Reporting from CNN, “Former President Barack Obama spoke at length about the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, telling an audience in Chicago that the conflict is a ‘bracing reminder for democracies that had gotten flabby and confused and feckless around the stakes of things that we tended to take for granted,’ including the United States. That includes the ‘rule of law, freedom of press and conscience … independent judiciaries, making elections work in ways that are fair and free,’ Obama said during remarks at a forum hosted by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and The Atlantic on disinformation. ‘We have gotten complacent. And I cannot guarantee that as a consequence of what has happened that we are shaking off that complacency,’ he said, adding, however, that he has been ‘encouraged’ by how the European nations have reacted to Russia’s ongoing, deadly invasion of Ukraine. Asked if he wishes he had done more about Russia during his administration, the former President said ‘the circumstances were different’ when Russia invaded Crimea, in part because European nations were far less interested in intervening.”
No, no! Democracies have not “gotten flabby”; they have atrophied. And, dare I say, they are incapable of recovering in large part because of the growing stupidity of humanity, especially Americans. There is a direct correlation — nay, cause and effect — between America’s inability to eschew misinformation while simultaneously embarrassing conspiracies (cause) and America’s move toward autocracy (effect). There has always been an understanding from America’s Founding Fathers that democracy required an engaged — not complacent — and educated — enlightened, not stupid — citizenry. “Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day,” says Thomas Jefferson. Would you say America is engaged and enlightened? Clearly, not. Hence, the name of this blog.
I see the signs augmenting every day. For example, when QAnon becomes mainstream, evinced by QAnon kooks running for Congress and winning, then there is no recovery. It is a malignancy that has already infected every part of the country. America is incapable of rehabilitation; there is no cure. Once the cancer is this advanced, it cannot be remediated. As I have said before, once a cultist, always a cultist! That does not apply just to individuals! America is stupid, too stupid to keep its democracy. Mark my words! It’s too late.