Killing A Democracy and Keeping Watch

Most people understand that our democracy is far from perfect. Our freedoms are challenged and discriminate against many. Economic and racial justice are more often than not, a huge challenge. Our founding fathers (many wish there were some founding mothers, myself included) had no idea how our country and our elections would evolve. They tried mightily to account for every possibility but clearly couldn't envision either the times or the people who may be involved in the unraveling of their work.

Although we may be one of the oldest, we need to understand that democracies do come and go. Some have more resilience than others. Some are able to beat off their enemies decade after decade. But others do succumb to takeovers and their own death. The United States has been challenged in the past and currently faces a number of really serious threats.

These threats to some degree are known and predictable because they appear historically in the destruction and death of other democracies. We can see them, point to them and recount them. History books tell their stories. So we should study closely the fall and demise of other democracies.

Here are a couple of things that can be guaranteed and that we need to be on the watch for as the United States faces its democratic challenges.

The courts and judicial systems are always attacked and almost always first. Judges are ridiculed and faith in whatever judicial system exists are destroyed. Judges and judiciary personnel are forced or thrown from their jobs and replaced with personnel who will do the bidding of the autocrat who is destroying the specific democracy. Courts and a justice system are questioned at every turn and the institution crumbles. The system is stacked with new people, new judges in large numbers.

Next, law enforcement is attacked and manipulated to respond to the autocratic leader's needs and beliefs. Again, the institution and leaders within national or federal law enforcement organizations are ridiculed, challenged and replaced. A reactionary, and politicized police force takes their place.

Both of the above actions set the stage for the silencing and arrest of protesters as well as the shutting down of a free press.

Some will say that we have checks and balances on all of this. Even if the judicial branch is compromised, our system provides for a legislative branch that will hold back the extremes and abuses of an autocratic executive branch of government. But as we see in our experience and environment today, our legislative branch, with partisan leadership, has become a spokesperson for the autocratic leader.

But all is not lost. These threats require that we keep a close watch on the actions of all of our leaders. We can't turn our heads for a moment. We can't make excuses or stay silent. We have to converse. Our conversations may need to move from living rooms and pubs to auditoriums and the streets. These conversations will need to evolve into chants, songs and screams for justice. We will have to organize better than we have up to this point. But I think we can do it. Most importantly - keep watching and be prepared for more that will have to be done.