Is America losing touch with Europe, or is Europe losing touch with its people?
Over the weekend, Glenn wrote an open letter to the leaders of Europe addressing the German Foreign Minister's allegation that America has abandoned its support for "liberal democracies." Glenn pointed out that if Germany defines a "liberal democracy" as a place where free speech is prosecuted, religion is trampled and the freedom of elections is compromised, then yes, the United States strives to separate itself from these values. There was also a time, not too long ago when Europe fought alongside us to overcome authoritarian regimes from whose playbooks modern European leaders seem to be taking pages from.
Glenn highlighted instances across Europe where freedoms of speech, religion, and elections—core values of Western democracy—have been curbed in favor of centralized authorities and unelected technocrats. Is it America or Europe that abandoned liberal democracies?
Throughout Europe, resistance to eroding democratic values has been curtailed. Romania nullified an election that saw a sovereigntist party prevail, and Germany has threatened to ban an "alt-right" party that is growing in popularity. Glenn wants to know if Europe has lost touch with its people: