"More democracy dare" - this was how Willy Brandt articulated in his first government statement in 1969 the guiding principle that was meant to guarantee citizens in Germany a future of freedom, tolerance, and dignity. Today, nearly 50 years later, our country is facing democratic ruin: the abolition of the welfare state, the suspension of the rule of law, the decline of parliamentarism in general, to name just a few of the most problematic cuts - not much is left of the defense army enshrined in the Basic Law. Additionally, there is the collective failure of the major media as a control instance, as the fourth estate in the state. How did it come to this? Willy Wimmer, former Parliamentary State Secretary, explains the causes and background of this misdevelopment based on his many years of experience as an expert in security policy and international affairs.