How We Can Save American Democracy…

Thoughts on the future of the United States and how its course can be changed

*NOTE- This was written for the 2022 elections, but the same issues are even more threatened in the 2024 elections. The much vaunted “Red Wave” was reduced to a trickle in 2022 but that trickle has grown deep roots and the only way to truly eradicate a weed is to pull it out by its roots.

~ ~ ~

I’ve read a lot of great stories on Medium about the sad and deteriorating state of American democracy, the coming collapse, the fascism creeping in, Nazis and violent rightwing militias coming out everywhere, how we’re becoming a “third-world” nation, and the death of the American experiment in democracy. Some of those stories are in-depth explorations of the problems we face, all are knowledgeable and often beautifully written.

And it’s great to understand more about our impending downfall as a nation and as individuals and it’s always good to be reminded of the major issue that confronts us and I enjoy reading them.

But few, if any, writers offer concrete solutions beyond for calls to action without examples of just what actions to take.

This may not be as concise, or in-depth, or as well written as others but I’m going to try to offer practical advice if nothing else. And yes, voting, regardless of what you think of it, is one of the few keys we have left to stop our descent into the fascist, authoritarian, strong man, nation many writers, understandably, predict based on the legion of obvious signs that we’re headed that way.

Many believe that it’s already too late, we’ve fallen too far to be saved and should just accept our bleak future, but I don’t believe that’s true. And I’m not going to just stand aside while bullies wrap themselves in the flag and destroy the America in which I grew up. I won’t give in; I won’t give up. I’ll do everything I can because I do love the idea of America, the aspirations it promises, even if so many are yet to be met, and the promise America offers is what I’ll fight to keep. For me, that’s true patriotism.

~ ~ ~

Do we want a one-party government? Is that any different than an authoritarian government? A fascist authoritarian government?

One Party already has the Supreme Court on its side and is close to taking back Congress. Do we want the fascist, Nazi-loving, KKK accepting, white-supremacist Party to control everything?

Do we want to give up most of the progress that has been made in civil rights in the past 60 years? Do we want minorities to continue to be treated as “second class” citizens, maybe not officially but through actions taken that ensure it? Do we want the minimum wage eliminated, let alone a living wage? Should climate change be ignored? Should the rich and huge corporations continue to pay little or no taxes? Do we want our roads, bridges, shipping ports and railway to just collapse?

Are any of those things what we want?

I think it’s safe to assume your answer is “no, that isn’t what we want”.

Because that’s the direction we’re being steered and too few even notice it. It’s like the boiled frog experiment. Put a frog in a pot of cool water then heat the water slowly enough that the frog doesn’t notice it getting warmer until it’s too late and nothing can save it.

I can’t think of a better analogy of American democracy- we’re the boiling frog. And purposely distracted from the slowly warming water by entertainment, binge-watching Netflix, social media, celebrity worship, race relations, immigration, crime rates, police shootings, utterances from a has-been former POTUS, or anything else the 24-hour cable news networks can make into either must-see TV entertainment or a “crisis”, as our rights are eroded slowly and taken away, chipped at around the base and gone before anyone notices.

But there are actions we can take to change that course and it’s going to take all of us who say “no” to the questions above. The first thing to do is to forget those divisive labels; Progressives, Leftists, Centrists, Democrats, Socialists, Democratic Socialists, Independents, Republicans, Boomers, Millennials, Gen-Z’ers, Gen-Xers, the “Lost Generation” (and I’m sure I’ve left out many).

Labels divide and we must unite, or we’ll lose it all.

We’re Americans. Any other label is secondary to that.

We all know that a house divided is a house that will fall. Many states have enacted laws that make voting more difficult, and more laws, restrictions, and gerrymandered districts will be in place before this year’s elections but don’t let them win. Vote anyway.

Don’t let them take away your fundamental, and perhaps most important, right- your right to vote in a free and fair election. If you don’t exercise that right this year you may never get another chance.

It’s your right and your civic responsibility. It might be difficult but must be done if we’re to have any hope for a better future. Your responsibility is to overcome every obstacle they place in front of you because if you don’t, you’re exactly where they want you; the boiling frog. Don’t let the fascists control your future. You have the power, use it. Before it’s too late.

Rightwing militias, Nazis, KKK followers, marching in the streets, attacking Blacks, Jews, Muslims, or anyone of color, openly attacking local or state governments, using “stand your ground” laws to legally murder people- those things and so much more have slowly been normalized in our society.

The banning of peaceful protests from those who oppose the government or certain policies will be stopped by police, but right-wing protestors will be immune from prosecution, just not by written laws. Punishing the victim instead of the perpetrator will become common practice. It’s already happened and continues to do so. But don’t forget it was Black Lives Matter and “antifa” who was responsible for it all.

It will be Kyle Rittenhouse day, every day! And that kind of society isn’t a civilized society. And not one I would want my grandchildren to grow up in.

No matter who wins the Presidential election in 2024, if it isn’t the Republican candidate the election will be challenged in every way possible. We saw that in the 2020 election and the same lies are still being propagated.

If the Republican candidate isn’t Trump, then it will be someone like him but smarter, craftier, and able to force his way into office, no matter how many millions of votes he loses by. When the legal challenges fail, the Republicans will try to force Congress to decide the winner.

When that happens, each state gets one vote. As of now, there 28 Republican-controlled states and 22 Democrat-controlled. If the state governors get to decide then the Republican candidate will be our new POTUS, with the Supreme Court on his side. And if Republicans control Congress, they’ll have the perfect trifecta.

Regardless of your vote. They intend to steal it from you.

And that makes state governorships vital.

There are 36 state governors up for reelection this year and many legislatures and localities. 2022 is our last chance to stop the fascists and autocrats from getting full control of our government. A list of 2022 state and local elections can be found here. If more than 25 states are Democrat-controlled in 2024, the losing Republican will lose a guaranteed path to taking over. They’ll still have SCOTUS and the fact that it chose the winner in 2000 is a bad sign, but with a big enough vote margin, that, too, can be overcome. Probably.

An Electoral college that allows roughly one-third of voters to control the other two-thirds needs to be changed. But when it puts that minority in charge, it won’t be changed. Anything that might take away the minority Party’s self-proclaimed “rightful” status as our Leaders will never be changed.

All congressional seats are up for election this year and many Senate seats are open as well. A few more Democrats in the Senate could pull the pedestal right out from under Joe Manchin, and the BBB could finally be passed.

We have the power (for the next nine months, at least), to change the course of our future, to choose the America we want. Let’s not act like that poor frog and remain distracted by faux crisis and shiny new things, as the water, our world, gets worse as we watch. Or our future will be a bleak place indeed.

I don’t want to be a “boiled frog”.

I know my readers don’t need to be reminded of the legion of things that need to be addressed outside of government, which is why we can’t let the minority get complete control, or reminded of the fact there is more than one gun available for every man, woman and child in the nation, the “open carry everywhere” law the Supreme Court will decide on before the election, the “active shooter” drills school children are now forced to learn, the issues between police and people of color, the fights over vaccinations, and mask mandates, over masks being worn in public places, in schools, the open attacks and even death threats on school board members, the twisting, pruning of history in K-12 education, the banning of books in schools and libraries.

The idea of public book burnings in the town square no longer seems farfetched…

More information on upcoming elections and registration deadlines can be found here.

Below is a list of 10 open Senate seats, 8 of which are considered competitive:

1. Pennsylvania Incumbent: Republican Pat Toomey (retiring) Democrat- John Fetterman enters Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate race — CNNPolitics Fetterman is a Progressive, Lamb a centrist.

2. Georgia Incumbent: Democrat Raphael Warnock

3. Wisconsin Incumbent: Republican Ron Johnson

4. North Carolina Incumbent: Republican Richard Burr (retiring)

5. Arizona Incumbent: Democrat Mark Kelly

6. Nevada Incumbent: Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto

7. New Hampshire Incumbent: Democrat Maggie Hassan

8. Ohio Incumbent: Republican Rob Portman (retiring)

9. Florida Incumbent: Republican Marco Rubio

10. Colorado Incumbent: Democrat Michael Bennet

~ ~ ~

If you like my work, you can read more of it on Medium along with thousands of articles and stories from thousands of writers. And publish your own work if you would like to get more eyes on your own thoughts and musings. You are welcome to share and it can be cathartic. You can use this referral link to subscribe to Medium, and a part of your subscription will go to my earnings. Or, find another writer you enjoy, and use their referral link — but consider using one if you choose to join! Happy reading!

I can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Vocal