Is American Democracy Under Attack?

January 6, 2021 is a day that will be remembered for years to come. For some, it’s the day American democracy was attacked, and narrowly held its’ ground at the U.S. Capitol. For others, it’s a day where their fears and questions about the integrity of the presidential election were quashed once and for all, beckoning a new era of complete government distrust. For both sides it was a day that led the majority of Americans to doubt the ability of the U.S. government and has had us all wondering since: is democracy under attack?

I think most Americans would reluctantly answer yes to this question. Who is American democracy under attack from is where we begin to see the answers diverge, because of an immensely complicated issue that’s likely to plague our country for years to come. We have in some ways been given two overarching trains of thought following January 6th, 2021. 

Many Americans that side with the Democratic Party and those that identify with liberal philosophies have taken up arms in efforts to decry the riots as an authoritarian coup by former President Donald Trump to maintain power in the wake of his 2020 Presidential election loss. These individuals believe that Donald Trump and the Republican Party will stop at nothing to win back power. Trump’s rejection of the 2020 election and the protests and riots that ensued, largely caused by his rhetoric, are their proverbial “smoking gun” to continue exercising this belief across mainstream media. 

American citizens who associate with the Republican Party, and those that generally subscribe to more conservative political philosophies believe the contrary. Although opinions about the integrity of the 2020 election vary across the Republican Party, many members believe that liberal politicians are attempting to seize control of the federal government to implement an overwhelmingly socialist agenda. The Right believes the main tool of the Democratic Party is to weaponize the pandemic to create fear and obtain more federal power. 

This is an overwhelming and severely complicated issue that has a multifaceted answer and quite frankly it should be terrifying to the entire American population. Politicians, critics, and dedicated citizens on both sides seem quick to point out the present problem, but few propose realistic solutions, if any at all. Fundamentally, Americans can agree that something is deeply wrong within the depths of our democracy, but we cannot agree on what exactly. 

Communication itself seems to be the biggest friction point in this debacle of who threatens our democracy. Oftentimes, statements made on both sides of the political spectrum are seized by the opposition and weaponized in an attempt to create further bitter discourse, prompting more confusion and fear. Those on every side who truly desire a better and improved America should cast down their accusations and hatred of the other side. They should “cut out the middleman” and address each other directly. This can be seen as a generic and overly simplified solution to a very complicated issue, but we should challenge ourselves and ask when was the last time common Americans with differing viewpoints sat down to create an agenda to better our country? 

Lastly, Americans of all backgrounds should consider the far-reaching and long lasting implications of a country that attempts to stay deeply divided for years to come. The prolonged fracturing could be the beginning of a long road to potential civil conflicts within the United States. Other consequences of long-term strife include attempts from dangerous foreign actors contributing and disrupting the framework of our country from within. If Americans are truly concerned with the integrity and preservation of our democracy, we must ask ourselves the hard questions and actually do the work to pick up the pieces of our country.