Is American Democracy Fragile?

In the wake of the Capitol Hill riot of early January, many media pundits (referring to the rampage with the loaded term “insurrection”) said so.

Ridiculous.

Self-government in our country remains strong indeed.  Democracy not only has roots in our land long predating the War of Independence, but is now composed of 50 separate state governments practicing self-rule. So even if the Federal government were to fall victim to an anti-democracy coup, the states would be able to thwart the usurpation of the U.S. Constitution, just as the Founders expected them to do in such circumstances.  The commitment to democracy is inbred in our culture.  Americans are accustomed to voting for their leaders from an early age.  Do you remember raising your hand to support your choice for class monitor in kindergarten?

Our history matters.  Earlier generations fought in WWI to make the “World  Safe for Democracy”; twenty years later, Americans fought to defeat tyranny.  Support for democracy is in our blood.

[We Americans are a well-meaning – but often tragically naïve – people who want other lands to share our democracy and liberty.  Foisting those principles on other people can create democratic practices for a while but without the target country having a significant history of self-rule, that democracy is fragile indeed.  Iraq and Afghanistan are but recent examples of such American arrogance and hubris.]

However, caution about American democracy’s longevity is an appropriate concern.  History is not necessarily prologue.  It’s a cliché, of course, that nothing lasts forever.

But those of us, like The Sensible Conservative, who want to extend the life of America as being subject to a government which respects individual liberty and is bound by a constitution which limits power, have cause for concern.

Our nation’s founders, through The Federalist Papers and other writings, made clear they knew of human nature’s failures but also expressed the view that Americans would take their role seriously in a self-governing society.  They would be informed on political matters and participate in the affairs of their community.  And, perhaps, most importantly, they would choose from among them those most suited by education, intelligence and virtue to be their leaders.

By the standard of education and smarts, recent presidents would mostly qualify.  But virtue?  Without it, the other qualities of leadership will be misused – as they certainly have been by the Trumps and Clintons on our presidential roster.  Americans are failing – at our peril – to follow the guidance of our founders.

Poll after poll shows an abysmal ignorance among Americans about our national history and government.  One can lament this void – its causes are many with the lessened focus on teaching high school civics certainly being a major reason - but the consequence is an increasing lack of understanding of what has made the United States of America exceptional in truly positive ways. (I will assume that readers of this blog don’t need reminders of what those include.)

Further, that empty space in historical memory is now being filled – for many – by the Left’s distorted view of America’s past as being primarily symbolized by slavery and racial animosity.  Is it any wonder that many of us display a loathing for America when the message of our past is so negative?

If people don’t believe in the essential goodness of America, how can they be expected to support it?

No, the few hundred crazies of January 6 are not an “existential” threat to the survival of America’s liberal democracy of limited constitutional government.  The trends of the Left – which can fairly described as hostile to traditional American values – are.