The True Color of Democracy
In the modern era, only one group of Americans has stood in the way of America’s slide to autocratic rule, and for policies that continue to benefit every citizen, bar none. So far, they are holding.
More than any other graphic I’ve seen produced during this election cycle, the one above, in particular, stood out for the glaring truth that it laid bare about ourselves, as Americans. It illustrates that if not for African Americans, the United States would be at risk of losing the qualifications that make it a modern democracy, by international standards.
That is to say, by neutral third parties.
“What the hell am I talking about?”
Democracy and the World
The Democracy Index is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) — a UK-based company. It measures the state of democracy in 167 countries — the vast majority. 75 of the nations on its list are classified as either full or flawed democracies, while the rest are labeled either hybrid democratic-authoritarian regimes, or fully authoritarian ones.
True democracies are widely understood — not just by the EIU, but by most international judiciary, human rights, advocacy…
