This isn’t a typical EA topic, but we aren’t in a typical period. Over the next few years the United States of America could be in danger of slipping away from its traditional liberal democracy and towards a more authoritarian form of government, in ways that could be long lasting in more negative scenarios.
I am curious if anyone in the EA community has any insightful thoughts on what are the best actions we can take to avert the worst case scenarios.
If the system of checks and balances in the U.S. government were to degrade, I think it would be a major negative for a lot of the other issues EAs care about.
If anyone has read anything they have found to be particularly useful, I would be interested in those recommendations as well.
I am even considering allocating a portion of my annual giving to pro democracy causes if they clear a minimum bar of impact.
I hate Trump as much as anyone but it seems unlikely EA can make much difference here, given how many other well-resourced, powerful actors there are trying to shape outcomes in US politics.
I was convinced of this for the election and for election integrity efforts around the election. I am less convinced this holds for the work now that is comparatively longer, less flashy, and costlier.