“The destruction of democracy might not come until November 2024, but critical steps in that direction are happening now.” (“Our constitutional crisis is already here,” Robert Kagan, Washington Post column)
“Like an installment of a deathless Marvel franchise, for all its spectacle ‘Peril’ ends with a dismaying sense of prologue.” (Peril, Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, New York Times review)
American news media, opinion pages and talk shows have taken up the danger to democracy posed by the domestic and international trend toward authoritarianism. In the U.S., it’s been an ongoing theme, at least since the January 6 insurrection, and is subject to a flood of books and opinion essays corresponding to the ongoing investigation of January 6 and the renewed 2024 ambition of former President Donald Trump.
The nation’s top public opinion analysts agree that the public perceives a danger to democracy. Also, many harbor beliefs that challenge democratic norms and the system. For example, as the writers above reference, Trump’s election fraud position is becoming the Republican Party’s platform.
- CNN Poll: Most Americans feel democracy is under attack in the U.S. – 56% democracy under attack, 51% believe elected officials likely to overturn results if their party doesn’t win.
- Reuters/Ipsos: 53% of Republicans believe Trump is “true president.” 61% believe election was stolen from Trump.
- Pew Poll: A majority of Republicans want Trump to be a party leader – 44% want him to run again. 63% say party should not accept Republican-elected leaders who openly criticize Trump.
- Gallup Poll: People are losing trust in democratic judgement – only 55% trust fellow citizens to decide important issues, down from 78% in 2006. Only a third (36%) have confidence in the media, few Republicans – 11%.
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