I appreciate this report on the under reported success for Democracy. I read Persuasion because it had reports like this
I think calling US government, through Biden, as “ fatal to Guatemala’s democrats” is bizare. It seems more like that support was an essential element of the success. I’m very happy Biden played that role.
I don’t know that international public opinion and nobody knowing about the Guatemalan election are the same things. A relatively small number of people read quality newspapers, of which few remain. People who read The Economist, Le Monde, or The Wall Street Journal are aware of it. The coverage at The Economist has been quite good.
The question of popular opinion comes down to where the money and the power are. There is little of either in Latin America. Yet, much good news has come from there lately, including the change of power in Brazil, the rejection of the proposed constitution in Chile, and now Guatemala.
Promoting democratic institutions as a core value has become passé among the ruling class. It is a cudgel for partisans to use against their opponents, but little more. Public opinion reflects an awareness of this sad condition.
Perhaps the good news that America has forcefully returned to backing democratic values means America is finding its way. That is worth celebrating, as is the Guatemalan election.
This is an extraordinarily good news story. Thank you for covering it.
The most glaring reason that it has not been reported is that over the past 50 years or so, individuals such as Rupert Murdoch, have spent their lives securing mass media portals in their concerted attempt, together with corrupt rabidly anti socialist politicians and global capitalist mobsters, to build and keep in power, an empire of autocratic kleptocracies.
That somewhere on our fragile earth so many have suffered so deeply from these abusers of power that they have risen up even in the face of threats of violence, supported by a sitting US President, is a real threat to their global criminal cartel. In such an important political election year they will continue to use all their media powers to silence any news of this coup.
I appreciate this report on the under reported success for Democracy. I read Persuasion because it had reports like this
I think calling US government, through Biden, as “ fatal to Guatemala’s democrats” is bizare. It seems more like that support was an essential element of the success. I’m very happy Biden played that role.
I don’t know that international public opinion and nobody knowing about the Guatemalan election are the same things. A relatively small number of people read quality newspapers, of which few remain. People who read The Economist, Le Monde, or The Wall Street Journal are aware of it. The coverage at The Economist has been quite good.
The question of popular opinion comes down to where the money and the power are. There is little of either in Latin America. Yet, much good news has come from there lately, including the change of power in Brazil, the rejection of the proposed constitution in Chile, and now Guatemala.
Promoting democratic institutions as a core value has become passé among the ruling class. It is a cudgel for partisans to use against their opponents, but little more. Public opinion reflects an awareness of this sad condition.
Perhaps the good news that America has forcefully returned to backing democratic values means America is finding its way. That is worth celebrating, as is the Guatemalan election.
This is an extraordinarily good news story. Thank you for covering it.
The most glaring reason that it has not been reported is that over the past 50 years or so, individuals such as Rupert Murdoch, have spent their lives securing mass media portals in their concerted attempt, together with corrupt rabidly anti socialist politicians and global capitalist mobsters, to build and keep in power, an empire of autocratic kleptocracies.
That somewhere on our fragile earth so many have suffered so deeply from these abusers of power that they have risen up even in the face of threats of violence, supported by a sitting US President, is a real threat to their global criminal cartel. In such an important political election year they will continue to use all their media powers to silence any news of this coup.
You’re right. Only heard small bits & pieces of this amazing story through tiny wire service blurbs carried in my local paper.
Why can't we take a win?