Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Says Many Are Starving in Gaza, Vows to Set up Food Centers

16 hours ago

California Governor Candidate Stirs Outrage With Auschwitz ‘Unemployment Plan’ Post

17 hours ago

Gold Price to Stay Above $3,000/Oz as Flight to Safety Endures

19 hours ago

S&P, Nasdaq at Record Highs as US-EU Trade Deal Sparks Optimism in Pivotal Week

19 hours ago

Trump Warns Iran That Its Nuclear Sites Could Be Bombed Again

19 hours ago

Israel Announces Daily Pauses in Gaza Fighting as Aid Airdrops Begin

2 days ago

California School Board Resigns After Audit Reveals $180M in Improper Funding

3 days ago

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

4 days ago
In Worrying Trend, United States Fails "Full Democracy" Test
Randy-Reed-Image
By Randy Reed, Operations Manager
Published 7 years ago on
February 26, 2018

Share

For the past 10 years, The Economist has tracked the strength of democracy in 167 countries across the globe. Now, for the second consecutive year, the United States has failed to meet the standard of “full democracy” as measured by the publication’s metrics.
In his Washington Post column from Feb. 22, Fareed Zakaria says America’s slide to a lesser ranking of “flawed democracy” is part of a worrying global trend.

“The American system is stronger than most, but it is not immune to these forces of democratic decay.” — Fareed Zakaria, Feb. 22 Washington Post column 
The Democracy Index ranks nations on 60 measures in categories ranging from electoral processes to civil liberties. In this year’s report, scores dropped for more than half of the world’s countries.
Zakaria writes, “The nature of this recession is perhaps best seen by looking at the state of the free press worldwide.” He offers numerous examples of the erosion of press freedoms in countries with democratically-elected leaders such as Kenya, Turkey, and Poland.
He then adds, “Even in long-established democracies such as Israel and India, we are witnessing systematic efforts to shrink the space and power of independent media that is critical of the government.”
In the United States specifically, Zakaria says President Trump has done damage with his rhetoric and his policies. “Besides denigrating critical media outlets and lauding friendly ones, he has threatened to strengthen libel laws, strip network licenses and tax the owner of a particular newspaper.”
While many believe the traditions and institutions of the United States will ultimately prevail against attacks against democratic norms, Zakaria warns against dismissing the risks.
“The American system is stronger than most, but it is not immune to these forces of democratic decay.”
Click here for Zakaria’s full article, Democracy is decaying worldwide. America isn’t immune.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Two Arrested in Dollar General Burglary in Fowler, Third Suspect at Large

DON'T MISS

New York City Mayor Says ‘Active Shooter’ Incident Taking Place in Manhattan

DON'T MISS

Shooting Outside Casino in Reno, Nevada, Leaves 3 Victims Dead, 2 Critically Wounded

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Deadly Crash

DON'T MISS

Venezuelan Little League Team Denied Entry to US Over Travel Ban

DON'T MISS

Fresno Seals Deal with Police Union. No Deal Yet With Firefighters.

DON'T MISS

North Korea Says Trump Must Accept New Nuclear Reality

DON'T MISS

What Does Trump Crackdown on Homelessness Mean for California?

DON'T MISS

Naindeep Singh Joins Fresno City Council Race as Campaign Fundraising Totals Roll In

DON'T MISS

Fresno Home Suffers Major Damage in Saturday Night Fire, Family Cat Rescued

UP NEXT

New York City Mayor Says ‘Active Shooter’ Incident Taking Place in Manhattan

UP NEXT

Shooting Outside Casino in Reno, Nevada, Leaves 3 Victims Dead, 2 Critically Wounded

UP NEXT

Fresno County Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Deadly Crash

UP NEXT

Venezuelan Little League Team Denied Entry to US Over Travel Ban

UP NEXT

Fresno Seals Deal with Police Union. No Deal Yet With Firefighters.

UP NEXT

North Korea Says Trump Must Accept New Nuclear Reality

UP NEXT

Naindeep Singh Joins Fresno City Council Race as Campaign Fundraising Totals Roll In

UP NEXT

Fresno Home Suffers Major Damage in Saturday Night Fire, Family Cat Rescued

UP NEXT

Senator to Unveil Aviation Safety Bill on Eve of Fatal Crash Hearing

UP NEXT

Fox Business News Host Throws Shade at Merced Over High-Speed Rail

Fresno County Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Deadly Crash

11 hours ago

Venezuelan Little League Team Denied Entry to US Over Travel Ban

11 hours ago

Fresno Seals Deal with Police Union. No Deal Yet With Firefighters.

11 hours ago

North Korea Says Trump Must Accept New Nuclear Reality

11 hours ago

What Does Trump Crackdown on Homelessness Mean for California?

12 hours ago

Naindeep Singh Joins Fresno City Council Race as Campaign Fundraising Totals Roll In

12 hours ago

Fresno Home Suffers Major Damage in Saturday Night Fire, Family Cat Rescued

13 hours ago

Senator to Unveil Aviation Safety Bill on Eve of Fatal Crash Hearing

13 hours ago

Fox Business News Host Throws Shade at Merced Over High-Speed Rail

13 hours ago

Trump Says He Turned Down Invitation to Epstein’s Island

13 hours ago

Two Arrested in Dollar General Burglary in Fowler, Third Suspect at Large

Two suspects are behind bars after a commercial burglary at a Dollar General in Fowler, the Fowler Police Department said on Monday. Officer...

9 hours ago

Two repeat theft offenders were arrested and a third suspect remains at large after a burglary at a Dollar General in Fowler, police said. (Fowler PD)
9 hours ago

Two Arrested in Dollar General Burglary in Fowler, Third Suspect at Large

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., June 3, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

New York City Mayor Says ‘Active Shooter’ Incident Taking Place in Manhattan

The Grand Sierra Resort casino is seen after a fatal shooting in Reno, Nevada, U.S., July 28, 2025 in this still image taken from a video. ABC Affiliate KOLO via REUTERS
10 hours ago

Shooting Outside Casino in Reno, Nevada, Leaves 3 Victims Dead, 2 Critically Wounded

11 hours ago

Fresno County Repeat DUI Offender Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Deadly Crash

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
11 hours ago

Venezuelan Little League Team Denied Entry to US Over Travel Ban

Fresno City Hall Fresno Police Officers Association
11 hours ago

Fresno Seals Deal with Police Union. No Deal Yet With Firefighters.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attends wreath laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam March 2, 2019. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

North Korea Says Trump Must Accept New Nuclear Reality

San Diego Homeless Encampment
12 hours ago

What Does Trump Crackdown on Homelessness Mean for California?

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend