Is It Possible For A Government To Outlaw Democracy And No One Notice? (Part Two)

“It’s what happens in a totalitarian regime!” is what one activist said. Another exclaimed, “It was insane, people were getting pushed and shoved into walls!” No, this wasn’t North Korea, or some other totalitarian regime, but the United States. Consequently, activists and journalists were describing how Capitol Police pushed and slammed people into walls. It entailed wrestling them to the ground with chokeholds. The brutal show of force was due to the spending bill last week when people simply tried to speak with senators at the Russell Senate Office Building in the basement-a practice that’s common.(1)

As mentioned in part one, it’s clear that many democracies are facing their twilight years. They may have even entered into a new stage. It’s a stage where democracy isn’t only working, but where the government and political parties are no longer playing by the rules. Under the terms of this new and not so mutually intolerant form of partisanship, political order has already broken down. But few are admitting it. It’s also like a civil war. There is war without the actual fighting. Mainly through creeping militarism and the verbal hostilities and physical aggressiveness that follows.

Democracy And Militancy Don’t Mix
The militarization of a nation is another way governments can outlaw democracy and no one notices. If having a massive army, ready to crush a foreign enemy, makes the martial lifestyle that much more edifying, so does a militarized police force that receives similar tactical training and weapons. They too will fight for the state more efficiently and effectively, forming a war machine that makes even experienced activists and journalists tremble. It’s also a way of silencing those who are watching, mainly through fear and intimidation. The message is clear: “Stay in your place or else!”

That is, if one is able to question their own militarization. Democratic societies that show signs of militancy indoctrinate generations with textbooks which glorify war. This goes for military parades and recruiters stationed on college and high school campuses. Neither is the mass media, sporting events, video games, or the toy and movie industries immune. An economy, in which the only outlet is military service, is also effective. A carefully constructed culture, where the thought of military ethos is translated to civilian life, and the duty to the state is first, doesn’t need compulsory military service for total obedience.

The U.S. isn’t alone. Militarism is on the rise in Poland, Hungary and Austria. In France, officials have urged police to review its use of sub-lethal weapons, or the flash grenades and LBDs-the odd-looking hand-cannons used against Yellow Vest protesters. Not only did more than 100 protesters sustain concussions, broken bones, punctured eyes leading to blindness, and disfigured faces, but following the protests the Macron Administration imposed a harsh law. “Suspected hooligans” who participated in demonstration were arrested and fined.(2) In reality, it’s a denial of the basic democratic freedom of assembly.

Unequal Allocations Crushes Democracy
Another way democracy can be outlawed and no one notices is to allocate a greater proportion of national income per share of population toward military spending. It skews much needed social services like public education and healthcare. It deprives people of life-saving infrastructures. It’s moreover a detriment to the economic growth of a country. Interests rates have to be raised. Workers working outside the military and its industries have to work longer and are paid less. There’s less time to read and think, let alone ask the necessary questions that democracy demands. Maybe even less time to be human.

Allocating a greater proportion of national income toward military spending undermines democracy too. This entails a candidate’s agenda. Political parties and candidates have to campaign on behalf of issues which ultimately appease military personnel and those working within a military-industrial-complex. Once elected, the same is true in making decisions concerning ongoing conflicts or starting new wars. This is why some states fight generational and forever wars. Their two or three party systems are hijacked by a militant, million man ideology-and it’s armed. Meanwhile, democracy is held hostage.

President Abraham Lincoln realized this during the Civil War. Facing a strong challenger in 1864, and with no to the conflict, he was destined to lose. Republicans persuaded him to allow Union soldiers to vote away from home for the first time-absentee ballots. Since then, Republicans and Democrats have mostly catered to soldiers, their families, and military industry which profits from war. It’s by far the largest voting bloc. Never debated despite its power in determining election. Without the “military bloc,” a candidate won’t win the presidency. In reality, it’s a block that cancels out the “one person one vote” rule.

Nullifying Democracy Through Misinformation And Tragedies
Two things that cancels democracy is the spread of misinformation Catastrophes have also changed. The information technology revolution has completely altered the terms on how democracy must operate. Not only do democracies and voters depend on forms of communication and information they neither control nor fully understand, but the prospect of disaster, which once had a galvanizing effect, now tends to be stultifying. Information about disasters are also manipulated-even manufactured, used as politically powerful weapons to either galvanize voters or smear and alienate opponents.

Take California’s wildfires and Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria. Donald Trump’s threats to cut off federal funding and emergency aid for the fires, and his order to “get their act together,” was over a disagreement about climate change and the culling of forests. He was also forcing Californians to vote Republican in the midterms. In like manner, he insisted his administration did a “great job” in responding to the hurricane. This, despite 3,000 people dying. Both Donald Trump and Puerto Rico’s mayor then tried to score political points by accusing each of neglect and political malfeasance.

Too much information can be stultifying or overwhelming. It’s no secret that democracies have been so over-stimulated with tragedies that they’ve become desensitized, even paralyzed. No wonder some predict that the next protest or major war will consist of tweets and retweets. This doesn’t account for the news that’s now pre “tailored made” to fit a users’ interests as they browse the Internet or their favorite sites. The same goes for the companies behind search engines and algorithms. They slow down, bury, or censor stories which might offend users or run counter to a government’s ideology.

No More Recognizable Democracies?
Yellow Vested protesters in France, who lost their limbs and eyes, feared: “I no longer recognize my country.” In truth, they speak for millions of other people who no longer recognize their country’s democratic systems either. Countries that might claim to be democratic, but no longer keep the torch of liberty lit. But what’s fundamentally amiss with democracy‘s like American and France-and dozens of other so-called democracies around the globe-might be hiding in plain sight. That is, for those who still have eyes to see and understand what true democracy means. This includes how to live and practice it.

In the meantime, reflecting on the mortality of the body politic is not necessarily an end. Democracy, to be sure, still has much to offer. So much so that it makes concerted action to save democracy all the more urgent. Like one reader responded: “The struggle is what makes democracy stronger. Democracy is not made stronger by false patriotism and mythology. There have always been many roadblocks to democracy…and still are.” In the end, “Democracy and democratic ideas will grow. So, in you answer to your question about democracy: “It is not possible to outlaw democracy and have no one notice.”

Or is it? If only more people were like this individual. And if only even more would be in solidarity when those who do recognize that their governments have outlawed democracy they take action. Consequently, the more democracy is taken for granted, or the more others fail to support or at least respect those living and practicing democracy, the more chance there is to subvert it. This, without ever having to overthrow it with some military coup or dictatorial take over. Today, in our present age, this may be the real danger facing democracy. And it may be one that’s only getting worse.

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling.

(1) www.commondreams.org. “It’s What Happens in a Totalitarian Regime“: Capitol Police Slammed for “Disturbing” Physical Attacks on Reporters,” by Staff. February 16, 2019.
(2) www.theguardian.com. French ‘Yellow Vests’ March in Paris to Denounce Police Violence,” by Staff., February 2, 2019.