This is the first in a series I will write at the end of each month about how the United States republic is changing. I wrote it before US Senator Thom Tillis announced he would not seek re-election.
Thank you for your wisdom Brian. I struggle with the desire to disengage, but my son reminds me of the fact that our power comes from individuals choosing to do the right thing, right where they are, in community. So we do strive, and stand for what is true, and offer refuge to those who need it. Let us not grow weary…Galatians 6:9
I don’t care for the term illiberal democracy. I feel very few people have any idea what it means. Wikipedia, which I understand is not a reliable source, says it was invented by Fareed Zakaria, who certainly leans left. While I don’t disagree with much of your commentary on Trump, very compelling arguments could be made about similar actions of the Biden administration. I feel our major issue is that congress and the executive branch have ceded much of their power to bureaucrats who are unelected and unaccountable. I would argue we now have a fourth branch of government.
Thanks Jack. I appreciate your input. I had not heard that Zakaria coined the phrase. I knew only that Orban of Hungary uses it. Also agree that about bureacrats' power and the unelected and unaccountable part. Interesting thought about fourth branch of government. I stay away from the comparison to Biden (or Obama or others) because it becomes a "whatabout" that is never-ending. For example, how did Congress get dysfunctional? It was Pelosi. No, it was McConnell. No, it was Reid. This often leads us to excuse the unhealth of the people we support.
I appreciate your attempt to define illiberal democracy and feel you did a good job, but I also believe that anything that takes that long to define is not very useful.
This is such good thinking and writing. Thank you!
Thank you for your wisdom Brian. I struggle with the desire to disengage, but my son reminds me of the fact that our power comes from individuals choosing to do the right thing, right where they are, in community. So we do strive, and stand for what is true, and offer refuge to those who need it. Let us not grow weary…Galatians 6:9
I don’t care for the term illiberal democracy. I feel very few people have any idea what it means. Wikipedia, which I understand is not a reliable source, says it was invented by Fareed Zakaria, who certainly leans left. While I don’t disagree with much of your commentary on Trump, very compelling arguments could be made about similar actions of the Biden administration. I feel our major issue is that congress and the executive branch have ceded much of their power to bureaucrats who are unelected and unaccountable. I would argue we now have a fourth branch of government.
Thanks Jack. I appreciate your input. I had not heard that Zakaria coined the phrase. I knew only that Orban of Hungary uses it. Also agree that about bureacrats' power and the unelected and unaccountable part. Interesting thought about fourth branch of government. I stay away from the comparison to Biden (or Obama or others) because it becomes a "whatabout" that is never-ending. For example, how did Congress get dysfunctional? It was Pelosi. No, it was McConnell. No, it was Reid. This often leads us to excuse the unhealth of the people we support.
I appreciate your attempt to define illiberal democracy and feel you did a good job, but I also believe that anything that takes that long to define is not very useful.
Good point. In the words of FDR in giving advice to his son about public speaking, "Be brief and be seated." Good advice for us preachers also!