests differently.
 
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Albion

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My American grandfather joined the British army to defend democracy over here in Europe in 1939. But is it now under threat back home in the USA?

There are a number of reasons why many amongst Americas many friends around the world have growing concerns.

1) Trump lost the election, but a significant proportion of the Republican party continues to deny that. This non-acceptance of a clear result undermines the legitimacy of American democracy globally.

2) Republican legislatures are busy changing the ways votes are counted so that Trump or Trump's candidate will win in 2024.

3) A great many Christians seem to prefer a theocracy to democracy and consider that the Democrats have now gone so far beyond the pale with LGBTQ rights etc that is time for a forced restoration of Christian America whether or not the majority of people want that or not.

What do you think?
Wow. Dead wrong on every one of your points!

I would suggest, if this is a real concern of yours, which I have no reason to doubt, that you give the subject a fresh and deliberately objective study beginning at the start.
 
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Ana the Ist

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Agreed on the fair elections but voter id is an overblown issue on all sides.

Perhaps...but confidence needs to be restored in the process even if it should be there already. I don't know why both sides can't see this when they both spend so much time complaining about the winner and invented conspiracies.

I'm more concerned with the gerrymandering and the recent laws passed that allow state legislators to overturn elections.

I'm actually less concerned about the elections than the narratives.

The left now engages in the same moral bigotry that used to only be on a small side of the right. We are in institutional collapse. Our schools are failing and the answer on the left is to teach every kid a slightly racist perspective to appeal to their bias....preferably by a teacher of the same race. Our border has millions of poor uneducated foreign people flooding across it, during a period of inflation and economic stagnation. Our enemies in Russia and China are gearing up for a military push to grab anything they can from anyone. Our police are so demoralized and stigmatized they've lost more police to gunfire this year than any other in the last 20 years...and the murder rates of many cities are at pre-2000 levels while mass looting has become habitual.

Strong leadership? Nowhere to be found. Just a bunch of clowns who would rather dig in their heels and achieve nothing than be seen working with the other side.

We're in trouble. We're ripe for a dictatorship.
 
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LockeeDeck

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Perhaps...but confidence needs to be restored in the process even if it should be there already. I don't know why both sides can't see this when they both spend so much time complaining about the winner and invented conspiracies.

I'm actually less concerned about the elections than the narratives.

The left now engages in the same moral bigotry that used to only be on a small side of the right. We are in institutional collapse. Our schools are failing and the answer on the left is to teach every kid a slightly racist perspective to appeal to their bias....preferably by a teacher of the same race. Our border has millions of poor uneducated foreign people flooding across it, during a period of inflation and economic stagnation. Our enemies in Russia and China are gearing up for a military push to grab anything they can from anyone. Our police are so demoralized and stigmatized they've lost more police to gunfire this year than any other in the last 20 years...and the murder rates of many cities are at pre-2000 levels while mass looting has become habitual.

Strong leadership? Nowhere to be found. Just a bunch of clowns who would rather dig in their heels and achieve nothing than be seen working with the other side.

We're in trouble. We're ripe for a dictatorship.

Ok boomer
 
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essentialsaltes

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You're saying this as if the left didn't spend 3 of 4 years under Trump trying to call shenanigans on his election because of some Russian connection....and when the report came back saying it wasn't enough, we all heard them openly state that Mueller should have just lied anyway.

The left has about the exact same confidence in elections as the right. It just manifests differently.

poppycock
 
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NxNW

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Never heard of a free tax. Voter IDs are taxpayer funded

No they're not. Plus, the required documentation can be expensive, and in many cases does not exist. Or requires a street address when only PO boxes are available, such as tribal reservations. Voter ID is designed to prevent certain demographics from voting, pure and simple.
 
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LockeeDeck

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The required documentation can be expensive, and in many cases does not exist. Or requires a street address when only PO boxes are available, such as tribal reservations. Voter ID is designed to prevent certain demographics from voting, pure and simple.

There is also the thing with DMVs not being available in poor counties so people there have to travel further during business hours (missing out on work) to get one.
 
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Ana the Ist

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No they're not. Plus, the required documentation can be expensive, and in many cases does not exist. Or requires a street address when only PO boxes are available, such as tribal reservations. Voter ID is designed to prevent certain demographics from voting, pure and simple.

Not just voting....

Driving, going to R rated movies, purchasing alcohol, buying prescription medications, flying on airplanes.

Clearly this is one of those systemic racism things and nobody needs to show ID for all this stuff.

Or this explanation is old and tired.
 
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stevil

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My American grandfather joined the British army to defend democracy over here in Europe in 1939. But is it now under threat back home in the USA?

There are a number of reasons why many amongst Americas many friends around the world have growing concerns.

1) Trump lost the election, but a significant proportion of the Republican party continues to deny that. This non-acceptance of a clear result undermines the legitimacy of American democracy globally.

2) Republican legislatures are busy changing the ways votes are counted so that Trump or Trump's candidate will win in 2024.

3) A great many Christians seem to prefer a theocracy to democracy and consider that the Democrats have now gone so far beyond the pale with LGBTQ rights etc that is time for a forced restoration of Christian America whether or not the majority of people want that or not.

What do you think?
All of the above
PLUS
Americans are extremely divided.
Right wing media generalises and portrays anyone that is left as being radical socialists, and are trying to scare their audience against all left folk..
Your govt structure means come the mid terms the opposition owns the house or the senate and obstructs and nothing gets done.
 
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