Warning Signs for the Democratic way

There are more warning signs for the Democratic way in the world in countries either striving to become democratic or in full-fledged democracies.

Twice in the last 16 years, the person with the most popular votes in the United States did not become President and the person who won the electoral college adopted policies and positions that took the country backward and in the wrong direction. These Presidents and their advisors were also not known for a high degree of competence.

China, a country not to be confused in any way, shape, or form, as democratic, maybe dropping any pretense of it by allowing its current leader, Xi Jinping to rule past the expiration of his two terms. Vladimir Putin has already done this in Russia.

In countries like Italy, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, and Kenya, right-wing parties are using the electoral process along with the machinations of government when in charge along with good old-fashioned nativist populism to trample on the meaning of democratic government.

The world and its citizens need to continue to combat this right-wing populist-authoritarian- nativist-fascist threat.

One example of recent successful attempts to thwart this right wing trend is the coalition government the German Christian Democrats and Social Democrats are making. Clearly, their leaders paid attention to the lessons of history. The last time mainstream German political parties failed to unify helped pave the way for the Nazi's to gain influence.

Another example is the increased political activism of women, minorities, and the left in the United States as Democrats and Progressives have been increasingly competitive and victorious in local and state races. A lot of those races have been in areas Democrats have not competed in for decades. Imagine what will happen once the Progressives unite with a viable progressive program.

Other examples of stopping this right-wing insurgency have also occurred in France, Belgium, and France.

These efforts at stopping the right-wing inroads all have one thing in common. They are people rising and uniting to preserve democracy and promote a better way for all people no matter what race, creed, or religion. People need to continue to rise and participate in the democratic process. That and promoting a pragmatic progressive program is the key to moving forward and putting down the right-wing populist-authoritarian- nativist-fascist threat.


https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/25/asia/china-communist-party-xi-jinping-intl/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/world/europe/italy-election-northern-league-populists-migrants.html?smid=fb-share

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/democracy-is-decaying-worldwide-america-isnt-immune/2018/02/22/ff670f88-1813-11e8-92c9-376b4fe57ff7_story.html?utm_term=.a6af71adcb2b

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics/senior-german-conservatives-urge-shift-to-right-as-merkel-picks-cabinet-idUSKCN1G80MW

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics/weakened-merkel-offers-job-to-arch-critic-in-young-new-german-cabinet-idUSKCN1G90D3

https://www.npr.org/2018/02/20/585542531/more-than-twice-as-many-women-are-running-for-congress-in-2018-compared-to-2016?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2018-02-23/angry-voters-got-trump-elected-now-anger-may-help-democrats?src=usn_fb