fwiw Ted Lowi used to say that pure democracy would be putting every citizen's name in a hat and drawing out the lucky winner. No votes are necessary. carry on.
In a theoretical sense that might be argued but still isn't a given. In practical terms it is absolutely about counting votes.
Lethargic about Democracy is also assuming it's just going to be there tomorrow. A large number of people are understandably worried about inflation and kitchen table issues and will vote to change course (away from whoever is in power). Normal and typical but what's different this time is they are about to change course to an anti-democratic party (to take it from theory to possible reality). People want solutions (or get rid of those that have no solution to their current problems), not a system (or a process) and democracy is a system / a process. Eventually, democracy dies when the timing is just right. I think we are there with the timing. Mainstream anti-democratic party. Experts and elites are rejected. The economy has failed too many people. Plus, perception of how horrible many things are.
Are you sure that isn't a pure dictatorship? Inside the definition of democracy is the specification of "government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state", that's impossible in the scenario of randomly picking 1 person to be in control with "no votes necessary". I simply cannot carry on
What's interesting in all this rhetoric is the assumption people don't hear the "Democracy is on the ballot" messaging. It's not that people aren't hearing it...It's just they are rejecting it. It especially sounds hollow as a campaign slogan...Democracy is on the ballot...isn't that kind of what an election is all about? Even more so, if Democracy is in such deep trouble and the MAGA people are the cause...how is it Trump is out of office or that Democrats currently control every facet of government? Trump and his MAGA supporters (he survived 2 impeachments) had it before and yet DESPITE the fact they felt the election was fishy and January 6th occurred, they gave up the reigns of government. Even Trump left the White House on January 20, 2021. Voters are thinking, "Doesn't that kind of prove the rhetoric is overwrought?" Democrats are viewed by the majority of people as out of touch with regular people problems, too married to the extreme left of their party and lastly the party of the kid who cries wolf. For all of the "election denier" stuff (and there has absolutely been much from the MAGA people) they seem to have poor memories of their own people also denying election results going back to 2000 when their own leaders (Clinton, Abrams, others). The message is dumb and will be viewed decades from now as farcical and a desperate attempt by non serious people to save that which could not be saved...mainly the failed first 2 years results of the Biden Administration.
[ You got your facts wrong. The GOP could care less about the average person's needs. It's the Democrats who actually try to help them. If you believe that the GOP gives a damn then tell me why they voted no to just about any issue to address the needs of the "regular guy" who is not frequenting the prestigious country clubs snobbing it up with the rich socialites. The GOP wants to cater to the billionaires, oil barons, gun distributers, gun manufacturers, and NRA who line their pockets. Keep telling yourself that stuff to justify you supporting a party of liars who incited an insurrection with their Stop the Steal propaganda and lies. They knew Trump lost! That party full of Election deniers, QKooks, racists, bigots, White Nationalists, propaganda spreaders, and liars don't give a damn about what you call regular people. They are supported by radical right hate groups who like their messaging, and that's not a good thing.
The fact that anyone refuses to care about democracy doesn't change the issue. What this does is expose how little people cared about it all along. I think it's likely a combination of were only paying lip-service to how much they cared about it to begin with, are uniformed about candidates positions regarding it, are more focused on just sticking to people that they don't agree with that they are willing to put democracy in the back seat.
A referendum on Democracy sure. To follow along on Dagger and Franchise's last two posts, if people snark at the notion that Democracy is on the line, and then literally vote for a party who is openly promoting autocracy, it says ALOT about how possibly a majority of Americans really thought about Democracy to begin with. Idiocracy has become more of a documentary than a comedy. Unfortunately America has been too privileged, and raised too many whiny cry babies who just want to live in a shroud of ignorance. Or maybe the wake up call will actually wake people up and this vote proves that people DO ACTUALLY CARE. I guess we'll know in about 48 hours.
no, a referendum on the party in control of White House/Congress the last two years which isn't unusual, President's party always loses House seats in the midterm
This is all correct. It isn't unusual. It's almost always the case that people in control of the white house lose seats in the midterms. But there is something unusual about these elections. One party is running a majority of candidates that are against democracy.
In a normal presidency in a normal democracy yes.... a mid term election usually is. However you are a fool if you think this is a normal election in a normal stable democracy. That's kind of the point that we are discussing here and why it's first more of a referendum on what people think about Democracy. If you literally vote for someone who is running on overturning the results of any election they don't like using their power just because you are upset that gas prices are 3 dollars a gallon here in the states when it is like 6 dollars a gallon in most Western countries then I personally think that says alot about your opinion of Democracy given your priorities. That and how spoiled Americans are. The fact is, compared to most countries, it's a non-debatable that we've thrived economically compared to virtually everyone else coming out of the global pandemic. If it's really a fair analysis on economics by voters (and I don't claim for a minute that it will be) there's no reason why the Democrats would do better than expected even if they do end up losing the House on the margins. I do for sure concede though that Independent voters just really enjoy split governments, and ignorance on economic conditions that lead for them always to think doom and gloom and that always hurts the party in power. So of course, I definitely think the Democrats could lose both the House and Senate either way. However the fact that above EVERYTHING looms the threat of Republicans literally out in the open running on overturning Democracy into whatever the hell they fantasize about, does ultimately make it a referendum on that because it supersedes everything. Without Democracy, there are no policy positions in the future we get a say so on. It's a total F-you to the who system, and opting for Idiocracy and fantasy. A true political Metaverse where reality is whatever you put your goggles on and see based on what Facebook channel you subscribe to.
I agree "Democracy" is a tough message and the Democrats aren't doing a good job on the message. Things like the economy are more immediate to people's lives. The electorate in many ways is like Clutchfans. After Game three when the Stros were shut out Clutchfans was awash with negativity.: the team was done. The season was over. The Stros season was a mirage and it was a failure. A lot of it is what is the immediate issue, Stros bats cold. The same can be said that the current situation is the economy is cold and that is hurting Democrats chances. That doesn't mean this isn't an issue. When there are candidates literally running on that if they win they won't certify elections if their team loses and when state legislatures are arguing they can overturn elections that is a threat to democracy.
I just watched the Maher piece and he does state the problems well. Democracy has always been a fragile thing and is one reason why the Founders were suspcious of direct democracy. They looked at things like the Senate and electoral college as safeguards against a populist demagogue taking power. Having been familiar with the rise of tyrannies in ancient Greece and Rome and specifically what was happening in France at the time they felt if left on their own the public would fall prey to charismatic leaders running on fear and anger. As such they saw the Senate and Electoral College as "wise men" who would calm the passions of the electorate and keep out tyrants. What they couldn't foresee though was how those tools could be exploited by populists who even though they cannot get a majority of the electorate could use them to gain power. How a party that had long been interested in maintianing power even as their vote shrunk could be taken over by a demagogue and then using those methods to shut down the check of a popular vote even more. As Maher points out we're seeing the rise of strongmen with pretensions to autocracy around the World the unique American problem is that this isn't a majority sweeping them into power it is a minority of the country.
What does this even mean? Are you saying elections in the future will be cancelled if Republicans take back congress?
Right on time. Here's a British guy trying to be funny explaining the situation actually pretty well:
The end of Democracy crap doesn't resonate, it was TERRIBLE to wrap a campaign around that, hit them with Jan 6th supporters, those that support lies and untruths, hit them with Roe v Wade and the cruelty of the GOP...... Don't be ****ING VAGUE be direct. DD
I think it means that 60 percent of people in a party believe that they won a election they lost by millions of votes... Hence why democracy is on a downward spiral in America. Cool beans I guess.
