I refer to the letter “ Why American democracy shines bright through the fog of Capitol chaos ”, (January 11). I was surprised, not by the letter’s optimism but by how US-centric it is. With a firm belief in the country’s ability to self-correct, the author offered us a utopian vision of how the United States would remain “the Shining City on a Hill” even after the Capitol was stormed by violent protesters. Not only did the riot at the Capitol expose the defects of the democratic system, it also further polarised society. The high participation in the electoral process was praised by the author as a sign that America’s democratic institutions have prevailed. From my point of view, the election was a demonstration of populism – more than 70 million voters opted for US President Donald Trump, arguably the most incapable president ever. While Democrats shouted “vote him out”, nearly half of American voters supported a man who President-elect Joe Biden labelled an embarrassment to the country. How can we say that the American people have united against Trump when it seems instead that he has successfully amassed supporters? The destruction at the Capitol has posed further questions about the future of the country. Watching the rioters storming the Capitol, it was evident how easily people can be incited; the angry mob was stoked by the president’s baseless claims of election fraud. Americans have certainly been given “a chance for change” after the incident. However, it is clear some of them have been radicalised. While Trump was permanently blocked by Twitter and marginalised by the Republican Party, the confrontation between Trump supporters and the two mainstream parties has escalated. Trump supporters could evolve into another major political force, more conservative and radical than traditional Republicans, and would share a belief in the president’s baseless accusations and conspiracy theories. Is it really the case, as the author claims, that “democracy always trades short-term chaos for stability and progress in the long run”? Trump and his supporters are going to take every opportunity to obstruct Biden’s presidency. Is American democracy shining or burning? Nicolas Lin, Tsing Yi