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For the past 2 years, one of my favorite traditions in Washington has been participating in the Congressional Baseball Game. I usually play in the outfield.

For those who arent familiar with this annual event, its when congressional Democrats and Republicans get together to play each other in an exhibition game that raises money for different Washington, D.C. charities. Besides letting some of us relive our younger and more athletic days, it also gives us a rare opportunity to connect with our colleagues across party and state lines.

The vicious and horrific attack we saw Wednesday in Alexandria at the Republican teams practice was nothing short of a direct assault on the institution we all serve and a deranged attempt to disrupt our democracy through violence. But it failed. When the Democratic team learned about what happened, our coach Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania gathered us in the dugout for safety and led us all in prayer. As I sat in the dugout, I was horrified as I thought about Majority Whip Steve Scalise, the heroic Capitol Police officers, and the young former and current Capitol Hill staffers who were injured. It could have been any one of us. This wasnt just an attack on Republicans; it was an attack on our democracy.

The Congressional Baseball Game has never been about Republicans against Democrats. Its about Republicans and Democrats. Its about Americans coming together to support a good cause. The game went ahead Thursday night. We did not give in to fear, violence or hate. We played for those affected by these despicable and cowardly actions, to support local charities (including the Washington Literacy Center, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, and, as was announced Wednesday, the Capitol Police Memorial Fund), and to remind the American people that this violence will not define or divide us.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, represents Californias 31st Congressional District. His commentary first appeared at CNN.com

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Gunman's assault on democracy failed - Press-Enterprise

Will democracy in America survive?

First remember that democracy matters. No human institutions are perfect but democracy makes it possible to remove officials without going to war. Democracy doesnt mean anyone alone can make good things happen. Democracy reflects the collective power of people. Collectively, if the rules are followed that protect speakers, publishers, candidates and fair elections, democracy gives us the possibility though nothing is certain of throwing the bastards out. Thats important.

The survival of democracy depends on leaders, institutions, and the circumstances that bring out the best and worst in us. What chance do we have?

We should have been warned when Trump repeatedly expressed admiration for dictators in Russia, the Near East and Eastern Europe, when Trump invited an enemy to break into a candidates email and interfere in an American election, and suggested his supporters use their Second Amendment rights to put him into power. We should have been warned when Trump put people with strong ties to hostile powers at the top of his Administration and gave them access to American military and intelligence secrets. We should have been warned when Trump put an attorney hostile to justice in charge of the Justice Department and installed many military leaders in his government. We cant rely on this casino mogul turned would-be strongman to preserve American democratic government.

Its unclear whether our institutions will protect us. The Turkish military protected Turkish democracy for a century, but that tradition is now gone. Members of Trumps party control both houses of Congress where their commitment to their party compromises their commitment to democracy. Congress seems unlikely to protect us. The Court is dominated by members of the Presidents party and their treatment of the Constitutions due process clauses has been more a threat to decent citizens than a limitation on the powers of would-be dictators.

The circumstances in which we find ourselves have ripped democracies apart across the globe. The concentration of wealth and power we have long seen and condemned abroad has become a reality here. The more that wealth and power are concentrated, the more that the wealthy and powerful circle their wagons to protect their ill-gotten gains against the rest of us, spewing nonsense about supposed trickle-down economics as if it were fact and counting on peoples gullibility. Concentration also makes people desperate, and desperation fuels the mirage of lies and makes too many of us complicit in our own subjugation.

Without reason to rely on the leaders, institutions, or circumstances, that leaves us. Can we square our shoulders and steady our minds to resist the steady babble of nonsense and not just listen to the words but watch what those in power are doing?

When you look at behavior instead of giving a pass to the mogul in the White House, you begin to notice that his actions belie his words. He has no sympathy for coal miners or others who have been shunted aside by changes in the economy but only to protect his friends wealth and power from us. Bernie put his finger on the problem and Trump now aggravates the concentration of wealth and power that are taking apart the lives we thought wed built. So-called free markets protect the marketeers. So-called trickle down economics protect the concentrations from which the trickles are supposed to flow. And the flood of inconsistent tweets boggle the mind and conceal the reality.

Can we uncover the deceptions with strong minds and clear eyes while the casino mogul in the White House gambles our birthright.

Steve Gottlieb is Jay and Ruth Caplan Distinguished Professor of Law at Albany Law School and author of Unfit for Democracy: The Roberts Court and the Breakdown of American Politics. He has served on the Board of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and in the US Peace Corps in Iran. Steve maintains a blog: constitutionalismanddemocracy.wordpress.com

The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.

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Stephen Gottlieb: Can American Democracy Survive The Bully In The White House? - WAMC

Sandeep Dikshit made a terrible mistake but hes also paid for it with an embarrassing public apology. He was wrong to equate the Army chief with a sadak ka gunda. This wasnt just an insult to Gen Rawat but, more importantly, to the office he holds. The institution of the Army chief although not necessarily the incumbent must be treated with respect even whilst criticising it. Dikshit breached this critical rule. It hardly matters whether he did so inadvertently or deliberately.

However, Dikshit has apologised, fully and unreservedly. If his offence was serious his apology is unequivocal and that is why it should bring the matter to an end. In a civilised society the offence must cease when an apology is delivered. That, after all, is a key rule of gentlemanly conduct.

However, Dikshit has raised a far wider and more important issue and even if it was not his explicit intention to do so I, today, am deliberately choosing to elaborate this more significant point. The Army and that very definitely includes the Army chief is not above criticism and must not be protected from legitimate and sincere critique.

In a democracy every institution of state must face criticism when its justified and deserved. If that includes the prime minister and it most certainly does how can it possibly exclude the Army and its chief? This point is not just self-evident and obvious but, I would add, incontestable. I know of no credible democracy where this is not the case.

During World War I and, perhaps, more significantly World War II, whilst Britains forces were suffering reverses, its army and generals were subjected to damaging but justified criticism. It was, in fact, a test of Britains commitment to democracy and the principle of free speech, even in the face of a rampaging Adolf Hitler.

But why go so far back in time? After the worst reverses in the 1962 India-China War, Atal Bihari Vajpayee demanded a special session of Parliament to which Nehru readily agreed and the performance of the Indian Army was sharply, if undeservedly, criticised. This wasnt just painful but also self-inflicted yet the debate was justified and, even if the criticism mistaken, no one disputed the right of the critics to make it.

Unfortunately, that seems like not just another era but almost another country. Today, as Lt Gen HS Panag, a former Northern Army Commander, has written: The army as an institution has been accorded a halo that it can do nothing wrong and nobody should criticise it. This is the worst that could happen to an army. It prevents the army from undertaking reforms which are always necessary for the betterment of any organisation.

Not for a moment do I believe any Army officer and that includes Gen Rawat would think differently. Our Army has nothing to hide and almost everything to be proud of. This is why it would welcome questioning, including criticism even when its sharp and hurtful. And I write that as an Army son who knows what hes talking about.

Finally, a word of advice to the untiring soldiers of social media who, at the first hint of criticism, valorously rise to the Armys defence: cool it or, preferably, shut up! You dont know what youre talking about nor do you understand how youre indefensible behaviour diminishes our Army. In fact, remember, the Army needs you like it needs a hole in the head.

The views expressed are personal

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In a democracy, Army cannot be above criticism - Hindustan Times

Jamaica and the United States share a deep democratic tradition. I have been fortunate to serve during an election here in Jamaica and to have seen that democratic tradition in action.

After a hard-fought campaign, there was a gracious and peaceful transfer of power, Jamaica's sixth since Independence. Our common democratic heritage has helped to bind our two countries and solidify our partnership since Jamaica's Independence in 1962.

It is our collective responsibility as democratic nations to defend human rights and democracy in Venezuela. In 2001, we adopted the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which affirmed the right of every citizen across the hemisphere to democracy and obligated our governments to defend that right.

Unfortunately, in Venezuela today, the Maduro government has relentlessly and intentionally undermined other constitutional branches of government from the inside. Since opposition parties won a majority of seats in 2015, Venezuela's National Assembly has been systematically stifled by the Maduro government. The Maduro regime's increasing inability to govern the country has led to tremendous human suffering in Venezuela, caused by shortages of food, medicine, and an abysmal economy.

When a government does not respect democratic principles, we are called to join in solidarity with its people. Not through intervention or interference, but with proactive, engaged diplomacy and mediation among all parties to help find a peaceful, democratic, and comprehensive solution.

The upcoming General Assembly of the Organization of American States will provide us a forum to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Historically, the OAS has responded effectively to military coups that have usurped democratically elected governments. Today, we are witness to a crisis of democracy and human suffering in Caracas.

Citing vague, unproven claims of electoral fraud, allegedly committed by three legislators, the government has denied the legislative branch the right to pass laws and the pro-Maduro judiciary has declared Venezuela's Congress "in contempt", stripping it of all legislative authority.

Imagine if a prime minister of Jamaica declared that he or she held sole lawmaking and executive authority? I fully expect that the Jamaican people, across party lines, would join in full-throated protest and use all constitutional means to restore democratic norms, just as the Venezuelan people are now doing.

Today in Venezuela, President Maduro is squelching an attempt to put his leadership to a vote through a recall referendum. In contrast, the late President Chavez vigorously defended Venezuelan people's right to referenda, in order to hold to governments accountable for their actions.

Both Jamaica and the United States have a long and honoured tradition of an apolitical military. Indeed, the Jamaica Defence Force and the US armed forces are among the most respected and trusted institutions in our respective countries. Yet Maduro is attacking the principle of an apolitical military. He relies increasingly on the Venezuelan military to control the economy, intimidate opponents, and suppress popular discontent.

Distressingly, more than 331 Venezuelan civilians are being held and prosecuted by military courts in secret trials. Venezuela's own attorney general, appointed by Chavez in 2007, has condemned the trials and the military has refused her access to the prisoners.

Faced with a crumbling economy and massive popular dissatisfaction, the Maduro administration has called for the abandonment of the 1999 Bolivarian Constitution. If his attempt succeeds, it would eliminate the current popularly elected National Assembly, the attorney general, and other existing institutions.

I call on the citizens of Jamaica to ask yourselves: If this were happening here, what would you want your democratic friends and neighbours to do? I know from my two and a half years of listening to Jamaica's vigorous democratic debates on radio and reading them spill across the pages of The Gleaner that you would expect, even demand, that our American family of nations speak out, and reach out, to help restore fundamental democratic freedoms.

We are grateful for Jamaica's help in the Organization of American States in supporting the return to democratic norms in Caracas. Jamaica, as a long-time friend of Venezuela and the Venezuelan people, plays a unique role in this process by fostering constructive dialogue in Caracas and across the region. We look forward to working with Jamaica in supporting a return to democratic norms in Caracas as we stand by the Venezuelan people's effort to reclaim their democracy.

- Luis Moreno is US ambassador to Jamaica. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.

Link:
Luis Moreno | Defending democracy with diplomacy in Venezuela - Jamaica Gleaner

The real answer to the democracy-killing 'administrative state' New York Post From different directions, conservatives have begun to aim their guns at our administrative state. Most of the rules we live by aren't laws passed by Congress or court decisions. Instead, they're to be found in the thousands of pages in the Code of ...

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The real answer to the democracy-killing 'administrative state' - New York Post