"On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Rarely has a milestone coincided so precisely with the exhaustion of the very idea that made it possible. It will be like toasting a world that no longer exists. The nation that for decades presented itself as the guarantor of global democratic order has, according to the most rigorous political scientists, crossed the line separating democracy from competitive authoritarianism."
"It was the prime position occupied by tech magnates, smiling, alongside the new president. The fusion of political and economic power was already being displayed without shame. Today, these magnates not only amass unprecedented wealth: they wield an unprecedented cultural and communicative influence. And some no longer hide their disdain for democracy. Peter Thiel, one of the most influential ideologues of this new right, stated bluntly: I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible."
On July 4, 2026, the United States will mark its 250th anniversary while its founding democratic ideals have eroded. Political scientists identify the U.S. as having crossed from democracy into competitive authoritarianism. In 2025, autocracies outnumbered democracies globally for the first time. Political and economic power has fused as tech magnates take visible roles alongside political leaders, accumulating unprecedented wealth, cultural influence, and communicative reach. Some leading figures openly reject democracy: Peter Thiel declared that freedom and democracy are incompatible, and Curtis Yarvin urged reinventing fascism to serve Silicon Valley, warning that electoral losses could foreclose opportunities to dismantle democratic institutions.
Read at english.elpais.com
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