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In his speech to our European allies on Friday, President Joe Biden bluntly stated that we are "at an inflection point" between those who believe "autocracy is the best way forward" and those who think democracy is. While making it clear that we have to "defend" and "strengthen" democracy, he affirmed, "I believe that every ounce of my being that democracy will and must prevail."

That Trump incited the attacks is the very crux of fascism.

Think about those words for a moment. The president of the United States is acknowledging that our nation along with other Western democracies is under threat by undemocratic forces that could win the day if we dont defend our democracy.

While Biden didnt mention former President Donald Trump by name, his role in the attacks on our democracy and incitement of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot almost certainly come to mind for anyone listening. That Trump incited the attack is the very crux of fascism, which, as I wrote for MSNBC in January, employs undemocratic methods, especially violence, to acquire and retain power.

Its time Democratic members of Congress make a point to not normalize the GOPs growing embrace of fascism. They can start by vocally committing to not work with any Republicans in Congress who played a role in furthering the lies that led to the attack as well as those who refused to hold Trump accountable for inciting the insurrection.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., hinted at such an approach when she responded to a public offer by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas who had objected on Jan. 6 to the certification of Bidens victory to work together. In response, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where theres common ground, but you almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago so you can sit this one out," adding, "Happy to work w/ almost any other GOP that arent trying to get me killed.

This tactic would not be necessary if the GOP had, en masse, publicly condemned Trumps incitement of a mob designed to stop the steal and keep Trump in power. But what weve seen with a few exceptions is the opposite. Overwhelmingly, GOP officials and rank-and-file members have sided with Trump and rejected efforts to hold him accountable.

Despite all this talk about a GOP civil war, the numbers tell a different story.

Despite all this talk about a GOP civil war, the numbers tell a different story. How many of the 261 Republicans in Congress 211 in the House and 50 in the Senate voted to hold Trump accountable for his role in the attack? Only 17: There were 10 in the House who voted to impeach and seven in the Senate who supported conviction. That means more than 90 percent of the GOP members of Congress refused to hold Trump accountable for an attack that 71 percent of Americans believe he was at least partially responsible for, according to a recent Ipsos poll for Reuters.

Trumps support among rank-and-file Republicans tells the same story. First, the handful of Republicans who voted to penalize Trump for his role in the Capitol riot have suffered swift backlash from their fellow party members, from being censured by their home states Republican Party on Monday, the North Carolina Republican Party unanimously approved a resolution to censure Sen. Richard Burr because he voted to convict Trump in the Senate trial to being threatened with primary challenges.

This shouldnt be surprising given that the GOP base overwhelmingly still supports Trump. In fact, his favorability rating among Republicans has risen since Jan. 6. While 34 percent of all Americans had a favorable view of Trump in a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll, a whopping 81 percent of Republicans gave the former president positive marks. Even more alarming is that Trumps approval rose from 77 percent on Jan. 7 to 81 percent, despite an impeachment trial that laid out a mountain of evidence against him.

Trumps approval rose from 77 percent on Jan. 7 to 81 percent, despite an impeachment trial that laid out a mountain of evidence against him.

Distressingly, this tracks with the GOPs history, which indicates that in time the rank-and-file members are likely to become more right wing, not less. On the issue of abortion, for example, for decades the GOP allowed three exceptions: incest, rape and to save the life of the mother. Over time, though, members of the party have moved further to the right and increasingly only support abortion when the life of the mother is at risk.

Its time the Democratic leaders, in one voice, from Biden through to every member of Congress, make it clear that what the GOP is doing is embracing fascism. They must not be timid in using the word "fascism," and they must define it for the public so its a meaningful warning.

But beyond words, Democrats should stop any and all steps that normalize or whitewash the Jan. 6 attack by publicly refusing to work with Republicans who played a role in it or refused to hold Trump accountable. Big-name donors can withhold donations to those Republicans by making it clear that any contribution will be seen as them validating the GOPs attacks on our democracy. (Indeed, some corporations have already announced they will withhold future donations to Republicans who voted against certifying Bidens victory.)

This is not a fight over a partisan issue. And it certainly cant be classified as a civil war within a party. This is a battle to preserve our democracy, as Biden noted. Its time the Democratic members of Congress lead that fight.

CORRECTION (Feb. 20, 2021, 3:12 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated Trump's approval rating among Republicans on Jan. 7, according to a Morning Consult poll. It was 77 percent then, not 74 percent.

Dean Obeidallah, a lawyer, hosts "The Dean Obeidallah Show" on SiriusXM radio's Progress channel. He has written for The Daily Beast, CNN.com and other publicationsand is a co-creator of the annual New York Arab-American Comedy Festival.

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Biden says the world needs to defend democracy. That starts at home. - MSNBC

Amber Levendoski (center) is a Voice of Democracy essay winner who represented VFW Post 10532 in Coon Creek and Chaseburg. She placed first at the district competition and eighth at state competition. Also pictured are Wisconsin State Jr. Vice Commander Michele Rathke (left) and Wisconsin VFW District 11 Commander Gerald Parchem.

Amber Levendoski12th-grader, WAHS

Local winners have been announced in the 2020 VFW Voice of Democracy Contest sponsored by Westby Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8021. The theme of this years competition was Is this the country our Founding Fathers envisioned? The contest was open to all students in grades 9 through 12 including home-schooled students.

This is a national contest, where the national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship. There is a total of $153,000 in college scholarships awarded annually to state and national winners. Over 190 Westby High School students entered the contest.

Amber Levendoski, a 12th-grader, is the daughter of Marlin and Kitty Levendoski of Westby. She represented VFW Post 10532 in Coon Creek and Chaseburg. She placed first at the district competition and eighth at state. She won $100 at district. Amber has enlisted in the Wisconsin Air National Guard. After graduation in May, she will attend USAF training this summer and will attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls next year.

Is this the country our Founding Fathers envisioned?

America, the beautiful and powerful, is far from the country our founding fathers envisioned. Many wonderful, life-improving inventions have been mass-produced since the countrys birth. Running water exists in most every house. Airplanes fly overhead daily, carrying civilians. The medical advancements today have raised the average life expectancy 30 years, compared to three centuries ago. Yet, beneath the wealth and success the world has associated with North America lies the modern cousins of an unjust past. Hatred and greed wove bad laws that locked away human rights. Despite the social routine of the time the amendments were written, we have given women equal rights, abolished slavery, and accepted the new tools and skills which immigrants have brought in with them. No longer are people unexpectedly drafted into the military outside of wartime. Now we live in a democracy.

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Voice of Democracy: Is this the country our Founding Fathers envisioned? by Amber Levendoski - The Westby Times

New Delhi: Retired Supreme Court judge Deepak Gupta on Friday condemned the use of sedition laws to curb dissent, saying no party is immune to criticism.

He was speaking at a webinar on Our Right to Dissent that was conducted by the Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum in association with digital legal news portal LiveLaw. Justice Gupta, senior advocate Rebecca John and advocate Chitranshul Sinha were the keynote speakers in conversation with advocates Ritu Bhalla and Manali Singhal. Advocates Arundhati Katju and Swaty Singh Malik were also part of the press conference.

Justice Gupta said that the experiences of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi, who faced sedition cases during the British Raj, would have ensured that the law of sedition would not exist in independent India.

Also Read: How Bal Gangadhar Tilaks 1897 Trial Marked the Criminalisation of Dissent

Disaffection is such a broad term that anything could amount to sedition. Our democracy gives us the right to freedom of speech and expression. Right to dissent is a hallmark of democracy. Even if one party comes into power, it is not immune to criticism and right to dissent allows such criticism, he said.

He continued, Look at the conviction rate, it is so low. Ones reputation is destroyed even if one is not convicted. There can be no progress if we stifle dissent. In the last 9-10 years, we have lost our sense of humour. Even today, Im scared to share or crack a joke even with someone close to me because they might find it offensive.

He further said that people should get together instead of getting divided. In response to whether the Supreme Court should take up cognisance of stifling of right to dissent and not be a mute spectator, Justice Gupta said that suo moto cannot be taken up in every case. The Supreme Court cannot take up suo moto in every case. But, I do believe that high courts should take up the cause. They are entitled to do so. Manali Singhal now refers to how her daughter Shreya Singhal was of the same age as Disha Ravi when she had challenged Section 66A of the IT Act and that any dissent against the government is seen as anti-national now, he said.

Justice Gupta warned against tarnishing the image of the entire judiciary. He said, You do more harm to this movement by tarnishing the entire judiciary because of some aberrations. There are good judgments coming and there are bad judgments coming. It has always happened.

Justice Deepak Gupta. Photo: Wikipedia

Jail is rule, bail is exception

Senior advocate Rebecca John said that currently, the legal doctrine of bail is rule, jail is exception has been reversed. Talking about the provision of bail under UAPA, she said that Section 43D(5) of the UAPA makes getting bail a virtual impossibility, and how the exceptions in such cases have become the norm. Why is bail treated as the be-all and end-all of criminal law? I would say everybody is entitled to bail, she added.

She also said that after FIRs were filed against journalists in connection with the death of a farmer during the Republic Day tractor parade,many journalists have become wary of putting out stories or tweets.

John said, As a lawyer what Im doing is looking at articles written by journalists because now they seek opinion before they publish them just in case they are not violating any laws. I have senior journalists send me their tweets before they put it out. What kind of regime is this? Surely we have thicker skin than this and can look at criticism, even the most extreme kind, a bit more constructively, she said, adding that people are being punished by laws such as the UAPA for their dissent.

On the arrest of Ravi, she said that there are lacunae in the legality of procedures that went into her remand and police custody. She said, I dont understand, when she had her lawyer of choice, why was he not brought in. There was no transit remand order also taken. The Delhi high court order of 2019 categorically states that transit remand order is required, unless exigencies exist.

Priya Ramani with senior advocate Rebecca John. Photo: Twitter/@AnooBhu

Agreeing with Justice Gupta, she said, He rightly said that remand is a judicial function. Its the first important function a magistrate performs when it comes to a criminal case. There is a lack of application of mind which happens at this stage. I cannot emphasise enough the need for magistrates to carefully look into FIRs, case diaries and high court rules and orders to see whether remand is needed or not. Why is it that intrinsically these judicial functions are treated casually?

She added, This is happening in Delhi and not in some obscure corner in India that the magistrate doesnt realise that these are bailable offences. She added that personal liberty is intrinsically linked with procedural law and if one does not follow the procedural law, there will be a great breach of liberty and right of that individual to a fair trial.

Also read: Right to Protest Cannot Be Anytime and Everywhere: SC on Shaheen Bagh Protests

Advocate Chitranshul Sinha said that the Kedar Nath Singh judgment is not being followed by the police. Giving the example of Uttar Pradesh, when some Kashmiri students who apparently supported the Pakistan cricket team were booked under sedition, he said, Sedition is an offence against the state. But, you see individuals coming forward claiming that the State is feeling threatened because of the acts of some people. Whatever anyone might say, our democracy is not that brittle. The right to dissent is the most important one, and there is no democracy without it. Dissent is in fact a duty.

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'Right to Dissent Is Hallmark of Democracy, Allows Criticism of Govt': Retired SC Judge - The Wire

President Joe Biden will "take a virtual trip to Europe" with a pair of high-profile engagements aimed at restoring the United States' place on the global stage, after what he views as its absence during President Donald Trump's years in office, according to a senior Biden administration official.

In his remarks to an international security conference and to the leaders of the world's major industrialized nations on Friday, Biden planned to make a case for multilateralism, the official said -- in stark contrast to Trump's nationalist approach to the world, which the former president termed "America First."

And in a nod to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and the policies of the president's predecessor, Biden would "acknowledge that democracy is under stress, democratic institutions are under stress, under challenge in the United States" as they are elsewhere, the official told reporters Thursday evening.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken listens as President Joe Biden delivers remarks to State Department staff, Feb. 4, 2021, in Washington.

"We have learned actually over the course of the past four years, that democracy, as he will put it, doesn't happen by accident -- that we have to work at it, that we need to fight for it," the official said.

But, the official added, "the focus of his speech tomorrow is not Donald Trump or what's happened over the last four years."

Speaking first to a virtual meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven nations, Biden will commit to addressing three "immediate" global crises, according to the official: the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis and climate change.

Later Friday morning, he plans to argue via video teleconference to attendees of the annual Munich Security Conference "that democracy is the model that can best meet the challenges of our time," the official said.

"He will get the opportunity as president of the United States, early in his term, to declare that America is back and the transatlantic alliance is back," the official said.

A health worker holds a dose during a vaccination drill before the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine at Patio Bonito Tintal hospital on Jan. 26, 2021, in Bogota, Colombia.

Part of that recommitment to the world will include an announcement that the U.S. will donate $4 billion to a global initiative to distribute vaccine doses to poor countries, the White House said Thursday. That money had been allocated by Congress in December but had not yet been donated.

Rolling back Trump's nationalist policies has already become a hallmark of Biden's short time at the White House. And on Friday he plans to make clear his markedly different approach to Russia, China and Iran, the official told reporters.

After Trump approached Russia gingerly, Biden "will specifically talk to what he believes is a concerted effort by the Kremlin to to carry out a strategy to discredit, undermine and destabilize democracies," the official said.

And while Trump launched a combative, bilateral trade war with China, Biden will pursue a multilateral approach to trying to put an end to China's "non-market-oriented policies and practices," according to the official.

On Thursday, the State Department said it was open to talks with Iran about its nuclear program and the official said Biden planned to echo that message Friday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization attends a news conference on the outbreak of coronavirus disease in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 12, 2021.

"We are keen to sit down and hear what the Iranians have to say," the official said. "We want to come up with a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program. And let's get to work."

Biden also planned to "touch on Afghanistan," as he faces questions about whether he will abide by an agreement with the Taliban and withdraw U.S. troops in the coming months, according to the official, who did not provide more details of what the president would say.

Biden's remarks will build upon his actions in office so far.

He has returned the United States to international agreements and organizations his predecessor left -- including the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord, which the U.S. will officially become a party to again on Friday after Trump had pulled it out.

As a candidate, Biden promised to return the U.S. to its position "at the head of the table," restoring it as a world leader on issues ranging from climate change to transnational terrorism. He argued that Trump had ceded that role to other nations during his four years in office.

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Biden to 'acknowledge' democracy 'under stress' in US, as he tries to restore place on global stage: Official - ABC News

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, theorists once thought democracy was both optimal and inevitable. After decades of democratic backsliding, this proved far too optimistic. So was the global perception of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) future path. The champions of engagement policies thought that by interacting with China, enhancing economic ties, binding them with international agreements, and then coupling them with a stronger middle class and the pursuit of the rule of law in the country, China would be free and democratic eventually.

It has not happened. On the contrary, China moved the world toward a much more autocratic system. Even so, the world has been reluctant to face reality: Western democracies wishful thinking led to the rise of authoritarianism and the decline of democracy. Theorists who once advocated appeasement strategies bear the responsibility of mending it and redirecting the free world to a position far more capable of combating authoritarianism. This starts with a proper strategy toward China and by treating the crisis of democracy as a global problem that demands coordinated global action.

The 2020 Varieties of Democracy report found that 2020 was the first time since 2001 that the world has more autocratic institutions than democratic ones. Increasing autocracy threatens the rights of people in every corner of the world. This is a global emergency that awaits a coordinated response from the free world.

The decline in democracy means the lack of democratically accountable governments, resulting in increased corruption, human rights violations, and conflict. Like poverty, hunger, and climate emergencies, citizens suffer under autocratic systems. Yet the world lacks the willingness to tackle it like other global problems. Although there is humanitarian assistance worldwide to fight hunger and internationally orchestrated actions to decrease carbon emissions, the international community has not found a vision for how democracy can prevail after the delusional dreams of the end of history failed. The West walked the wrong path and fed the rise of authoritarianism by engaging them without accountabilityits time for action to repair these mistakes.

When the military coup took place in Myanmar, global leaders joined hands to condemn it and demand democratic rights for people. At the same time, China defended the coup by claiming it a major cabinet reshuffle. The Thai junta also claimed the coup was an internal affair and others should not intervene. Authoritarian countries have abused the concept of sovereignty to evade the most basic monitoring from the rule-based international community and commit appalling human rights violations without being held accountable. Countries that are similar support one another, hence why autocracies grow. With China leading the way and Russia following closely, the world is faced with a camp of tyrants who despises universal value.

To tackle authoritarian expansion, the free world and its supporters have to consolidate their efforts and align their goals. It comes with a shift in perception: China is a threat to democracy, and the decline of democracy affects everyone, the same as with climate emergencies and public health crises. Democratic leaders must form alliances to discuss possible policies that can effectively curb the influence of these authoritarian regimes, including blocking their infiltration and propaganda.

When it comes to policy aimed at the CCP, policymakers have to understand how the regimes legitimacy is built. The two major sources of legitimacy are nationalism and economic benefits, instead of a popular mandate. In China, where a large part of the population has enjoyed material gains and is caught in the fanatical rhetoric of patriotism, the public invisibly signed a social contract and tacitly allowed the autocracy to grow. Occasional resistance movements have occurred in China but with, at best, limited influence.

But with the economy slowing and the prospect of being caught in the middle-income trap apparent, the CCP has to develop a new source of legitimacy to compensate. Nationalism must be boosted for the party to survive, and the best way to do it is by creating mythical, glorified national narratives and establish enemies. Thus came the emergence of wolf warrior diplomacy, and a leader, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who ranks unifying (or annexing) Taiwan as the primary mission of achieving national rejuvenation and revoking a century of humiliation. Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaopings mantra of biding Chinas time has gone, and a nation that aims at creating an authoritarian global order has arisen.

When China becomes more aggressive on the international stage, the sole correct response is not appeasing the country but standing firm. This barbaric conduct, including genocide in Xinjiang and the suppression of Hong Kong, must result in economic punishment. This can create a vicious cycle for the CCP; the weaker the economy is, the more aggressive the nationalism will become and the greater the partys isolation will grow, sparking more economic problems. When the cycle spirals, the CCP will need to find a different source of legitimacy, an additional incentive for the people to support the intangible social contract.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese peasant workers would face unemployment problems when the country is stuck in the middle-income trap. The overloaded social benefits system with its aging population, originated by the one-child policy, would start to crack. And the extreme wealth gap has driven more conflicts across social strata. Even though the party declares it has lifted the country from poverty, more than 600 million people still live with an income under $155 per month, and Chinese incomes are below the global average per capita.

Its seemingly invincible economic engine, fueled by the successful transition to modernity over the last four decades, has disguised the genuine face of China. Yet, a country is always fragile when it has to rely on its economic performance to suppress peoples voices. The West should separate the hardworking and honest Chinese people from the regime and trust they will pursue freedom when the time and conditions have come. When the people realize there is a need for them to reshape their relationship with the CCP, that will lead to reform and to a more democratic and freer future.

To reverse the decline of global democracy, the first step is to hold the strongest authoritarian regime accountable, putting pressure on it to seek a new popular mandate from its own people. Democratic leaders should form alliances and implement coherent strategies that put human rights policies as preconditions of further engagement. Trade agreements should be signed only after China has demonstrated tangible and visible enhancement on its human rights record, such as abolishing all the concentration camps in Xinjiang. Divide and conquer efforts run by China, such as the 17+1 initiative, should be reviewed rigorously and opposed if necessary. Chinese state actions should be scrutinized or banned if they threaten core interests in democratic countries, and individuals affiliated with the CCP should be treated as their complicit colluders.

In this intertwined and globalized world, its impractical to form wholly detached blocs. But for the sake of the Chinese people and the future of democracy, the free world must do its best. Whether through decoupling or divergence, the regimes legitimacy must be continually challenged and have limits set on its influence. International bodies like the World Health Organization and the United Nations should be reformed as most of them are compromised by Chinas infiltration and have abandoned universal values in favor of acting in Beijings interests.

I still believe that democracy prevails, but it relies on consolidated efforts from individuals and institutions that believe in it. If we dont walk the walk, we will regret handing future generations a more autocratic world. Perception drives actions. Its time for the West to recognize the decline of democracy as a global problem and resolve it with international action. The Wests misjudgment fed the rise of the largest threat to democracy, and it must bear the responsibility of restraining it.

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Engagement Created China's Threat to Democracy Worldwide - Foreign Policy