Democracy, when?

Shopgirlove cannot envision democracy without the following:

1) A free press

2) An educated voter

3) A middle class

4) Transparent government

We're not doing so well:

1) Not since WWII

2) One third of Americans (a record!)

3) What's that?

4) Worse than Singapore!

Oh, pessimism. Thy name is Shopgirlove...