Trump-Biden Debate – Why Do Americans Do This to Themselves?

Looking at the last televised presidential debate in the U.S., it seems that after eight years, the U.S. has come full circle to the point where the clash of two elderly candidates has become a perfect albeit extremely sad illustration of the complete credibility crisis facing Western democracy

In every discussion about democracy, there is usually an argument about how democratic governments are superior to all forms of authoritarian or dictatorial rule when it comes to the fundamental aspect of democracy: the replacement of ruling elites and the peaceful transfer of power. In undemocratic systems, political change comes with the death of a leader. Whether his death is natural or violent, it is always a serious shock to an undemocratic system, triggering a crisis of succession and a power struggle. In contrast, democracy conducted through elections offers a different, better and safer way to transfer power from those who rule and their opposition, and — perhaps more importantly — between the changing generations.

US Presidential Election: Why Do Americans Do This to Themselves?

Yet, if we look at the last televised president debate in the U.S., these arguments seem completely implausible. Eight years after 2016, America has come full circle to the point where the clash of two elderly candidates has become a perfect albeit extremely sad illustration of the total credibility crisis facing Western democracy. Watching this spectacle of witless gerontocracy, one can’t help but ask why are they, the Americans that is, doing this to themselves. But the real question is why are we all doing this to ourselves.

Four years ago, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy of the University of Cambridge published a study that clearly showed that those most dissatisfied with the way democracy works are Western societies, which until now have functioned more as a model and example of effective democratic policy. This voters’ frustration, which manifests itself in the growth of politically controversial movements, is mainly due to the sense there is a lack of representation, as studies have shown Another problem looms today, however. That is the lack of responsibility that the elite show when it comes to the democratic mechanism known as the transfer of power. This issue may prove even more deadly to the belief in the relevance of modern democracy.

Will We Be Able To Save Democracy?

It’s important to know that what modern democracies, including our own in Poland, are experiencing is not a special or new phenomenon. The history of reflecting on the crises of democracy is long and full of examples. The thing is, no one teaches it today, and no one wants to use the lessons learned. And yet, without a return to the basic questions about the meaning of democracy, we will not be able to save it.