🏛️ The Fragility of Democratic Institutions: What Happens When Extremism Undermines the System?
Democracy isn’t just a set of ideals—it’s a structure. Courts, legislatures, elections, and agencies form the scaffolding that holds liberty aloft. But when extremist movements reject the legitimacy of these institutions, the scaffolding begins to crack. 🧨 Undermining from Within Extremist rhetoric often targets the very institutions that make constitutional rights enforceable: Courts are dismissed as “activist” when rulings challenge ideological views. Elections are declared fraudulent without evidence, eroding public trust. Federal agencies are portrayed as enemies of freedom, rather than guardians of public welfare. This isn’t healthy skepticism—it’s strategic sabotage. And it creates a feedback loop: distrust leads to disengagement, which leads to institutional decay. 🕳️ The Myth of Self-Correction Some argue that democracy will “self-correct”—that institutions will bounce back once extremism fades. But history suggests otherwise: Democracies can and do collaps...