DEBATE OF THE Week: WILL AMERICAN DEMOCRACY SURVIVE?

DEBATE OF THE DAY: Will American democracy survive? To slightly misquote Oscar Wilde: one indictment may be regarded as a misfortune; two looks like carelessness. And what about three? Last week, former and would-be future president Donald Trump was indicted for the third time this year, this time on federal charges related to an attempt to subvert the 2020 election. Another indictment? It has become an overlookable piece of news, say some. But experts say that this one is different. It “defines the future of American democracy,” announce commentators. According to the indictment, Donald Trump deliberately misled the American public to believe that there had been fraud in the 2020 national election as part of a conspiracy against him, despite knowing that this was a lie. It alleges that this was part of a criminal plot to steal the election and subvert democracy. But will this really be as game-changing as people say? Despite his many scandals, Trump is far and away the front-runner for the Republican Party's 2024 nomination, with an unbelievable 37-point lead over Ron DeSantis, his closest rival. He is still extremely popular. One of democracy’s key values is that power should not be taken by force. But that, some allege, is exactly what Trump tried to do. So how has it taken America, the so-called leader of the free world, three years to do anything about it? Some say this is a perfect illustration of the US’ increasing hostility to free democracy. Trump’s huge popularity may support this idea. If he wins the next election, he will be able to pardon himself instantly, rendering even the process of justice irrelevant. And even if he gets convicted, some point out, there is no law that he could not be elected to serve a second term as president from prison. Will American democracy survive? Yes Presidents have had such scandals before. But democracy is one of America’s most important founding principles, and it will always survive. No This is a death knell for America’s democracy. The fact that so many people are still willing to vote for someone who essentially tried to take their ability to vote away is shocking. Or... It remains to be seen whether this indictment will change anything. If Trump continues to have this kind of support then it is fair to say that democracy is seriously under threat. But he will very plausibly be toppled by this. WORD WATCH Indictment-A formal accusation that a suspect has committed a crime. Federal-In the USA laws are made both by individual states and the federal government, which governs all states together. Conspiracy-A secret plan to do something unlawful or harmful. Subvert-Undermine the power of someone or something. Republican Party-One of the USA's two major political parties. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.