“Voting is not the only form of democracy. When people are out in the streets demanding reforms, that is democracy. When organizers are tirelessly planning actions, and working behind the scenes to spread awareness of political realities, that is democracy. When we have tough conversations with those whom we may not agree with, and truly try to understand them, and meet them where they’re at, that is democracy.”

Too many American citizens don’t even register to vote. Many justify not registering because they feel that voting won’t change anything. Too many who are registered don’t vote. Too many that do vote use the political party of a candidate as the criteria for selection.

There is a general impression that education in America has improved during the past two centuries. That is not true with regards to understanding the checks and balances incorporated into our Constitution. The Constitution specifies the federal government powers and restrictions, the state government restrictions, and the rights of the people (everything else). The people must understand that their freedoms preserved by our Constitution rely on the people exercising their civic duties. I doubt that many high school graduates — or even college graduates — could receive a passing score answering the questions in Arthur J. Stanbury’s Elementary Catechism of the Constitution of the United States published in 1828 and distributed to elementary schools.

“I’d like to propose, through a series of forthcoming articles, a different view of what our democracy demands if we are to have any hope of restoring competent politics in our nation; for many, a different way of engaging with politics.”

I look forward to reading your forthcoming articles and have chosen to follow you so I won’t miss any of them.