How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future

[Gotcha68]

"Take a look at the summary taken from "How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future" (Steven Livitsky and Daniel Ziblatt), pp 126-127 ... This is why civics education is so important ... an intelligent electorate understands that their are unwritten rules which support a constitutional governmental system. When those rules are scrapped and ignored simply for power and brinksmanship, the democracy is endangered ... as it appears to be presently. In all fairness, Donald Trump is the symptom of the disease of partisanship, not the cause ... Trump has been created and sustained by that disease.

"Is it possible that it is not the Constitution which has, in the past, made the American political system work, instead is has been our "unwritten rules": For our system to work properly the executive branch, Congress and the judiciary must strike a delicate balance. But when partisan hatred trumps politician's commitment to the spirit of the Constitution, the system of checks and balances risks being subverted in two ways: a) Under divided government the risk is constitutional hardball in which the opposition deploys its institutional prerogatives as far as it can extend them --- from defunding government, blocking all presidential judicial appointments and even voting to remove the president; b) Under unified government the risk is not confrontation but abdication. If partisan animosity prevails over mutual toleration, those in control of congress may prioritize defense of the president over the performance of their constitutional duties. In an effort to stave off opposition victory, they may abandon their oversight role, enabling the president to get away with abusive, illegal, and even authoritarian acts. Such a transformation from watchdog into lapdog ---"

Nathan Breen

I have this book on my table waiting to be read but I found this comment about it interesting.

[Sailor]

"Take a look at the summary taken from "How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future" (Steven Livitsky and Daniel Ziblatt), pp 126-127 ... This is why civics education is so important ... an intelligent electorate understands that their are unwritten rules which support a constitutional governmental system. When those rules are scrapped and ignored simply for power and brinksmanship, the democracy is endangered ... as it appears to be presently. In all fairness, Donald Trump is the symptom of the disease of partisanship, not the cause ... Trump has been created and sustained by that disease.

"Is it possible that it is not the Constitution which has, in the past, made the American political system work, instead is has been our "unwritten rules": For our system to work properly the executive branch, Congress and the judiciary must strike a delicate balance. But when partisan hatred trumps politician's commitment to the spirit of the Constitution, the system of checks and balances risks being subverted in two ways: a) Under divided government the risk is constitutional hardball in which the opposition deploys its institutional prerogatives as far as it can extend them --- from defunding government, blocking all presidential judicial appointments and even voting to remove the president; b) Under unified government the risk is not confrontation but abdication. If partisan animosity prevails over mutual toleration, those in control of congress may prioritize defense of the president over the performance of their constitutional duties. In an effort to stave off opposition victory, they may abandon their oversight role, enabling the president to get away with abusive, illegal, and even authoritarian acts. Such a transformation from watchdog into lapdog ---"

Nathan Breen

I have this book on my table waiting to be read but I found this comment about it interesting.

You should forward this to every Senator and Congressman. They all seem to have forgotten the basics.

[dukkha]

Our system of checks and balances is solid -but any system can be undermined by determination to do so.
We used to be the envy of the world,now countries shy away from the american model.

what changed? not the model but the way we game the system.

It's assumed the players want an outcome that is beneficial to the country.
But when grotesque partisanship ( or deligitimization) becomes the only deciding factor...
down the drain it goes.

[Legion]

Donald Trump is the symptom of the disease of partisanship, not the cause ... Trump has been created and sustained by that disease.

Another Trump-bashing screed masquerading as non-fiction?

[Jack]

Amy Chua has written an interesting book on 'Political Tribes'. One example is the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, another is the Chinese in Malasia. It's really an account of what is in store for America. Homogenous countries (like China) have a distinct advantage over 'multicultural' countries.

[Legion]

Amy Chua has written an interesting book on 'Political Tribes'. One example is the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, another is the Chinese in Malasia. It's really an account of what is in store for America. Homogenous countries (like China) have a distinct advantage over 'multicultural' countries.

Is it a thinly-disguised liberal hatchet job on Trump/conservatives?

[Frank Apisa]

Excepting Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans have never actually been good leaders...they simply do not have the knack for it. They have, over the years, been an exceptional loyal opposition...great at keeping the many excesses of liberal policy in control.

That is what they should be now.

Instead, they have gained control of both the House and Senate...and the White House. Their influence in the judiciary has gone ape. They control two-thirds of the governorships and the legislative branches of the states.

Horrible scenario for our country considering their incompetence.

Our democracy may die...and if not, certainly not for lack of Republican trying. We certainly have the makings of death right now.

My hope is that we will avoid it.

[Legion]

Excepting Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans have never actually been good leaders...they simply do not have the knack for it.

So you say.

[Jack]

No. I don't think so. She's made an observation, and written a book about it. Think: Yugoslavia.
A hundred years ago, America was a mostly white Christian nation. Now there are many groups rising to political power and tugging at each other.
China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, North Korea are homogenous and 'one directional' (for better or worse).
G68 is talking about 'Democracies Dying'. I can see our partisanship destroying us.

[tinfoil]

Our system of checks and balances is solid -but any system can be undermined by determination to do so.
We used to be the envy of the world,now countries shy away from the american model.

what changed? not the model but the way we game the system.

It's assumed the players want an outcome that is beneficial to the country.
But when grotesque partisanship ( or deligitimization) becomes the only deciding factor...
down the drain it goes.

Perverse incentives: How do they work?

[dukkha]

Perverse incentives: How do they work?

i do not recall that term, and hesitate to guess .
But if you are speaking about hyper-partisanship at the expense of everyone/everything else;
i'm sure you can answer your own question

[kudzu]

Amy Chua has written an interesting book on 'Political Tribes'. One example is the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, another is the Chinese in Malasia. It's really an account of what is in store for America. Homogenous countries (like China) have a distinct advantage over 'multicultural' countries.

I don't know, Jack.. China's reducation facilities force Muslims to drink alcohol and eat pork.

[PostmodernProphet]

which democracies have died?.....

[Gotcha68]

Another Trump-bashing screed masquerading as non-fiction?

Don't read it. That was easy.

[Callinectes]

which democracies have died?.....

I don't care, we're a constitutional republic!