Now that the 4th July, and it's fireworks, barbecues, parades, friends, family and fun is behind us, perhaps we might take two minutes to ponder why our country is great, why Democracy is threatened and what needs to happen so those who come after us will still be celebrating the 4th 100 years from now.
The Founding Fathers and citizens who created our country were actively engaged and willing to die for their cause. Some did die. I have no idea what the turnouts were for those first few American elections, but we do know the citizens in the 13 colonies talked a lot more about issues than we do. They debated. They questioned. They were more actively engaged. They demanded more from their leaders and when those leaders did not listen, those first Americans got organized and booted their leaders out, fought for their country and created a new one. Our country. That's how it happened. Because of them. A Democracy, our Democracy, it’s very existence, was made possible because people cared, got engaged, got involved and took action.
We saw some of that active engagement with the Supreme Court's ruling on Hobby Lobby and birth control. People not normally engaged became so, our collective voice grew louder and more informed, debate ensued. The ruling itself is not the issue. The active engagement IS. But only if it continues.
Another example: Citizens United. Oh how so many hem and haw about how damaging it is… we condemn the big money that buys elections and politicians and shake our heads every time a crooked leader gets caught with their hand in the influence cookie jar. Big money buys elections and influence because we allow it to. We let that money rule decision-making because all too often we are not engaged, not politically active enough. Democracy does not work effectively without collective engagement. The softer the voice, the more likely it can be drowned out by a persistent few who speak louder or spend more. If all of us become just a little more vocal, a little more involved, a bit more informed and take a bit more action on the issues we hold dear, politicians and Supreme Court Justices would be forced to listen. No corporate interests could buy an election if everyone voted. But when one’s political choices are determined by full-color mailers paid for by big money to support candidates who are then obligated to return favors via legislation, we allow that money and those interests to rule our politicians, our decisions and ultimately, us.
This past election I was assigned to watch LA County tally the votes. An army of dedicated workers and volunteers worked late into the morning handling ballots delivered by car, truck and a wave of helicopters from all over the County... each bag, each box, every ballot… maybe YOUR ballot, delivered, checked in, coded, handled, counted and verified with dedication, to make sure every vote, YOUR vote, counted. Only 13% of us took the time.. the LOWEST Primary Election turnout in LA County history. The lowest EVER.
And that's sad because it has never been easier to vote. You can register online in five minutes. You can go to a polling place before, during or after work. If you’re too busy you can sign up ONCE to vote by mail in EVERY election and never even hassle with a polling place. Pamphlets paid for by your tax dollars come to your home with all the info you need to make decisions, weeks before the election. There is info on every issue available online, in newspapers and on TV.
If we take the time...
But many of us don't. We let the big money win. We are to blame. It’s not Citizens United, or powerful unions, or corrupt politicians or big business. The enemy is us. The only reason the U.S. exists today, the only reason we celebrate the 4th of July, is because the colonists and their leaders cared enough to take action. Our very Constitution depends on participation or else it’s just words on paper. Our Democracy struggles because we allow it to. The solution is in our very hands just like it was back in 1776. If those Founding Fathers were willing and able to create our Democracy, we should at least make the effort to maintain it. They believed it meant something, it mattered, it was worth fighting and dying for. They believed anything short of that would allow it to die.
Power loves ignorance and inaction. Keep the masses so busy they don’t have time to vote, then our paid-for message will carry the day and we’ll profit. That's not how you or our country should function. That's not what you want. It's why our Democracy is hurting, and why politicians make laws that favor money and not citizens.
It's not the media's fault. It's not the fault of politicians. It's ours.
So now that we've celebrated the 4th of July.. with fireworks, barbecues, beers, family and friends, let us honor it with a new determination to be more involved, more engaged and more active in the guidance of what it stands for.
Our Democracy's very survival depends on it.
The Founding Fathers and citizens who created our country were actively engaged and willing to die for their cause. Some did die. I have no idea what the turnouts were for those first few American elections, but we do know the citizens in the 13 colonies talked a lot more about issues than we do. They debated. They questioned. They were more actively engaged. They demanded more from their leaders and when those leaders did not listen, those first Americans got organized and booted their leaders out, fought for their country and created a new one. Our country. That's how it happened. Because of them. A Democracy, our Democracy, it’s very existence, was made possible because people cared, got engaged, got involved and took action.
We saw some of that active engagement with the Supreme Court's ruling on Hobby Lobby and birth control. People not normally engaged became so, our collective voice grew louder and more informed, debate ensued. The ruling itself is not the issue. The active engagement IS. But only if it continues.
Another example: Citizens United. Oh how so many hem and haw about how damaging it is… we condemn the big money that buys elections and politicians and shake our heads every time a crooked leader gets caught with their hand in the influence cookie jar. Big money buys elections and influence because we allow it to. We let that money rule decision-making because all too often we are not engaged, not politically active enough. Democracy does not work effectively without collective engagement. The softer the voice, the more likely it can be drowned out by a persistent few who speak louder or spend more. If all of us become just a little more vocal, a little more involved, a bit more informed and take a bit more action on the issues we hold dear, politicians and Supreme Court Justices would be forced to listen. No corporate interests could buy an election if everyone voted. But when one’s political choices are determined by full-color mailers paid for by big money to support candidates who are then obligated to return favors via legislation, we allow that money and those interests to rule our politicians, our decisions and ultimately, us.
This past election I was assigned to watch LA County tally the votes. An army of dedicated workers and volunteers worked late into the morning handling ballots delivered by car, truck and a wave of helicopters from all over the County... each bag, each box, every ballot… maybe YOUR ballot, delivered, checked in, coded, handled, counted and verified with dedication, to make sure every vote, YOUR vote, counted. Only 13% of us took the time.. the LOWEST Primary Election turnout in LA County history. The lowest EVER.
And that's sad because it has never been easier to vote. You can register online in five minutes. You can go to a polling place before, during or after work. If you’re too busy you can sign up ONCE to vote by mail in EVERY election and never even hassle with a polling place. Pamphlets paid for by your tax dollars come to your home with all the info you need to make decisions, weeks before the election. There is info on every issue available online, in newspapers and on TV.
If we take the time...
But many of us don't. We let the big money win. We are to blame. It’s not Citizens United, or powerful unions, or corrupt politicians or big business. The enemy is us. The only reason the U.S. exists today, the only reason we celebrate the 4th of July, is because the colonists and their leaders cared enough to take action. Our very Constitution depends on participation or else it’s just words on paper. Our Democracy struggles because we allow it to. The solution is in our very hands just like it was back in 1776. If those Founding Fathers were willing and able to create our Democracy, we should at least make the effort to maintain it. They believed it meant something, it mattered, it was worth fighting and dying for. They believed anything short of that would allow it to die.
Power loves ignorance and inaction. Keep the masses so busy they don’t have time to vote, then our paid-for message will carry the day and we’ll profit. That's not how you or our country should function. That's not what you want. It's why our Democracy is hurting, and why politicians make laws that favor money and not citizens.
It's not the media's fault. It's not the fault of politicians. It's ours.
So now that we've celebrated the 4th of July.. with fireworks, barbecues, beers, family and friends, let us honor it with a new determination to be more involved, more engaged and more active in the guidance of what it stands for.
Our Democracy's very survival depends on it.
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