DR. MARIA J. STEPHAN and HARDY MERRIMAN – When business leaders hear concerns about democratic backsliding, they tend to dismiss it as alarmist. But the facts suggest that many in the business community aren’t scared enough—or ready to act when they need to. If the United States stays on its current track, the losses for business will be significant. The greatest peril companies face today is not the risk of speaking up—it is the risk of staying silent.