kees elenbaas

For naive conservatives who think this can be done in Western nations by being "tough on crime," let me insist: What was accomplished in El Salvador under President Bukele (he posted this video showing before and after his transformation of El Salvador x.com/MAGAVoice/stat…) demonstrates that you must become illiberal and authoritarian if you want to clean up the mess liberals have caused with integration, mass immigration and woke policies. Bukele, in order to be successful (while gaining the support of over 90% of the population), had no choice but to suspend some constitutional rights and limit due process. He had no choice but to declare a "state of emergency" multiple times, curtailing the right to legal counsel, freedom of association, and privacy in communications. His government had to conduct mass detentions of over 85,000 on the basis of "uncorroborated allegations," going against the "presumption of innocence and due process." It had to restrict ability of judges to offer alternatives like bail or house arrest and impose virtual hearings often involving hundreds of defendants at once, with little opportunity for effective defense. As liberal Western journalists (same ones responsible for unlivable American cities) have pointed out, detainees are frequently unaware of charges and lack access to legal representation. Bukele had to limit judicial autonomy, replacing "corrupt" Supreme Court individuals with loyalists, a policy he extended to lower courts. These actions, which have drastically improved living conditions for the majority, are "contrary to liberal ideals," as Western liberals say, "of an independent judiciary protecting individual rights." There have been many "human rights violations" and other actions "undermining equal protection under the law." Bukele has employed the military to "intimidate" political opponents, once threatening the legislature with armed forces to pressure lawmakers. He has used propaganda to encourage citizens to report suspected criminals, which has "fostered a climate of fear and informant culture, undermining liberal values of privacy and community." All in all, this "authoritarian" control over all branches of government and civil society has weakened the system of "checks and balances". BUT this illiberalism finally allowed El Salvador, after decades of incessant violence, to escape corruption, violence, and economic chaos ---- and secure the freedom of the majority.