Is democracy on the brink of collapse?

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Hi all. It's the middle of the night where I am. I'm making this post because I can't sleep.

What do you think would happen if America became a dictatorship tomorrow? I'm starting to think that, if America became a dictatorship, nobody would care. Hardly anyone would rise up. Most people would just passively accept it.

When I read about history, it seems as though democracy emerged through intellectualism and the human spirit. When I look at the world around me, I see widespread anti-intellectualism, celebrity worship, simple-mindedness, and hatred of people who are different. I'm not sure if the masses have the democratic mentality that created democracy in the first place. Most people seemingly like it when higher authorities tell them what to do.

I'm seeing this in other Western countries as well. It seems as though many people desire strong authority figures and hero worship, even within a democratic society. The masses claim that they dislike dictatorships ... but North Korea labels itself a democracy, and most North Koreans have seemingly bought into this. In other words, it's very easy to convince (most) people that they are free, even when they are not. Do people really love democracy, or just the word "democracy"?

That's what's keeping me awake at night. I fear that modern democracy is teetering on the edge of a cliff, and not enough people are trying to keep it up. I fear that any politician could easily fool the masses into accepting fascism with a different name.

In other words, I'm losing my faith in the human spirit. Can anyone please restore my faith in humanity? I feel like I'm losing it.

It depends on if the dictator was benevolent or malevolent.

A benevolent dictator would use his or her absolute authority to care for the people -- like stern, strict parents would take care of their kids.

A malevolent dictator would use his or her absolute authority to crush the opposition and stay in power -- like someone who once sent his brown-shirted, jack-booted thugs to round up as many gays, Jews, Slavs, et cetera as they could and force them to breathe poison gas.

Do I think America is headed that way?

Do I dare say anything against the current neo-Fascist regime?

Perhaps some benevolent dictators have existed throughout history, but it's generally not something that I would count on. Dictators generally don't have to be benevolent, as they can easily convince the masses that they are benevolent. Thus, it's very rare for dictators to be benevolent.

I'm sure that if you ask Kim Jong Un if he is benevolent, he would respond with an emphatic 'YES!' ...

... just before he had his generals blow you to bits with an anti-aircraft gun.

Nope....too many checks and balances for us to become a dictatorship---unless there is such thing as "dictatorship via Congress"

Like there was under Oliver Cronwell: "Dictatorship under Parliament, headed by Oliver Cromwell."

I get to be Major Hochstetter

Don't count on it.

In a dictatorship, most of us would just be rank-and-file.

I'd like to think the American military would squash a dictatorship. Which means if America did have one, the military would be behind it, so you'd have no choice but to accept it with a smile on your face.

Yeah, but I have special skills.

Many of us would be WORSE than "rank-and-file" to the dictator and his/her minions.

America would have to become a democracy first, for it to collapse.

America is currently a pseudo-democracy in which the voice of the people is drowned out by plutocratic influence.

It often seems like most Americans know that their country is plutocratic ... and simply don't give a damn.

This means that, if the few democratic checks and balances in America were abolished, not enough people would give a damn, and so the resistance would ultimately fail.

I know that America is not entirely democratic ... but America is partially democratic. I fear that even the pseudo-democratic forces within the country are under attack from corrupt officials and an apathetic population.