A Dilemma of Democracy

Democracy finds itself in an uncomfortable position time and again at which the despots of this world will but laugh scornfully.

Magnus Bard, September 23, 2017.
"- oh, but look, what a nice van...
- and here we have modern art...
- where do you get it all from?!"
The information poster in the background reads "How to demonstrate in a democracy"

Such as when anti-democrats exploit their democratic rights.

Today Nazi sympatizers will be marching in Gothenburg. They are allowed to do so according to the law, if they apply for permission beforehand. The police having no legal impediment to say no, grants it to them.

This time around the court has been heard, ruling a change and shortening of the marching route, but the anti-democrats have achieved all they could wish for, having made headlines in the press for weeks.

Fearless as always, Magnus Bard has put his pen where it hurts the most. The anti-democrats are not our protagonists here. A representative of democracy takes center stage. The police are in the role of the supportive parent, wishing to do the right thing, literally stretching to cover citizens of all kinds.

It is a dilemma of democracy that basic elements to it existence can be used to undermine that very structure. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing", as stated by Edmund Burke. Democracy is not a resting, fully developed entity. Reaction is constantly needed in words as in deeds.

Drawing the anti-democrats and the dilemmas they pose is an excellent example.



The cartoon shown is courtesy of Magnus Bard and must not be reproduced without his permission.