DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Democracy indicators in US at lowest levels for 50 years, data shows

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/15/us-democracy-indicators-lowest-for-50-years

Probably time to shoot the messenger rather than pay attention to what they say.

Sounds like they think Biden led the charge. Someone better get their marching orders straight.

"Casas-Zamora said it was clear that events in the US influenced other countries. International Idea added the US to its list of “backsliding” democracies for the first time in 2021, pointing to a “visible deterioration” it said began in 2019."

At least Australia is spending more resources fighting racism. Looks like democracy is doing great there.

Go Kangaroos.

I find your complaining about not paying attention to what people say because of who they are ironic. I posted this in the mail in ballot thread not very long ago: link

I left that thread after my last post, there is no real honest attempt at a conversation there, each party has said the same thing 4 or 5 times at least... possibly a whole lot more. Dead horse beaten savagely to death.

I find your rush to judgement and your attempt to pigeonhole others in this instance to be little more than an effort to score points — more of a "gotcha" statement than an argument of substance. (this is intended to be light hearted humor rather than starting a fight)

It's hard to have an honest conversation when one side is unwilling to reconsider their beliefs because they think those beliefs are facts.

Sometimes one has to try to say the same thing 4 or 5 different ways before it gets through to someone that doesn't want to accept a possibility. Uncertainty is uncomfortable, but it can be more honest than a hard held feeling of certainty.

I don't really see the humor in your attempt, but I'll grant the possibility that it is your intention.

I agree with the headline of the article. I just think overly focusing on Trump is the wrong approach to fixing it. I think the problems go deeper.

Which isn't an accurate reflection of the conversation at all. But you're good at framing your response to try to make it look the way you want as opposed to how it is.


I agree with this completely.

1. My having to try to overcome the Dunning-Kruger effect may make it seem that way to you. I think many people overestimate their ability to "know" "how it is." To me, it appears people give more credence to the conclusions formed based upon limited data than is truly warranted. Yes, you can make the claim that there is lots of data, but compared to all the data their could be it may not be as much as it may seem in the grand scheme of things.

Also, from your response there it appears you take my framing as how I want things to be, when really I'm trying to frame them as how they could be. Quite frequently that is not how I want them to be. Yet, assuming that you know that something is absolutely a particular way with only limited data troubles me. While I think your position could be true, I don't know that it is true. Even if there's only a 20% (or lower) chance that it is wrong, the ramifications of what happens if it is wrong seem worth trying to be sure.

To a degree, my approach is more philosophical while yours seems to be more assumptive (?.) (Most people do approach most things assumptively, but I feel some topics deserve a more rigorous approach.) A google search of "philosophical approach to knowledge vs assumptive approach" pulled up a comparison that seems useful/informative but the formatting won't transfer cleanly to the board.

I do tend to be didactic and not everyone likes that. It seems many people actively dislike it. But, I am the way I am.

The USA is not a Democracy.