Not Surprising

Freedom in Decline

   With the fall of Afghanistan - where women tasted freedom for 20 years - the world's percentage of free people dropped below 20 percent. 

   Freedom House's annual report marked the 15th straight year of decline in global freedom. Of course, China and Russia lead the way, cheering the breakdown of democracy - and speeding it. 

   Declines occur in Hong Kong, Belarus, Ethiopia, Algeria and Turkey. Venezuela and Cambodia exploit the pandemic to restrict liberties. Sound familiar? 

   Freedom is gaining in Malawi, Taiwan (as China simmers), Montenegro and Bolivia. 

   Freedom House attributes this to a fading presence of major democracies. Democracy, they say is failing not because it doesn't work, but most prominent democracies aren't doing much to protect and encourage it. 

   Our thumb points to us, kissing up to Communist China for example. Our democracy weakens as Democrats slide into socialism and Republicans toward nationalism. We lost points in the freedom index for our lack of transparency, and corruption. 

   India targets Muslims and Christians. Elsewhere, Muslims target non-Muslims. Europe, the EU, is home to bureaucracies.

   "Democracy is not our idol," says Mindy Belz in WORLD magazine, "just a better system than all the others."  

   "Democracy is hard," she points out. "It demands election winners accept when their opponents to beat them next time." Compromise on all sides is essential. All that demands a high level of consensus and a shared reality. These values are under attack in America.   

   "Christians," Belz offers, "stake their freedom in Christ, whether living in a democracy or an authoritarian state." 

        Jimmy