Democracy Has Outlived Its Usefulness

Democracy has served its purpose, and if we don’t stop harping on “the preservation of democracy” as the reason we oppose the right wing, we will lose in 2024. And even if we win in 2024, democracy’s flaws will remain, and the current crisis will repeat itself.

[I recognize that “democracy” and “republic” are not the same. But I will not bother distinguishing them because most Americans equate the two.]

Putting aside for the moment the enormous damage that
Trump and his people have done in the last eight years (and are still doing), his presence has highlighted the weaknesses in our system of government.

The Supreme Court, which was supposed to be the great protector of not just property interests but also human rights, has become a partisan hack. And it took very little effort to convert the Court to what it is now.

Congress, which was supposed to speak for the majority of Americans by passing legislation addressing the needs of that majority, has come to a complete standstill under the “direction” of a few self-serving extremists. And democracy seems to have no mechanism to stop the control by a few.

And the default of the Court and Congress has resulted in an inordinate amount of power shifting to the Presidency. And although I believe that Biden still seeks a Congress…