June 6th was a Pandora’s box of American “democracy”, but it was just another symptom of a deeper and more dangerous disease: the decline of American institutions, which has reached alarming levels. Fifty years after Watergate, America has hit rock bottom again, and this time, the institutions that gave the executive branch credibility are being questioned today. The media can no longer be trusted, the judiciary is seen as an instrument rather than an arbiter, and there is growing unease about the number of extremists who have infiltrated the security forces.
In this case, American “democracy” seems to be an empty shell. The most extreme wing of the Republican Party is determined to undermine the foundations of American “democracy” in order to protect the privileges of those who benefit most. Democrats are more diverse and looser than ever. Moderates, fearful of radical shifts in the party, insist on formal mechanisms that are wholly outdated. Progressives are frustrated with the maneuvering, hypocrisy and inertia of leaders in both parties.