Woher wissen wir, wann wir unsere Demokratie verloren haben?

If his bill passes… US democracy is actually lost, because elections can be cancelled a lot more easily and unilaterally, by the president.

That ship has sailed. Try to keep up.

When the executive is able to financial penalize, detain or incarcerate political foes without due process.

Already gone

Using their own proposed metric, we have to conclude we *have already lost* our democracy.

From the article:

“ How, then, can we tell whether America has crossed the line into authoritarianism? We propose a simple metric: the cost of opposing the government.

Under authoritarianism … opposition comes with a price. Citizens and organizations that run afoul of the government become targets of a range of punitive measures: Politicians may be investigated and prosecuted on baseless or petty charges, media outlets may be hit with frivolous defamation suits or adverse regulatory rulings, businesses may face tax audits or be denied critical contracts or licenses, universities and other civic institutions may lose essential funding or tax-exempt status, and journalists, activists and other critics may be harassed, threatened or physically attacked by government supporters.“

My guy….it’s lost already

We knew – or should have known – on November 5, 2024.

Citizens united. That was it.

Our democracy was lost when we lost our ability to rely on a peaceful transfer of power.

I’d argue we’ve *been* losing it, incrementally, for about 50 years.

Reagan’s many well-documented deleterious actions, the hanging chads, citizens united… lots of contributing data points long before Krasnov was “elected” twice.

When the government defunds public TV and NPR. Oh, wait…

When the government deports people without due process. Oh, wait.

When the dictator attacks enemies by extorting private schools and companies because of criticism. Oh, wait..

When the dictator attacks the free press and makes the press bow down. Oh, wait…

When the dictator and his supporters are enthused about a 3rd term. Oh, wait..

When the dictator changes the names of established physical features and excludes the press from government briefings because they don’t agree to it. Oh, wait..

When the government fires hundreds of thousands of probationary federal workers with no concern for talent or national needs (even though some have to be rehired to be fired later) to skip worker rights. Oh, wait.

When the government stops its agency for disaster relief to states with a governor of the wrong party (see NC.) Oh, wait…

When the dictator’s party passes a bill to end healthcare for millions, removes funding for food assistance for millions of people and many other „features“ to give tax breaks to multi-millionaires and billionaires and raises the tax rate for those making 15K or less. Oh wait…

When the dictator alienates our allies and supports our enemies. Oh, wait..

When the dictator pardons hundreds of insurrectionists for an attempted coup of his own government at his encouragement. Oh, wait..

When … well, I’m tired.

It is now. The US wanted it (don’t give percentages, they don’t matter) and now we’ve got it.

When the Supreme Court unambiguously says “you can’t do that” and he does it, it’s over. We’re perilously close but not quite there yet.

Too late, you’re toast. Best the rest of us outside the US can do is try to withdraw from the decaying tissue, and pray that the infection doesn’t spread.

Every American reading this must understand: No-one is coming to help you. You’re too big to be invaded or motivated externally. You have to do this yourselves. Every one of you. You have to (and I say this with a full awareness of the irony) Take Back Your Government.

Good luck!

It’s already lost

When will we realize we have lost our democracy?

We lost democracy with Citizens United. It’s just taken time for it to go into effect