Is America on the brink of political collapse? Should Biden bow out?
Jul 11, 2024
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Exploring the looming threat of political collapse in America and its global repercussions. Analyzing challenges to democracy, signs of decline, and potential impacts on Canadian relations. Discussing the possibility of Joe Biden stepping down in the presidential race for Kamala Harris.
Political collapse involves a massive reordering of life and can lead to the end of democracy.
Collective action against declining institutions can help prevent political collapse and reshape the system.
Deep dives
Defining Political Collapse Through Institutional Breakdown
Political collapse is closely tied to the breakdown of various institutions such as the courts, legislature, media, and emergency response. As these institutions deteriorate, the country's ability to fulfill its basic functions like delivering welfare, providing national defense, and ensuring private property rights diminishes. With the current state of institutions in the United States showing signs of collapse, including dysfunctional electoral processes, partisan criticism of the Supreme Court, media attacks, and ineffective party leadership, the risk of a dire outcome looms.
Collective Action as a Response to Political Collapse
Addressing the threat of political collapse demands collective action from individuals and communities to push back against declining institutions. By organizing at various levels, from local to national, people can advocate for better policies, mitigation efforts, and new institutions. Despite the challenges posed by a potential collapse, rallying together can lead to progress, connections, and the creation of a social movement capable of resisting and reshaping the deteriorating system.
Acknowledging the Ramifications of American Decline
The decline of American institutions not only impacts the country itself but also has wider repercussions globally, affecting countries like Canada. A potential shift towards authoritarianism in the U.S. could disrupt trade relationships, defense agreements, and shared management of resources, leading to economic and security uncertainties. As America's decline unfolds, nations must navigate the consequences and uncertainties, particularly in the face of climate change and potential geopolitical shifts.
Political collapse is an order of magnitude different than, say, "a trouble democracy" or even "a hard right government". It means the end of democracy, a massive reordering of what life in that nation—and when that nation is America, by extension, the world—looks like.
This is a conversation that's very difficult to have. It's hard to wrap your mind around it, especially for those of us who have lives, and families and jobs and not a lot of time to ruminate on the future of democracy. But if it isn't our job to confront it, surely it's the job of our leaders, or politicians who hope to avert the worst-case scenario. Are they talking about it? Preparing for it? What exactly would political collapse look like in America and elsewhere? And would we recognize it before it's too late?