Not making it easier for people to vote. Politicians polarizing the citizens. Misinformation. The internet.

Propaganda – false information. Age gap. 48 million to 88 million in the 21st century.

Misinformation, conspiracy “theories,” people spreading and believing lies.

One of the greatest challenges is the ability of a subset of people to use today’s media to spread lies and stories to support themselves.

Voting rights restriction. The rise of the militia and rebellion. The threat of civil war. The change in the Republican Party. Propaganda – misiniformation.

The spreading of fake news that divides citizens keeping them from working to improve society as well as the way capitalism has affected things and allows the rich too much control over government.

People who question the integrity of election results. Corrupt political figures who question the integrity of election results and spread misinformation.

Fake news, nobody reads newspapers, corruption of the last administration, supreme court partisans, guns, hate of immigrants.

1) Voter suppression including district gerrymandering
2) Funding for candidates often seems to make them beholden to special interest groups
3) Purposeful misinformation regarding legitimacy of elections.
4) Lack of faith in the democratic process.

The main challenges facing democracy today are much of the electorate’s inability to think critically and to exert the necessary mental energy to research not just the issues, but workable and equitable solutions. A willfully uninformed public that prefers unverified opinions, even repetitive ranting, will be the undoing of our society no matter the form of government. We have seen what tyranny of the majority and moneyed interests have done to political discourse, pursuit of sound policies and the well-being of the nation as a whole. Demagoguery and jingoism coupled with authoritarian populism are readying to tear our house down. More credible, serious media coverage, a cessation of algorithmic pandering in an atmosphere of real civics education may be the the beginning of the long arduous way forward to a truly a civil society.

I believe that one of the biggest challenges facing democracy today is misinformation. Between our reduced attention span and disinclination to check sources, those who benefit from fearmongering can easily prey on our anxieties and preconceived notions to stir up anger and resentment and fuel polarization.