“This is what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” Despite the bitter cold, the solidly frozen ground and black ice, between 100,000 and 350,000 people had assembled on Sunday, the 21st of January, in front of the famous Reichstag building in Berlin, which houses the German parl
  • MonsiuerPatEBrown@reddthat.comEnglish
    8·
    11 months ago

    meaty bits that i need emphasis:

    Critics of such measures in both countries claim that the will of the people supersedes everything, even if the result would elevate a candidate to a position of power that would enable them to destroy democratic structures from within—and do so using taxpayer money. However, both the US and the German constitutions have tools to protect themselves and their countries in such instances—by banning candidates who qualify as enemies to the democratic system from the ballot.

    followed with this:

    Those who had abolished the rule of law and democracy had come to power legally and through democratic processes. A logical conclusion from this was that the laws and constitution of the Weimar Republic had not sufficiently protected democracy and the rule of law. To counter this, a number of protective mechanisms were written into the Basic Law of the Federal Republic. One of these is the possibility of banning political parties.

    I also like that they brought up Popper and intolerance and tolerance.

    Great article.