Sitting inside my house,
I’m feeling safe in my sanctuary.
These wooden walls will protect me,
from the evil that lurks outside my door.
Come rain or hail storm, I will survive.
But it just doesn’t make sense anymore,
if—when I look at the television,
I see pain and destruction all over the world?
I guess, I’ve lived a charmed life for way too long,
that my brain thinks
every day is easy—for everyone.
But the winds of change
are trying to blow my house down!
“Oh say can’t you see”
that the fascists intent—
is to burn your democracy to the ground!
When you smell smoke, there is fire,
and you can’t be hoping—the arsonists will stop,
because they won’t,
until we run out of trees or we extinguish their ire.
By: ElRoyPoet © 2021
14 characteristics, 10 stages, and where you are
Democracy Under Siege: Lessons from History and the Perils of Polarization
When a country throws up its arms in disgust because Congress refuses to compromise and everyone is constantly digging in their heels—because they don’t want to relinquish the ideologies of their polarized parties and cultural groups—it becomes easier for affluent society to become cynical about its democratic institutions and the civil rights they guarantee. This polarization and stubbornness undermine the very foundations of representative democracy, leading to political paralysis and societal disillusionment.
Physical and emotional fatigue make cowards out of all of us, and when patriots believe they can’t win, they often succumb to the temptation—perceived as the easy way out—to forfeit liberal democracy and let a power-hungry strongman govern for them. History offers numerous examples of this pattern. For instance, in the early 20th century, countries like Germany and Italy faced similar crises of political instability, which facilitated the rise of authoritarian regimes under Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini respectively. These leaders promised order and national revival but ultimately led to destruction and chaos, illustrating the danger of abandoning democratic principles when faced with internal strife.
In the Bible, the Jews had the opportunity to govern themselves with judges, but they often chose to relinquish their freedom to a king. This pattern recurs throughout history: societies seeking stability sometimes gravitate toward strong, centralized authority. In ancient Israel, the shift from the period of the judges to monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon was initially driven by the desire for security and national identity, but it also paved the way for tyranny and internal conflict. Similarly, during the Roman Republic, the rise of Julius Caesar and subsequent emperors demonstrated how the promise of order could erode republican values, leading to autocratic rule.
The tendency to opt for strong leadership in times of crisis is not new; it is a recurring theme that highlights the fragile nature of democracy. The initial appeal of monarchy or dictatorship often masks the long-term costs of sacrificing civil liberties and democratic processes. The Roman Republic, for example, experienced instability and civil wars before Augustus established the imperial system, which, while bringing stability, also marked the decline of republican ideals.
In modern times, we see this pattern repeated in countries where democratic institutions have been weakened or abandoned altogether. The rise of populist leaders across the globe—such as Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, or Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil—often capitalizes on societal fatigue and disillusionment, promising to restore order but eroding democratic norms in the process.
Ultimately, history teaches us that temporary peace achieved through authoritarianism is often an illusion, and the true cost is the erosion of civil rights, individual freedoms, and the rule of law. Democratic societies must remain vigilant, fostering compromise and understanding, even amid polarization. Otherwise, they risk sliding into cycles of authoritarianism, where the promise of stability masks the suppression of dissent and the consolidation of power by a few.
See Video Kurt Bardella: Democracy Doesn’t Die In Darkness, It’s Happening In Broad Daylight
“When members of one major political party turn inward and reject discussing a diversity of ideas, radicalization happens, and the capacity to work with and create policy to benefit as many people as possible diminishes significantly.” Excerpt from Democrats’ isolation puts democracy in danger
“I am a democrat [proponent of democracy] because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that every one deserved a share in the government.
The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they’re not true. . . . I find that they’re not true without looking further than myself. I don’t deserve a share in governing a hen-roost. Much less a nation. . . .
The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.”
Quote by: C.S. Lewis, “Equality,” in Present Concerns (reprint: Mariner Books, 2002), p. 17.
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