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Swedens REIN (known in real life as Joanna Reinikainen) worries a lot about societys largest problems, including the return of fascism in the Western world, the continual denigration of womens rights, and income inequality. We should all be worried about these issues and REIN brings them front and center in her righteous brand of electropunk. REINs latest single is Democracy and its a banger that hits the nail right on the head, calling out those billionaire business figures that control 85% of the worlds wealth. Accompanied by footage of protests from around the world, the video for Democracy is powerful and moving as REIN questions whether those of us in so-called First World democracies are actually experiencing anything like real democracy. REIN tells PopMatters, I talk about exclusion, feminism, anti-capitalism, anti-racism and I want to raise important questions like, are we really living in what they say is a democracy? These are big, contemporary subjects in a time when history is repeating itself.

Democracy will appear on REINs upcoming FREEDOOM EP. I just had enough after the US elections, the rise of the right-wing movement in Europe, the Syrian War, and Brexit. Why not be open to new solutions? Why not abolish the entire system instead of going backward? I think that it is important to at least start the debate, says REIN.

Sarah Zupko founded PopMatters, one of the largest independent cultural criticism magazines on the web, back in the Internet's early days of 1999. Zupko is a former Executive Producer for Tribune Media Services, the media syndication arm of the Tribune Company, and a 10-year veteran of Tribune. Her other pursuits involve writing historical fiction and research in the fields of Slavic and German history, as well as general European cultural and intellectual history. Zupko studied musicology, film, and drama at the University of Chicago and media theory at the University of Texas, where she received her M.A.

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REIN - "Democracy" (video) (premiere) - PopMatters

So, recently Zuma shuffled his cabinet, most notably replacing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, as well as Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas. This shuffle has caused the Rand to fall by more than 5% in the matter of a few days, as well as South Africa being regulated to junk status. The consequences of this move are already being felt, and will be felt for years to come. According to some economists, a recession is inevitable because of this. What is certain is that the state will now have to pay more rent on its debt, which translates into either a cut in fiscal spending or an increase in taxes, or possibly both.

Despite this irresponsible move, Zuma has come away from it largely unscathed thus far. Three of the ANCs top six had spoken out against his move, but later retracted their criticisms, stating that it was a mistake. Nationwide protests were launched to show the publics discontent with Zumas action, as well as calling for his resignation. Nothing has come of these protests. Zuma is still in power.

The nations hope lies in the coming vote of no confidence, which might be an anonymous vote, pending the findings of the Constitutional Court. An anonymous vote might mean the end of Zuma, as his ANC party members can vote based on their conscience without fear of repercussions.

Now, for the point of this essay. Zuma is not only a threat to the ANC and the South African economy, but to South Africas democracy itself.

Democratization is not an event, but it is a process. Democratic consolidation also takes place on three stages, namely the structural stage, the attitudinal stage and the behavioural stage. The stages that will be focused on here is the attitudinal, which refers to the populaces attitude towards democracy, and behavioural, which refers to populaces actions with regards to democracy, stages.

Zuma is unpopular among the general population, and most of the voting populace wants to see him go. In 2016, even before the latest scandal, Zuma was rated a 4 out of 10 by the general populace, based on a poll of 3416 adults. Recently, after the cabinet reshuffle scandal, a poll was completed by 1000 adults, in which 74% requested Zuma to step down. 69% of Black respondents requested Zuma to step down. His approval rating among black South Africans in 2016 was a mere 27%. Therefore, we can conclude that Zuma is no longer favoured as a president by the South African populace.

Yet, structural means have proven to be unable to remove Jacob Zuma. Repeated votes of no confidence in him has failed in Parliament. The Constitutional Court have largely failed to hold him to account and legitimate, peaceful protests have failed to achieve the desired result.

This, a massively unpopular and dangerous president remaining in power against the will of the people, will lead to a negative attitude towards democracy in South Africa, therefore undermining South Africas democratization process. This comes in light of the findings of polls done by Afrobarometer which shows a steady decline in the populaces satisfaction with democracy from 2002 to 2008. This fact has also been further illustrated by a drop in voter turnout in every election since 1994. People are starting to opt out of the democratic process at an accelerated rate.

The attitudes towards democracy of the populace will eventually evolve into behavior towards democracy. A clear rise in violent protests can be seen, while 70% of all service delivery protests become violent, as people view violence as the only way that their voices can be heard.

In conclusion, the process of democratization in South Africa is under threat from none other than the president himself, as he retains power against the will of the people. The accompanying inability to remove him through structural means only serves to fuel the populaces negative attitude and behavior towards democracy. One can only hope that the upcoming vote of no confidence will be an anonymous one, so that Zuma can be removed and faith in democracy restored.

Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

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The threat to South African democracy - News24

New York Times

Democracy, It Turns Out, Suits the Warriors Just Fine New York Times Stephen Curry, left, and Kevin Durant reflecting the Warriors' relaxed team attitude during a Game 3 blowout of the Spurs on Saturday. Credit Ronald Cortes/Associated Press. SAN ANTONIO It sounds silly at this point, with the Golden State Warriors ... and more »

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Democracy, It Turns Out, Suits the Warriors Just Fine - New York Times

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Posted: May 22, 2017 12:01 AM

Until the American Civil War, the political party of slavery, secession, segregation, and now socialism, referred to itself as The Democracy. After the slow burning of DNC leaks, Crooked Hillarys corruption, the dripping frauds of the DNC elections, and recently the chaos of the now-concluded California Democratic Party convention, its clear that there is nothing democratic about the Democratic Party.

I commiserate with my California liberal, progressive, Democratic friends. They really believe that more government, more socialism is the answer to our nations illsbut at least they believe in a fair, just process. But fairness and big government dont go hand in hand. Communism is fundamentally unfair, taking from those who have and giving to those who dont. Besides, the world has its problems, and solutions to the worlds ills cannot be solved with government-backed solutions. Trade-offs are the calling of the day. This is a fallen earth, and people are fleshy, power-driven, out for themselves. And that same drive for power means Lie, cheat, and steal to win. That only foretells Communisms doom.

The progressives in our midst, 60% of whom were California Democratic Party delegates, still believe that people are basically good and more government will fix the world. After three days of listening to out-going Chairman John Burtonlots of profanity, punctuated with gesticulating middle fingersit should be crystal clear that human beings, whatever their political affiliations, are flawed.

The first day of the California Democratic Party convention exposed the dissension in their ranks. Besides Chairman Burtons curse-laden rants, the general order was disorder and heckling. Left-wing nurse associations agitated repeatedly for single-payer healthcare. When Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez spoke to the Friday crowds, he got boos and heckling in double doses. The new DNC Chairman cheated for his seat, just as Crooked Hillary cheated for the nomination.

The California Democratic Party faithful have been berned, er burned so badly, they were not interested in playing establishment games with Swamp Thing Clinton and Barack Obama. Of course, who was the alternative? Left-wing Muslim Keith Ellison, Congressman from Minnesota. This man had ties to the CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and embraced the most radical of backgrounds and undergroundsmany of whom want to take down the United State of America. The future of the Democratic Party is communistic, Islamist, anti-American, and anti-Western: Cultural Marxism with an American flag hijab.

Now heres the good news for Republicans and for our country. Based on the chaotic three days of the California Democratic Party convention, the same principles which Reagan expounded on in 1983 still hold true today. The desire for liberty is too strong in men, and their demand for justice will never pass away. There is something in human nature, that even as they pursue the expansion of the state into our daily lives, they want the rolloutand thus the rolling away of their own natural rightsto be done their way.

Self-interest, natural law, the Invisible Hand, all of these features of economics and political design will undermine every push for Communism in any form. Indeed, the California Democratic Party is a microcosm of this cultural truthand spell the national partys devastation. Nationally, The Democracy has dissolved into conflicts over class or race. Intersectionality is the latest craze. The left-wing factivists are determined at all costs to ensure the hierarchy of victimization is protected from all attacks, foreign or domestic. All of you half-African, half-Asian elderly lesbians in wheelchairs now hold the cards in this political universe.

Funny thing is, though, that elections depend on votes. Today, most of the nations voters are working people, many of them of European background, but share the same concerns about safety, security, traditional values, and economic opportunity as all ethnic minorities. We are all Americans, right?

The end for the future of the Democratic Party has been laid bare to us in California. Corruption has been the norm. Everyone wins by kowtowing to the special interests. Chairman-elect Bauman certainly did. Mr. Big Pharma hustled to ensure that Prop. 61 for fair pricing for drugs failed miserably. Six months later, Bossman Eric sent out last-minute eblasts to ensure delegates that he is Gung-Ho for single-payer health care. FYI: Dianne Feinstein opposes it. So does State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (or at least he talks that way). No one cares about white people, and the white president is routinely pilloried. The left-wing Berniecrats dont trust Bauman to fight for the Bernie Revolution, since he was a vocal cheerleader for Crooked Hillary. In came Bernie-endorsed Kimberly Ellis, a vocal progressive with a hint of honesty.

Saturday evening, nearly 3,000 delegates voted with enthusiasm and anxiety. The final tally? Bossman Eric won by 60 votes. Just sixty. One has to wonder if they would have started flipping coins to ensure which way ballots would gojust like in Iowa. The media went nuts up and down the state. Bernie delegates were outraged again. First Hillary steals the Presidential nomination. Then Perez steals the DNC chairmanship. Now Mr. Anti-natural law, pro-crony Bauman steals the California Democratic Party chairmanship. Delegates demanded a recount. Kimberly Ellis threatened to sue. Nothing in the formal by-laws provides the process for a recount (I wonder why?) Then delegates started demanding Voter ID to ensure no ballot-staffingand a recount!

Remember what I said about human nature? Right?! On Sunday, Ellis backed down, and Bauman took the gavel, but the Bernie Delegates arent backing down. They fled the convention floor and hosted their own meeting nearby. Communists fight for their way of tyrannizing the world, after all.

What do you know? The drive for the Communistic Democracy is hitting more snags. Progressive activists are abandoning The Democracy. The California Democratic Partys crack-up is good for Republicans, with a promising California Comeback on the way. Could they become Republicans? They want what the GOP has worked for: good government, proper public service, an end to corruption, and expanding opportunity for individual voters and small businesses.

BREAKING: General Michael Flynn Will Plead the Fifth

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Popcorn: The Self-Destruction of The Democracy, as Seen in California - Townhall

Forbes

The New Cold War: Democracy Vs. Autocracy Forbes Over the past 8 days, North Korea successfully tested two nuclear-capable missiles, making a mockery of President Trump's tough approach on North Korea. He has meanwhile opened his arms of friendship to Russia and China, the biggest global threats to ...

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The New Cold War: Democracy Vs. Autocracy - Forbes