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Biden’s Step Down: A Blow to Democratic Choice and Voter Agency
America is turning into an oligarchy
By Jose Nino
In a dramatic shift within the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election has rapidly set the stage for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the presumptive nominee. This move, effectively anointing Harris, underscores a concerning trend within the party: the circumvention of the democratic process by party elites, who are swaying delegates and sidelining viable contenders like Dean Phillips, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Marianne Williamson.
The essence of a primary election is to empower voters, allowing them to shape the party’s future through their choice of candidate. However, the Democratic Party’s leadership seems to be orchestrating an outcome that stifles this fundamental democratic process. By channeling support to Harris and marginalizing other candidates, party bosses are not only disenfranchising the voters who participate in the primaries but are also risking the vitality and appeal of the party by shutting out diverse and potentially transformative voices.
Dean Phillips, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Marianne Williamson represent distinct, progressive alternatives that challenge the status quo, each bringing unique perspectives and solutions to critical issues facing America today. Their exclusion from serious consideration by the party’s upper echelons reveals a troubling resistance to the democratic ideals the party professes to uphold.
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The implications of this top-down nomination process are profound. It suggests a party more concerned with maintaining internal control than with fostering genuine democratic engagement or addressing the electorate’s diverse needs. This approach not only alienates a significant segment of the party’s base, which may find the sidelined candidates more appealing but also dampens enthusiasm and participation, critical components for a robust democratic process.
Moreover, the decision to rally behind Harris without a full and fair primary contest could be seen as a strategic misstep. In an era where voters are increasingly disillusioned with political establishments, the Democratic Party’s move to anoint a candidate could exacerbate feelings of disenfranchisement and detachment among voters. This is particularly risky at a time when the party needs to galvanize its base and appeal to independents to maintain competitiveness in the general election.
The scenario unfolding within the Democratic Party serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of circumventing democratic processes. It highlights the need for transparency, inclusiveness, and respect for the voters’ choices as fundamental tenets of party operations. Without these, the party risks not only internal division but also a weakened stance in the national political arena.
It should serve as a reminder that the US’s commitment to democracy is increasingly becoming a force. With the post-World II liberal order facing increasing pressures domestically and abroad, it’s truly illiberal colors will soon come out. Do not be surprised if liberal pundits start penning op-eds and other think pieces about the need to use tyrannical measures to allegedly save “democracy.”
Despite what many apologists say, the US is no “exceptional” polity. With the way things are going politically, the US is in route to becoming just another society to succumb to petty despotism and oligarchic rule. We’re merely just witnessing the first stages of this process of institutional decay.
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