Democratic Backsliding Reaches Western Democracies, U.S. Decline "Unprecedented" | Hacker News Reader

Democratic Backsliding Reaches Western Democracies, U.S. Decline "Unprecedented"

v-dem.net

104 pointsgeox35 comments

At the same time democratic backsliding [1] occurs in cycles. We're probably not at a low point, but that doesn't mean it's permanent.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_backsliding

As a citizen of one of these backsliders, in addition to voting in every election I'm allowed to, I am committing to taking additional civic action in the next few months to advocate for free and fair elections. I hope everyone in a similar position joins me in that.

In the United States, a significant portion of the population is all for that "backsliding". This isn't something imposed by an unconstitutional autocracy. This was something we voted for.

There is an election coming up, and it's possible that the administration will lose enough support to prevent future erosion of democracy. But even without their active interference, they will still have the support of many, many voters. Current forecasts are too close to call, e.g.:

https://www.270towin.com/2026-house-election/consensus-2026-...

I question how much control individuals have over their beliefs. Violence and wars are fought over deeply held religious beliefs yet there can be no doubt that those same beliefs are 100% dependent upon (1) where you are born; and (2) the beliefs of your parents.

That makes one wonder how much we control our own beliefs when the daily messaging is dictated by an elite whose money owns/controls the entirety of mass media and elected government office holders.

Living in one of the alleged backsliders, the UK, I can't say things seem much different.

Did you submit any ID for the numerous services that now require it? Regardless of your answer, the fact they’re now asking for it is a problem.

I don't think Trump is the cause, but he's an opportunist stepping into a vacuum that has developed over a lengthy period of time.

Trump is a puppet. At least since his second term.

Isn’t it funny in this country, how people will shoot at some figurehead of a subsidiary company or a fat geezer with narcissistic tendencies, or a political pundit.

But a whole global elite pedophile cabal was exposed and no one involved in that is getting shot in the streets.

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