There is widespread perception that rule of law has failed at the top levels at least—with politically motivated prosecutions (timing of stacked Trump indictments is clearly motivated by his candidacy) and favored treatment of Hunter (majority of US population see corruption in Biden’s VP doings).
And worst of all a substantial fraction of US do not believe results of 2020 elections were legitimate. In recent polling: “61% of Americans say Biden did legitimately win enough votes to win the presidency, and 38% believe that he did not”.
The traditionally middle seeking and sense-making Media has become implacably polarised, with steadfast silence on or spinning of stories inconvenient to their ‘side’.
The greatest concern must be that the rate of descent into extreme political and institutional Tribalism and differential treatment on that basis. Long term that can only lead to a violent collapse in rule of law, or repressive policing.
The only antidote is dogmatic enforcement of even-handed treatment at all levels, govt employees must be seen to be scrupulously non-partisan or everything will inevitably fall apart.
There is widespread perception that rule of law has failed at the top levels at least—with politically motivated prosecutions (timing of stacked Trump indictments is clearly motivated by his candidacy)
is it clearly motivated by trump’s candidacy? he officially announced in november 2022, he was dropping un-subtle hints about running for 2 years, and he started his 2020 campaign on inauguration day, 2017. maybe the timing of indictments was motivated by the republican primaries, but election season is 2 out of 4 years.
nit-picking aside, i agree with you and OP. not sure why other people are so confident in US stability when political and cultural health are obviously declining
I don’t think it’s mild. I’m not American, but follow US politics with interest.
A majority of blue-collar/conservative US now see the govt as implacably biased against their interests and communities, eg see recent polling on attitudes towards DOJ, FBI eg https://harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HHP_May2023_KeyResults.pdf
There is widespread perception that rule of law has failed at the top levels at least—with politically motivated prosecutions (timing of stacked Trump indictments is clearly motivated by his candidacy) and favored treatment of Hunter (majority of US population see corruption in Biden’s VP doings).
And worst of all a substantial fraction of US do not believe results of 2020 elections were legitimate. In recent polling: “61% of Americans say Biden did legitimately win enough votes to win the presidency, and 38% believe that he did not”.
The traditionally middle seeking and sense-making Media has become implacably polarised, with steadfast silence on or spinning of stories inconvenient to their ‘side’.
The greatest concern must be that the rate of descent into extreme political and institutional Tribalism and differential treatment on that basis. Long term that can only lead to a violent collapse in rule of law, or repressive policing.
The only antidote is dogmatic enforcement of even-handed treatment at all levels, govt employees must be seen to be scrupulously non-partisan or everything will inevitably fall apart.
is it clearly motivated by trump’s candidacy? he officially announced in november 2022, he was dropping un-subtle hints about running for 2 years, and he started his 2020 campaign on inauguration day, 2017. maybe the timing of indictments was motivated by the republican primaries, but election season is 2 out of 4 years.
nit-picking aside, i agree with you and OP. not sure why other people are so confident in US stability when political and cultural health are obviously declining