American democracy headed for suicide

I have never before feared for the survival of our democracy. I do now. I studied and taught philosophy for many years. We debated a lot. Healthy debate is good for democracy. But today’s “debates” are filled with hate and falsehoods. We are tribalized.

A healthy democracy needs a free press, but Hegseth says that no press is allowed in the Pentagon unless they promise to have their material overseen by the Pentagon. Even Fox News won’t agree to that. The AP was kicked out of White House press briefings, but the My Pillow guy’s “news” company is allowed in. Socrates was put to death for asking questions as Athenian democracy crumbled. Is our democracy crumbling?

Republicans in Congress have abdicated their role to King Trump. Trump threatens law firms, universities, media companies, etc. Too many have knuckled under out of fear. Trump fires longtime prosecutors who refuse to do his bidding and replaces one of them with a toady insurance lawyer who has never prosecuted a case. The National Guard is deployed to “blue” cities under false claims of chaos. People who stand up against these authoritarian actions are called Marxists and terrorists. The vast majority are loyal Americans who fervently love both their country and true democracy. Twain said he loved his country always, and his government when they deserved it. And, Lincoln said our democracy will not be destroyed by others, but only by suicide. I fear our democracy is headed toward death by suicide.

Rex Clemmensen

Iowa City