It is not a guarantee; four African democracies were toppled by military coups d’etat since 2010.
Yet, we Americans bask in the strength and durability of our democracy, then it happened. The coup attempt of January 6, 2021 was an in-your-face jarring moment for our country. There is more than one way to stifle democracy, from demonizing the media to mocking the rule of law to voter suppression. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/solutions/2020/07/29/death-americas-democracy-yes-could-happen-here/5527991002/
History is the short straw in my training, but I learn as issues arise. Today the issue is fair voting maps. Our current home state had a most unusual partisan process of drawing the lines for voting districts in 2010 that took place behind closed doors by Republicans. There is a buzz here in Wisconsin about the 2021 redistricting process. Ditto for the state of Maryland, only substitute “Democrats” for “Republicans”.
Both parties are guilty of gerrymandering for their own partisan favor.
I learned that my little town was split down the middle in the 2010 gerrymandering effort, essentially suppressing a cohesive voter group.
This playbook was followed around the country, suppressing the voices of communities of common interest. In North Carolina, a panel of three state judges ruled that courts can step in to decide when partisan advantage goes so far it diminishes democracy. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/gerrymandering and https://thedispatch.com/p/dont-like-gerrymandering-be-wary?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Learn about issues, contact your state and federal lawmakers, and most of all, start conversations in your neck of the woods.
Democracy requires care from all of us.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
