Anne Applebaum

So as you begin to lose your independent civil service, your government declines and the capacity of the government to do things gets worse. This I saw in Poland. Once the civil service is selected for loyalty to the leader and not because they know how to identify and stop water pollution, then you begin to have a lot of water pollution. The state begins to decline and that can take a long time.

So as you begin to lose your independent civil service, your government declines and the capacity of the government to do things gets worse. This I saw in Poland. Once the civil service is selected for loyalty to the leader and not because they know how to identify and stop water pollution, then you begin to have a lot of water pollution. The state begins to decline and that can take a long time.

So as you begin to lose your independent civil service, your government declines and the capacity of the government to do things gets worse. This I saw in Poland. Once the civil service is selected for loyalty to the leader and not because they know how to identify and stop water pollution, then you begin to have a lot of water pollution. The state begins to decline and that can take a long time.

There will be many moments when a decline can be stopped, but it is something that all Americans should pay attention to. I mean, let's go back to the very beginning of this conversation. You know, what is an autocracy? An autocracy is a state where no checks and balances, where there's no parliament, there's no Congress to compete for power.

There will be many moments when a decline can be stopped, but it is something that all Americans should pay attention to. I mean, let's go back to the very beginning of this conversation. You know, what is an autocracy? An autocracy is a state where no checks and balances, where there's no parliament, there's no Congress to compete for power.

There will be many moments when a decline can be stopped, but it is something that all Americans should pay attention to. I mean, let's go back to the very beginning of this conversation. You know, what is an autocracy? An autocracy is a state where no checks and balances, where there's no parliament, there's no Congress to compete for power.

where the media is controlled, where the courts are politicized, where there's a lot of secrecy, where there's no transparency, where there's no accountability for people in power. You should recognize those things as warning signs.

where the media is controlled, where the courts are politicized, where there's a lot of secrecy, where there's no transparency, where there's no accountability for people in power. You should recognize those things as warning signs.

where the media is controlled, where the courts are politicized, where there's a lot of secrecy, where there's no transparency, where there's no accountability for people in power. You should recognize those things as warning signs.

The decline of the institutions of the state and of the government will have, sooner or later, will have effects on people's prosperity, on their way of life, and on the kinds of governments that we could have in the future. So I would take it very seriously.

The decline of the institutions of the state and of the government will have, sooner or later, will have effects on people's prosperity, on their way of life, and on the kinds of governments that we could have in the future. So I would take it very seriously.

The decline of the institutions of the state and of the government will have, sooner or later, will have effects on people's prosperity, on their way of life, and on the kinds of governments that we could have in the future. So I would take it very seriously.

Be engaged. Join your local political party. Pay attention to the most basic, the most local elections wherever you live, in whatever city or county or state. Remember that democracy is a gift. You inherited it from the people who invented it in generations past. People who live in Russia, people who live in Venezuela envy you because you get to choose who your county commissioner is.

Be engaged. Join your local political party. Pay attention to the most basic, the most local elections wherever you live, in whatever city or county or state. Remember that democracy is a gift. You inherited it from the people who invented it in generations past. People who live in Russia, people who live in Venezuela envy you because you get to choose who your county commissioner is.

Be engaged. Join your local political party. Pay attention to the most basic, the most local elections wherever you live, in whatever city or county or state. Remember that democracy is a gift. You inherited it from the people who invented it in generations past. People who live in Russia, people who live in Venezuela envy you because you get to choose who your county commissioner is.

So take that responsibility seriously. It's not even only about politics. Be in your neighborhood association, you know, be part of your community, be engaged in local life at whatever level you can be. democracies succeed when they are based on active citizens. Active citizens have to be involved. The more active you are and the more different kinds of people you meet, the less polarized we are.

So take that responsibility seriously. It's not even only about politics. Be in your neighborhood association, you know, be part of your community, be engaged in local life at whatever level you can be. democracies succeed when they are based on active citizens. Active citizens have to be involved. The more active you are and the more different kinds of people you meet, the less polarized we are.

So take that responsibility seriously. It's not even only about politics. Be in your neighborhood association, you know, be part of your community, be engaged in local life at whatever level you can be. democracies succeed when they are based on active citizens. Active citizens have to be involved. The more active you are and the more different kinds of people you meet, the less polarized we are.

When you're meeting people who disagree with you on a daily basis, when you're able to talk to them in a reasonable way, when you're all talking about real issues like where to build the bridge or which road to repair first, you know, Then you're not off in the world of mythology and celebrity politics that the extremists want you to be in.

When you're meeting people who disagree with you on a daily basis, when you're able to talk to them in a reasonable way, when you're all talking about real issues like where to build the bridge or which road to repair first, you know, Then you're not off in the world of mythology and celebrity politics that the extremists want you to be in.