What does the rest of the world think of American democracy in 2023? Sadly, we are viewed as past our prime. Canadian friends ask how it was possible that Donald Trump was elected president, why our current 80-year-old president is running for re-election, and why “crazy people” sit in the U.S. Congress. A German friend told me Marjorie Taylor Green is better known there than Chuck Schumer and compared Ron DeSantis to Hitler.
My response to questions and comments on American democracy is to remind people that democracy is messy. I say great presidents can be followed by mediocre ones, and we will have great presidents again. I also remind people that challenging times can ruin a presidency and that “failed presidencies” are not always evidence of democracy not working. The Vietnam War, for example, ruined the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, and inflation arguably ruined the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Presidents are not responsible for everything, good or bad, that happens during their time in the White House. The reelection of Trump in 2020, for example, would not have stopped Russia’s invasion of Ukraine any more than it would have stopped last year’s hurricane Ian. President Biden did not end the COVID epidemic or start the electric car revolution.
People’s opinions of who was a good president or a bad one will differ. We should, however, wonder if more people voting would lead to electing better political leaders. In Australia, voting is mandatory. You can go to jail for not voting. If we had a similar law in the U.S., would we get another Abraham Lincoln, FDR, or George Washington?
I believe that the quality of voters—how democracy is practiced—can make a difference. “Educated” voters are not only more likely to support higher quality candidates for office, but they are also likely to address much of the dysfunction of today’s American democracy.
What is that dysfunction? I found one answer in an unexpected place. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments: “Over the years, democracy in the US has become alienated and degenerated, and it has increasingly deviated from the essence of democracy and its original design. Problems like money politics, identity politics, wrangling between political parties, political polarization, social division, racial tension, and wealth gap have become more acute. All this has weakened the functioning of democracy in the US.”
Given China’s authoritarian government and the effective dictatorship of Xi Jinping, it is easy to dismiss any opinion of China about America. As I read the comment, however, parts of its assessment resonated. (Other parts did not.)
An “educated” voter has the wherewithal to rise above identity politics, slick political ads paid for by billionaires, blatant appeals to racism, greed, xenophobia, and lies. Educated voters try to address issues, not passions, and seek objective sources of information (not Facebook or what used to be called Twitter). Educated voters seek to understand views different than their own and practice civility. They do not think anime of Nancy Pelosi getting shot is funny or draw pictures of Donald Trump in prison garb.
Educated voters are guided by a core set of beliefs that are essential to a functional democracy. These beliefs include all people being created equal, the right of all citizens to vote, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and equal justice under law. Educated voters judge candidates with these values in mind.
So, is American democracy on the way out? Is further” alienation and degeneration” of American democracy inevitable? I do not think so. If Americans strengthened their citizenship skills, the odds of addressing issues that the Chinese Foreign Ministry and others raise would improve. The cure to what ails American democracy, thus, is to improve our practice of it. Better informed citizens are more likely to want to work together—use our democratic institutions—to address issues that challenge America today.
Dare I say it, with a little work, the best days of American democracy may be yet to come.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Why so you assume we have, and/or ever had democracy?
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. I’m not sure what you are asking. I would acknowledge that we do not have a perfect democracy but if you are suggesting we don’t have a democracy, I would disagree.
Reed Fawell 3 says
We clearly do not have a democracy. We have a republic.
John Dean says
Thanks for the comment. You are right, we do not have a direct democracy (no translation of the will of the people through a representative legislature). I would argue that we have a representational democracy.
Reed Fawell 3 says
We have not have a democracy, but instead have a republic.
Laurie says
Mr. Dean,
I wonder who your friends around the world think we should elect in 2024, you didn’t comment on that; surely they have an opinion, as mine do.
Additionally, of the many hundreds if not thousands of comments I see on YouTube, FB, IG, X and in response to articles about various candidates and issues, from people around the world who are paying attention, all are begging us to elect Robert Kennedy Jr. for the future wellbeing of the U.S. (which influences the world) and as an example of what is possible for their countries and the world at large. They are not subject to the propaganda campaign taking place in this country and if they observe it, they see through it. And, often, they are better informed about world events and the demise of their countries and democracy around the globe. I think we should listen and seek to understand why those outside the U.S. feel the way they do about the urgency of getting Bobby Kennedy into the White House, as a great many have put it.
Eric Ploeg says
Mr. Dean – You claim we’re viewed as “past our prime” because of Trump and Green? Your German friends compare DeSantis to Hitler? Really? are they aware of Feinstein, Pelosi, or Fetterman? Beyond your circle of friends, I’ve heard from outsiders that American politics are so intertwined with the media that they believe Americans seldom know the real story. Politics control the media while the media controls politics.
Common sense tells me that Trump was elected because of the Hillarys, Obamas and even Bushes – all representing the Washington establishment or as some people like to say – the “Swamp”. Trump’s limited involvement in politics attracted many voters that felt left behind. Today, Biden’s entire staff is a “who’s who” of the D.C. Swamp.
True that presidents may not be responsible for everything, i.e. Covid, but to say re-electing Trump wouldn’t have stopped Russia from invading Ukraine is entirely your opinion, one that many people disagree with. Imagine using those funds and resources to benefit Americans here instead of sending them to the most corrupt regime in Europe.
You declared that “educated” voters are more likely to support the higher quality candidates, suggesting that Biden is higher quality? He certainly doesn’t post obnoxious, annoying Tweets but probably because Twitter (X) is beyond his abilities or his advisors (handlers) won’t allow it. Having the Easter Bunny guide our president give some of us concern.
I’m no Trump supporter but the alternative we have now has done nothing to improve the lives of average Americans today. Prices are up, we’re fully funding a foreign war as our national debt spirals, domestic crime is out of control, its okay that men can compete in women’s sports, immigrants are flooding not just our cities but all over America. Because of “educated’ voters?
Remember too that many “educated” voters can’t change a flat tire. God Save the Queen!
Laurie Powers says
Agreed!
Laurie Powers says
Agreed, well said.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. You are right that my statement that Trump would not have prevented the Russian invasion of Ukraine is my opinion. From my understanding of Putin, shared by many foreign policy experts, my opinion is right. I acknowledge that others may differ but note that they only have Trump’s word for it on the subject of whether Putin would have held off the invasion.
In any case, thanks for reading the piece.
Patricia Tawney says
Most of what tou’ve said isn’t exactly true. Prices were already up under Trump. Biden has been working hard to do what little govt. can do to lower prices, including the inflation reduction act. Given that oil Barron’s have reduced production entirely to keep inflation up doesn’t help. Crime is up and is only just now slowing due to the economy caused by the Pandemic and Trump’s poor handling of the same. Debt isn’t rising due to Biden, Ukraine up but Afghanistan down pretty much balance each other. The Republicans who stole Covid money and the Republicans’ tax cuts are the biggest cause of budget issues, along with inflation and cost of living to Medicare. Trump did nothing to get us more nurses and doctors. But he fleeced people at his Trump university draining money from real schools.
Laurie Powers says
Mr. Dean,
I wonder who your friends around the world think we should elect in 2024, you didn’t comment on that; surely they have an opinion, as mine do.
Additionally, of the many hundreds if not thousands of comments I see on YouTube, FB, IG, X and in response to articles about various candidates and issues, from people around the world who are paying attention, all are begging us to elect Robert Kennedy Jr. for the future wellbeing of the U.S. (which influences the world) and as an example of what is possible for their countries and the world at large. They are not vulnerable to the establishment censorship/smear campaign taking place in this country; if they observe it, they see through it. And, often, they are better informed about world events and the demise of their countries and democracy around the globe. I think we should listen and seek to understand why those outside the U.S. feel the way they do about the urgency of getting Bobby Kennedy into the White House, as a great many have put it.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for your comment.
Paul Rybon says
As long as our education system is controlled by the ‘woke’ crowd it doesn’t seem like democracy has a chance.
Patricia Tawney says
Woke is an adjective derived from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) meaning “alert to prejudice and discrimination. Using it as you do, is cultural appropriation and racist on its face. Republicans use the term to replace the “N” word. We are not fooled. Please stop!
Patricia Tawney says
You failed to mention that Trump is still on the U.S. payroll. He gets $226,000 in pensions. I doubt he is still donating these funds to the Natl. Parks. He also gets staff. Yes, we are paying!