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Happy 2026!
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I asked Copilot a question that simply had as its premise what the signs are that signals Democracy is in decline.
What are the signs and signals that democracy is in decline? From Copilot here is an answer.
Here’s a clear, evidence‑based breakdown of the signs and signals that democracy is in decline, grounded in the sources we retrieved and organized so you can see the patterns emerging across countries.
🌍 What the research shows
Multiple global analyses indicate that democracy has been weakening in recent years. Scholars describe this as a “reverse wave,” where more countries are moving toward autocracy than toward democracy.
Below are the most commonly observed warning signs.
⚠️ Key Signs of Democratic Decline
Each item is highlighted so you can dig deeper if you want.
Erosion of democratic rights — measurable reductions in civil liberties, free expression, and political participation have been documented globally.
Manipulation of elections — laws that restrict voting access, politicize election administration, or distort representation through extreme gerrymandering.
Executive overreach — leaders expanding their power, weakening checks and balances, and undermining independent institutions like courts or civil services.
Attacks on the rule of law — efforts to weaken judicial independence or ignore legal constraints.
Declining trust in institutions — rising skepticism toward legislatures, courts, and the media, often fueled by polarization and disinformation.
Restrictions on media freedom — pressure on journalists, concentration of media ownership, or delegitimization of independent reporting.
Political polarization — deepening divisions that make compromise impossible and encourage zero‑sum politics.
Normalization of anti‑democratic rhetoric — leaders questioning election legitimacy, attacking opponents as enemies, or undermining democratic norms.
Weakening of civil society — restrictions on NGOs, protests, unions, and other forms of civic engagement.
Foreign or domestic disinformation campaigns — coordinated efforts to distort public understanding and undermine trust in democratic processes.
Sources:
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Sign of Decline | What It Looks Like in Practice |
|---|---|
| Election manipulation | Barriers to voting, gerrymandering, politicized election oversight |
| Executive power grabs | Leaders bypassing legislatures, weakening oversight bodies |
| Reduced civil liberties | Limits on speech, protest, or press freedom |
| Institutional distrust | Public losing faith in courts, media, or elections |
| Polarization | Parties treating each other as existential threats |
Sources:
🧭 Why this matters
Democratic decline rarely happens overnight. It’s usually a slow erosion—death by a thousand cuts—where norms weaken long before laws change. The good news is that recognizing these signs early is the first step toward strengthening democratic resilience.
This reads like the Project 2025 Playbook and if we are all honest about reading the signs... we might ask are we there. In general, the hard-working Americans who are not in the owning class, have 2026 to right the ship using the Mid-term elections to clean house.
Several key leaders of the anti-immigrant movement in the current US Government must have missed this. American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized US Territory and is singularly the only one that does not have birthright citizenship, no voting representation in the US Congress and has a separate immigration system. The missed opportunity... if you are deporting people from the US, send them to American Samoa. A new name might emerge... Paradise Alcatraz.
There are about 60 ham licenses issued that list American Samoa as a location and if just a regular ham dude your prefix might be AH8, KH8 or NH8.
The very 1st New Years' resolution... register to vote and be a part of the voice for change.
Them that know make things go.
73's
Pete N6QW