In 2018, when I was working on my book The Next Civil War, I remember speaking to an FBI agent who had been undercover for many years with the far right. By then I had done my own time with extremists from both sides, and I had a question: The right was responsible for over half of all political murders in the United States, and the left for somewhere around 4 per cent. How could he explain the difference? Why was one side so much more violently effective than the other?
He knew right away. The left blows itself up before it can blow anyone else up, he told me. The right, even on its insane fringes, can muster basic solidarity and order. As the 2024 election heats up, that undercover agent’s truth seems freshly valid to me. It feels like the right has already organised a path to autocracy. The left, which loudly claims to be defending US democracy, is in shambles.
The causes of the potential collapse of the American republic have been well established since 2008 at least. Countries collapse, not because of single events, but because of deep systemic failures, and the United States exhibits many of the most toxic systemic failures: negative partisanship drives its political system and, increasingly, its legal system; income inequality is at levels the country has not seen since its founding; faith in institutions of all kinds – Congress, the media, religious institutions, the courts – is in steep decline.
Meanwhile its archaic election system, the electoral college, simply does not reflect, in a meaningful way, the popular will. Fewer and fewer people in the United States believe in their political system – and those who do believe in it less and less.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 18, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 18, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Meet the new stars as F1 finally bloods young talent
For Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old wonderkid who Mercedes have high hopes will be their version of Max Verstappen, it was the biggest of comedowns at the Italian Grand Prix yesterday. The scene was set, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza glistening in 35C sunshine, as the Italian prospect expected to replace Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows next year took to the track in first practice: his first session in Formula 1.
Summers-Newton powers to another swimming gold
There is no textbook for dealing with teenage sporting stardom, but Maisie Summers-Newton is as qualified as anyone to write it.
Dutch rivals were never pals - but now they're foes
They are not friends, according to Arne Slot. “Friends is someone you see a lot and go out with for dinner with,” said the Liverpool manager. Erik ten Hag does not belong in that category. Their relationship, Slot claimed, is as “good and normal as with other managers”. But a rivalry has been renewed; it may not be personal between them, but it tends to be between their clubs.
UK won't suddenly collapse because of a four-day week
Labour's 'Make Work Pay' proposals are aimed at boosting productivity and driving economic growth, not the opposite
Germany deports Afghans a week after deadly stabbings
Germany has deported Afghan nationals back to their homeland for the first time since the Taliban seized back power three years ago.
China not ready to invade at the moment, says Taiwan
China lacks the ability to fully invade Taiwan but is developing hypersonic weapons and other methods to threaten the island, Taipei's defence ministry has warned.
Brazilian court orders ban on X after Musk legal row
Brazil’s supreme court has ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of Elon Musk’s social media platform X throughout the country.
Child dies as Russian bomb hits playground in Kharkiv
At least five people, including a teenage girl, have been killed in what Kyiv has said was a Russian glide bomb attack on an apartment block in northeast Ukraine.
Harris comes out of 'hiding' to ace her first TV interview
Democrat keeps race in her favour with 'do no harm' strategy
Man is caught 'upskirting' woman at British Museum
Police ask other victims on phone videos to come forward