The Founding Fathers of the United States believed that the values of constitutional foundations, separation of powers and judicial independence would create a country that could withstand change and adversity. Indeed, this system has proven strong enough to overcome the challenges of American history, such as the Great Depression, World War II, the civil rights movement and the Cold War. However, the system has also proven to carry vulnerabilities, and using a metaphor, potential “viruses” that can weaken its democratic institutions. These frailties include the rise of demagogues and extreme political polarization and have become even more evident in recent years with the resurgence of economic crises and financial bubbles, the deepening of poverty and social inequality, the resurgence of populism and isolationist drives, the re-emergence of violence and racial discrimination, and the spreading like wildfire of addictions to new and old drugs. The same increasing characterization of electorally “red” and “blue” states has altered the concept of citizen representation, and traditional political parties have often lost control over nomination processes, allowing anti-establishment candidates to gain prominence. This has also been possible because of misinformation that through social media has further eroded the basis for informed civil discourse and political dialectics. The challenge to democratic coexistence has tested the strength of institutions. However, over the centuries the American system has demonstrated that it has its own defensive immune system, a kind of antivirus, an endogenous mechanisms designed by the founding fathers to protect against these threats and that still seem to be working. But for how much longer? Are separation of powers, judicial review and federalism still viable deterrents to prevent any ambitions for power? Does a free press, protected by the First Amendment, still play a vital role in holding anyone in power accountable? What role can citizens play in sustaining and strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions? It has always been said that the health of American democracy depends on its ability to adapt while preserving fundamental constitutional principles, and it must be acknowledged that whatever the motivation for the past crisis, the United States has found within itself the strength and energy to react and overcome it, without ever resorting to outside help. But today, more than ever, there is a need to restore confidence in political forces and democratic institutions, and to foster a new political culture that rediscovers and reintroduces the founding principles of American democracy. As the nation, grappling with one of the most dramatic electoral contests for the presidency, faces these challenges, the question to be asked: will the Eagle maintain its flight or will the viruses of anti-politics clip its wings?
