By TJ TAUB
Los Alamos
As a Party, you have taken the foundation of our democracy for granted, enabling the Cult (formerly the Republican Party), right wing extremists and all manner of wingnuts to gain a frightening foothold in this country thanks, in great part, to social media and the lack of a strong voice from you instantly, clearly and continually challenging disinformation and divisive rhetoric.
Too many citizens don’t understand. Our form of government comes with responsibilities as well as freedoms! Only nine states require one year of U.S. government/civics, 30 require only one semester, and 11 have no government/civics requirement (American Federation of Teachers, 2018).
Why isn’t teaching government styles and our democracy a constant in your platform and a universal requirement in our national public education system? Ignorance has left millions gullible to hypocrisy, misinformation, distortions and outright lies. Far too many natural-born citizens couldn’t come close to passing citizenship tests that must be passed by immigrants to gain citizenship.
Our form of government was designed to be determined by citizens – human beings, not corporations. By failing to focus on the distortion of Citizens United, you’ve allowed interests – motivated first and foremost by profits and shareholders – with significant influence and economic control over thousands of employees – to have an disproportionate amount of influence on national policy. This to the detriment of the health and welfare of our citizenry, the planet’s environment and future as sustainable for all life.
Our form of government depends on a well and honestly informed public. Media was to empower democracy with accurate information vs. indoctrination, allowing voters to create a legitimately representative government. But today, media’s implied ‘truth‘ is often based on money and opinion, not science, data or facts. You have done nothing to create a distinction between news and opinion/entertainment.
You’ve failed to develop any coordinated strategy in media to continually describe the difference between fact and opinion; to confront lies and distortions as a matter of course (not just before elections) and use them to remind citizens of the Party’s historical achievements as well as ongoing goals and objectives.
This country was founded on separation of church and state. Yet the assault on a woman’s right to control her own body is once again being challenged as religion-based policy seeps into national policy. You have failed to decisively confront incremental attacks on those rights, so once again we face sickening, ILLEGAL, restrictions and are at risk of again making women second class citizens.
You have not been vigilant in ensuring voting rights are continually monitored and protected. Millions of voters would support you if you demonstrated the Party truly and consistently has their backs assuring their ability to vote and be counted.
We’re using a voting system largely designed for a population, world view and technology of the 1700s. The Electoral College was created to protect white males with property. We were subjected to a poisonous administration, NOT elected by popular vote, but ensconced by an outrageously outmoded Electoral College that remains in place. Despite being the Party that loses every time the Electoral College has been engaged, you have not taken on the task of supporting all voters by leading the charge to nullify the Electoral College. Its ultimate distortion has resulted in the ability of one individual to stymie the desires of the majority, expressed through millions of votes.
This is a country “of the people, by the people”. Unlike the Cult et al, YOU are ignoring the power of the people which would actively show support for efforts to protect the fundamental aspects of our democracy as well as issues of the moment. Millions would voice their support for these efforts in their communities and to their locally elected representatives across the country through voices, phone calls, emails, letters, marches and demonstrations, showing significant resistance to the anti-democratic efforts so loudly and proudly voiced today.
You are actually being out-talked by a minority of people – right-wing, conservative, hypocritical, well-focused interests, well-supported by non-people ‘people’ (companies), igniting the voices of so many of the general public who are being led astray, running like lemmings to the cliff because there is no clear voice pointing out how they’re being manipulated.
You think I’m wrong on all of the above? Then you’re mistakenly ignoring and taking your base for granted. WHERE ARE YOU??? I’m far from being the only one wondering where you are and why you have so little presence! You won 2020 because swing voters wanted ‘something different’ and millions became more engaged in GOTV and fundraising to defeat Trump. WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO ENGAGE!
‘We’re strong today and will be stronger tomorrow’? Empty rhetoric with no audience. We’re divided and scared. How can you be so utterly disengaged from your constituents? Why are you giving a vocal minority an unchallenged stage? Approval numbers continue to drop yet you continue to be invisible and ineffective.
PLEASE, wake up. Accept leadership, take visible, meaningful stands to refresh and re-energize our democracy!
