A healthy democracy requires a just, tolerant and respectful society. It means dispelling injustice and restoring human dignity not just locally but also globally. To find out about the ongoing struggle for democracy in Djibouti.
GET INVOLVEDThe American democracy in its 21st century is gradually, subtly and even legally dying. When the custodians of democracy – the elected leaders of a country, themselves strive to preserve and promote differences; When democratic institutions such as police, court and prisons become instruments of oppression; When dissension and other democratic practices are seen as unnecessary obstructions; When government and corporations cut cozy deals and family members scratch each other backs – then it is time to call it a death of democracy. Today, what we are left with in America is a battered carcass of democracy being dragged along with the help of biased journalism and entrenched corruption. It’s time we shed the weight of this carcass of democracy that far from serving us has only slowed us down by limiting liberty and the free market. It’s time to finally realize that the grand democratic dream of an egalitarian world is merely a mirage sold by the corrupt political and economic systems of the country.
In a country like America where elections are regularly held, constitution and other nominally democratic institutions are in place, there are no violent seizures of power, and no tanks on the streets, then the death of democracy in America is not easy to detect. Signs of the death of democracy in America are not a coup, imposition of martial law or suspension of constitution but it is decades of systematic exclusions, institutionalized corruption, identity politics, oppressive police force and a deflective and unresponsive government and media that reeks of a gradually dying democracy. Blinded sided by a façade of democracy, the suffering people of America do recognize there is a problem and criticize the present situation but fail to see the best way forward. Among Americans and to the world, the idea of America and what it stood for i.e. merit, equality and opportunities has been greatly compromised. Only 13% of the total population of America claim to be satisfied with the way things are in the United States.
It is only a small percentage of Americans who benefit from a weakened democracy. They are the corrupt corporate elites and political leaders of the country who believe we can’t be hurt if we can be bought! The entitled class of the business and the political world form an unholy alliance to fill their own private coffers at the expense of the people at large. While the rich find new ways of protecting their wealth through the misuse of power by their ‘friends’ holding office in the political world; on the other hand, politicians holding and seeking an office rely on financial support from their rich allies belonging to the corporate world. Together they act as the Kings of Democracy who although only a small percentage of the entire population yet manage to hijack the most power and loot the national wealth.