America at 250: Democracy’s Promise and Contradictions-by KKS Perera
Source:Dailymirror
This year saw mass protests nationwide, including demonstrators marching along Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the No Kings Protest on June 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. Source: Yuki Iwamura/AP News
As the United States begins its 250th year of existence, it finds itself in the midst of what many observers describe as a profound political, social, intellectual and cultural transformation. The great democratic principles that were proclaimed in Jefferson’s famous document—principles which inspired not only the struggle against the British monarchy, but also the Second American Revolution of 1861-65 that abolished slavery—face significant challenges in our contemporary moment.
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Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, stands as a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776—the pivotal moment that established the United States of America as a sovereign nation. In his speech at Gettysburg in 1863, Lincoln posed the fundamental question of whether a nation founded on the principle that all men are created equal “can long endure”. This question remains as relevant today as it was one hundred and sixty-two years ago. The answer depends not on any single leader or political moment, but on the ongoing commitment of the American people to democratic principles and institutions.
July 4, 2025, marks 249 years since the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed the fundamental right of the people “to alter or to abolish” any government that becomes “destructive” to the sacred principles of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This revolutionary document established enduring principles that would resonate through centuries of American history and inspire democratic movements across the globe.
Independence Day is celebrated with parades and fireworks, bringing communities together in a spirit of patriotic celebration. All that is well and good, and these traditions serve an important role in maintaining our collective memory and shared identity. It is necessary, however, to put aside some time for serious thinking about the fate of the American Revolution and the state of the country as we approach this significant milestone.
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The tensions we witness today are not without historical precedent. Throughout American history, there have been periods of intense political polarisation, social upheaval, and constitutional stress. The Civil War era, the Gilded Age, the Great Depression, and the civil rights movement all tested the resilience of democratic institutions and the commitment of the American people to the ideals of equality and self-governance.
The Current Political Landscape
The current political environment presents unique challenges to democratic governance. The concentration of wealth and power, the polarisation of political discourse, and the erosion of shared factual understanding all pose threats to the democratic process. These challenges manifest in various ways: the influence of money in politics, the decline of local journalism, the rise of misinformation, and the increasing difficulty of finding common ground across political divides.
The political system appears to be experiencing significant strain, with many institutions struggling to maintain their legitimacy and effectiveness. Traditional norms of political behaviour have been challenged, and the peaceful transfer of power—long considered a hallmark of American democracy—has faced unprecedented pressure.
Popular Response and Democratic Engagement
Despite these challenges, there is evidence of deep and growing popular engagement with democratic processes. This year has already seen mass protests and demonstrations across the country on various issues, reflecting a citizenry that remains actively engaged in the political process. The largest demonstrations in recent memory have brought together millions of Americans from diverse backgrounds, united by concerns about the direction of the country and the preservation of democratic institutions.
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These movements demonstrate that the democratic traditions embodied in the American Revolution retain a powerful resonance—not just as historical artefacts, but as living principles that continue to inspire political action. The spirit of 1776, with its emphasis on popular sovereignty and the right to self-governance, continues to motivate citizens to participate in the democratic process.
The Role of Economic Inequality
One of the most significant challenges facing American democracy is the growing concentration of wealth and economic power. This concentration has historical parallels to the Gilded Age, when similar concerns about the influence of wealthy interests on democratic governance led to progressive reforms and antitrust legislation. Trump’s tariffs will likely hurt US businesses through supply chain problems and higher costs. This could force him to cut tariffs due to domestic pressure, though there’s no guarantee he will. Sri Lanka and other developing countries hope to convince Trump to reduce tariffs further. Trump often changes his mind – he first said his tariffs were final, then lowered them himself. This gives countries like Sri Lanka hope for more tariff cuts through future talks.
The Global Context
The challenges facing American democracy are not unique to the United States. Around the world, democratic institutions face pressure from authoritarianism, populism, and the concentration of power. The American experience, both its successes and its failures, offers important lessons for democratic movements worldwide.
At the same time, the United States has much to learn from other democratic societies that have developed innovative approaches to citizen engagement, political representation, and the protection of democratic institutions. The global nature of contemporary challenges—from climate change to technological disruption to economic inequality—requires democratic cooperation and coordination on an unprecedented scale.
Looking Forward
As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, it is worth reflecting on both the achievements and the shortcomings of the American democratic experiment. The principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence—equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—remain compelling ideals, even as their full realisation continues to be a work in progress.
The Past
U.S. has deceived the world about its democratic origins. America was built on genocide, slavery, and expansionism, not noble principles. The Declaration of Independence was written by slaveholders, and national wealth came from enslaved labour and stolen Indigenous land.
Policies like the Trail of Tears and Indian Boarding Schools constituted systematic ethnic cleansing. Slavery’s abolition was illusory—the 13th Amendment’s criminal exception enabled mass incarceration targeting Black and Brown populations.
Internationally, the U.S. operates over 700 military bases and has bombed dozens of countries since WWII. CIA operations included coups in Iran, Iraq, Chile, Vietnam and Afghanistan and assassinations across the Global South. Recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 exemplify continued unilateral aggression. Cultural hegemony maintains supremacy through controlled narratives while operating a militarised police state. Whistleblowers are criminalised, surveillance is pervasive, and billionaires control elections.
At 250 years, America is a collapsing paradox—preaching international law while violating it, funding dictatorships while promoting human rights. True democracy requires dismantling this system entirely.
The ultimate test of American democracy will be whether it can continue to evolve and adapt while preserving its core commitment to the principle that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed. This principle, revolutionary in 1776, remains revolutionary today, and its preservation requires the active engagement of each generation of Americans.
The counterrevolution of concentrated power and wealth can only be effectively addressed through the democratic engagement of working people and all citizens committed to the principles of equality and self-governance. The challenge is not merely to resist antidemocratic forces, but to build a more perfect union that truly represents the ideals declared in Jefferson’s immortal document nearly two and a half centuries ago.
The writer can be reached at kksperera1@gmail.com
