when I teach classes on the American government I not only cover the basics I
government I not only cover the basics I
government I not only cover the basics I also emphasize the students role in the
also emphasize the students role in the
also emphasize the students role in the function of the United States civics and
function of the United States civics and
function of the United States civics and citizenship I increasingly find that
citizenship I increasingly find that
citizenship I increasingly find that students do not see themselves as part
students do not see themselves as part
students do not see themselves as part of the political system it’s viewed as
of the political system it’s viewed as
of the political system it’s viewed as an external thing it would say have
an external thing it would say have
an external thing it would say have little control in class discussions and
little control in class discussions and
little control in class discussions and while reading papers I encounter the
while reading papers I encounter the
while reading papers I encounter the same things
same things
same things politicians are distant political
politicians are distant political
politicians are distant political parties do not represent what they
parties do not represent what they
parties do not represent what they believe and care about the media in
believe and care about the media in
believe and care about the media in well-connected shape everything it’s not
well-connected shape everything it’s not
well-connected shape everything it’s not just in the classroom over the years I
just in the classroom over the years I
just in the classroom over the years I find these sentiments everywhere
find these sentiments everywhere
find these sentiments everywhere politics itself is seen as a bad word in
politics itself is seen as a bad word in
politics itself is seen as a bad word in their eyes my conclusion is that our
their eyes my conclusion is that our
their eyes my conclusion is that our democracy has lost its vitality and as a
democracy has lost its vitality and as a
democracy has lost its vitality and as a student of history and politics
student of history and politics
student of history and politics I find that disturbing and I think you
I find that disturbing and I think you
I find that disturbing and I think you should too I believe that to reverse
should too I believe that to reverse
should too I believe that to reverse this trend we need to build our
this trend we need to build our
this trend we need to build our democracies back up from the bottom from
democracies back up from the bottom from
democracies back up from the bottom from our local communities upwards let’s take
our local communities upwards let’s take
our local communities upwards let’s take a look at how we got here and why we
a look at how we got here and why we
a look at how we got here and why we have this problem democracy is an
have this problem democracy is an
have this problem democracy is an ancient innovation but it’s an
ancient innovation but it’s an
ancient innovation but it’s an innovation that requires constant
innovation that requires constant
innovation that requires constant attention and renewal what democracy
attention and renewal what democracy
attention and renewal what democracy means has evolved over time from the
means has evolved over time from the
means has evolved over time from the ancient Greeks to the Enlightenment
ancient Greeks to the Enlightenment
ancient Greeks to the Enlightenment philosophers to the American patriots
philosophers to the American patriots
philosophers to the American patriots and beyond we can expect it to change
and beyond we can expect it to change
and beyond we can expect it to change with the times in in response to the
with the times in in response to the
with the times in in response to the challenges of each generation democracy
challenges of each generation democracy
challenges of each generation democracy works on the premise that the people
works on the premise that the people
works on the premise that the people citizens can rule themselves it’s the
citizens can rule themselves it’s the
citizens can rule themselves it’s the idea of self-government
idea of self-government
idea of self-government equality individual rights in the rule
equality individual rights in the rule
equality individual rights in the rule of law it was and is a revolutionary
of law it was and is a revolutionary
of law it was and is a revolutionary idea to say that we have no permanent
idea to say that we have no permanent
idea to say that we have no permanent ruling class no aristocracy that we can
ruling class no aristocracy that we can
ruling class no aristocracy that we can have a government that ultimately
have a government that ultimately
have a government that ultimately answers to the people and no other
answers to the people and no other
answers to the people and no other source for its legitimacy the problem in
source for its legitimacy the problem in
source for its legitimacy the problem in America that I see is that our democracy
America that I see is that our democracy
America that I see is that our democracy requires vigilance
requires vigilance
requires vigilance the hard-won rights and privileges in a
the hard-won rights and privileges in a
the hard-won rights and privileges in a democracy wither on the vine they’re not
democracy wither on the vine they’re not
democracy wither on the vine they’re not exercised those rights and freedoms we
exercised those rights and freedoms we
exercised those rights and freedoms we cherish were not easily attained and
cherish were not easily attained and
cherish were not easily attained and make no mistake they can be lost the
make no mistake they can be lost the
make no mistake they can be lost the problem in America that I see is a
problem in America that I see is a
problem in America that I see is a coming crisis in our democratic
coming crisis in our democratic
coming crisis in our democratic political system it is a crisis of its
political system it is a crisis of its
political system it is a crisis of its very legitimacy there have been some
very legitimacy there have been some
very legitimacy there have been some warning signs for those of us who have
warning signs for those of us who have
warning signs for those of us who have taken notice for example over the past
taken notice for example over the past
taken notice for example over the past few years public opinion polls
few years public opinion polls
few years public opinion polls consistently show low approval ratings
consistently show low approval ratings
consistently show low approval ratings for the elected branches of government
for the elected branches of government
for the elected branches of government the parts in which we the people have
the parts in which we the people have
the parts in which we the people have the most control a case in point
the most control a case in point
the most control a case in point trust in Congress the House of
trust in Congress the House of
trust in Congress the House of Representatives and Senate is abysmal as
Representatives and Senate is abysmal as
Representatives and Senate is abysmal as we can see in this chart from Gallup
we can see in this chart from Gallup
we can see in this chart from Gallup confidence in Congress has fallen
confidence in Congress has fallen
confidence in Congress has fallen dramatically over the past few decades
dramatically over the past few decades
dramatically over the past few decades from 40-plus percent in the 1970s and
from 40-plus percent in the 1970s and
from 40-plus percent in the 1970s and 80s down to seven percent recently
80s down to seven percent recently
80s down to seven percent recently there’s not a lot of trust there do you
there’s not a lot of trust there do you
there’s not a lot of trust there do you trust them according to a recent study
trust them according to a recent study
trust them according to a recent study in the Journal of democracy analyzing
in the Journal of democracy analyzing
in the Journal of democracy analyzing data meticulously collected from World
data meticulously collected from World
data meticulously collected from World Values Survey x’ democracy itself has
Values Survey x’ democracy itself has
Values Survey x’ democracy itself has lost its luster as you can see in these
lost its luster as you can see in these
lost its luster as you can see in these two graphs from the publication
two graphs from the publication
two graphs from the publication democracy does not rank as highly
democracy does not rank as highly
democracy does not rank as highly amongst people’s opinions of what’s
amongst people’s opinions of what’s
amongst people’s opinions of what’s essential or even preferable for a
essential or even preferable for a
essential or even preferable for a functioning government the researchers
functioning government the researchers
functioning government the researchers found a negative trend overall which was
found a negative trend overall which was
found a negative trend overall which was even more drastic among younger
even more drastic among younger
even more drastic among younger generations especially those described
generations especially those described
generations especially those described as Millennials most of my students let’s
as Millennials most of my students let’s
as Millennials most of my students let’s have a look at why this is so now for a
have a look at why this is so now for a
have a look at why this is so now for a little bit of social science from the
little bit of social science from the
little bit of social science from the professor political socialization is a
professor political socialization is a
professor political socialization is a process by which we gain our political
process by which we gain our political
process by which we gain our political ideas like most learning it’s more
ideas like most learning it’s more
ideas like most learning it’s more pronounced during childhood our
pronounced during childhood our
pronounced during childhood our formative years and continues to a
formative years and continues to a
formative years and continues to a lesser extent throughout our lives our
lesser extent throughout our lives our
lesser extent throughout our lives our ideas of politics and government are the
ideas of politics and government are the
ideas of politics and government are the partially the result of our shared
partially the result of our shared
partially the result of our shared experiences as of late these have been
experiences as of late these have been
experiences as of late these have been experiences of increased partisanship
experiences of increased partisanship
experiences of increased partisanship economic angst political scandals and
economic angst political scandals and
economic angst political scandals and the ineffectiveness of our
the ineffectiveness of our
the ineffectiveness of our kradic institutions to solve 21st
kradic institutions to solve 21st
kradic institutions to solve 21st century problems younger generations and
century problems younger generations and
century problems younger generations and millennials especially have not seen the
millennials especially have not seen the
millennials especially have not seen the promised benefit of democracy to improve
promised benefit of democracy to improve
promised benefit of democracy to improve things they also have not experienced
things they also have not experienced
things they also have not experienced the consequences of the alternatives to
the consequences of the alternatives to
the consequences of the alternatives to democracy as previous generations have
democracy as previous generations have
democracy as previous generations have they don’t remember the fight against
they don’t remember the fight against
they don’t remember the fight against fascism the civil rights struggles or
fascism the civil rights struggles or
fascism the civil rights struggles or the Cold War
the Cold War
the Cold War I don’t remember some of these either so
I don’t remember some of these either so
I don’t remember some of these either so I understand the disconnect those in the
I understand the disconnect those in the
I understand the disconnect those in the rising generation were not the ones to
rising generation were not the ones to
rising generation were not the ones to fight for these hard-won rights the
fight for these hard-won rights the
fight for these hard-won rights the political system in the United States
political system in the United States
political system in the United States has had a high level of stability in
has had a high level of stability in
has had a high level of stability in acceptance over time but because of this
acceptance over time but because of this
acceptance over time but because of this changing generational perspective and
changing generational perspective and
changing generational perspective and the shift in shared experiences it
the shift in shared experiences it
the shift in shared experiences it appears that the stability is eroding
appears that the stability is eroding
appears that the stability is eroding the people are becoming disengaged and
the people are becoming disengaged and
the people are becoming disengaged and more dissatisfied it’s not an issue of
more dissatisfied it’s not an issue of
more dissatisfied it’s not an issue of apathy or unconcerned with politics
apathy or unconcerned with politics
apathy or unconcerned with politics citizens are increasingly feeling
citizens are increasingly feeling
citizens are increasingly feeling alienated from the process as I’ve
alienated from the process as I’ve
alienated from the process as I’ve experienced with my students they feel
experienced with my students they feel
experienced with my students they feel that democracy itself is out of their
that democracy itself is out of their
that democracy itself is out of their control guess what because of this same
control guess what because of this same
control guess what because of this same distrust and disengagement that is
distrust and disengagement that is
distrust and disengagement that is exactly what’s happening you may ask
exactly what’s happening you may ask
exactly what’s happening you may ask what happens when people lose faith and
what happens when people lose faith and
what happens when people lose faith and get democratic institutions and do not
get democratic institutions and do not
get democratic institutions and do not participate someone else fills the void
participate someone else fills the void
participate someone else fills the void we give up our power to those willing to
we give up our power to those willing to
we give up our power to those willing to take part a 2014 article published in
take part a 2014 article published in
take part a 2014 article published in the academic journal perspectives of
the academic journal perspectives of
the academic journal perspectives of politics analyzed the nature of our
politics analyzed the nature of our
politics analyzed the nature of our democracy to test what kind of political
democracy to test what kind of political
democracy to test what kind of political system we currently have to apply
system we currently have to apply
system we currently have to apply theories to reality as academics do
theories to reality as academics do
theories to reality as academics do their conclusion was that the American
their conclusion was that the American
their conclusion was that the American political system is best described by
political system is best described by
political system is best described by the theories of economic elite
the theories of economic elite
the theories of economic elite domination in biased pluralism in
domination in biased pluralism in
domination in biased pluralism in simpler terms
simpler terms
simpler terms the researchers stated that our country
the researchers stated that our country
the researchers stated that our country is controlled by the wealthy and
is controlled by the wealthy and
is controlled by the wealthy and well-connected and by special interest
well-connected and by special interest
well-connected and by special interest groups this means that the United States
groups this means that the United States
groups this means that the United States is not functionally a democracy run by
is not functionally a democracy run by
is not functionally a democracy run by the majority of people anymore but in
the majority of people anymore but in
the majority of people anymore but in oligarchy ruled by a select few America
oligarchy ruled by a select few America
oligarchy ruled by a select few America looks more like
looks more like
looks more like an aristocracy than a democracy let me
an aristocracy than a democracy let me
an aristocracy than a democracy let me explain why that is first off there’s
explain why that is first off there’s
explain why that is first off there’s nothing inherently sinister going on
nothing inherently sinister going on
nothing inherently sinister going on here
here
here the so-called elites are special
the so-called elites are special
the so-called elites are special interests those exercising power have
interests those exercising power have
interests those exercising power have gained power by simply being involved
gained power by simply being involved
gained power by simply being involved when others are not
when others are not
when others are not why wouldn’t they being involved in a
why wouldn’t they being involved in a
why wouldn’t they being involved in a political system works to their benefit
political system works to their benefit
political system works to their benefit as it would for anyone this is simple
as it would for anyone this is simple
as it would for anyone this is simple competition but with less players in the
competition but with less players in the
competition but with less players in the game is become more lopsided one thing
game is become more lopsided one thing
game is become more lopsided one thing to note this goes beyond voting voting
to note this goes beyond voting voting
to note this goes beyond voting voting is a moment in time when participation
is a moment in time when participation
is a moment in time when participation by the majority is more likely to happen
by the majority is more likely to happen
by the majority is more likely to happen as I explained to my students there’s a
as I explained to my students there’s a
as I explained to my students there’s a lot more to participation in a democracy
lot more to participation in a democracy
lot more to participation in a democracy than voting while I believe voting rates
than voting while I believe voting rates
than voting while I believe voting rates could be higher it’s not the real
could be higher it’s not the real
could be higher it’s not the real problem here it’s what happens in
problem here it’s what happens in
problem here it’s what happens in between elections that shapes policy in
between elections that shapes policy in
between elections that shapes policy in the future some have used this space to
the future some have used this space to
the future some have used this space to gain advantage over the rest of us by
gain advantage over the rest of us by
gain advantage over the rest of us by default this is the root cause of our
default this is the root cause of our
default this is the root cause of our current oligarchy this should be the
current oligarchy this should be the
current oligarchy this should be the focus in the quest to renew our
focus in the quest to renew our
focus in the quest to renew our democracy we have to break the false
democracy we have to break the false
democracy we have to break the false assumption that our system works from
assumption that our system works from
assumption that our system works from the top down that economic elites or
the top down that economic elites or
the top down that economic elites or special interests naturally hold the
special interests naturally hold the
special interests naturally hold the real power by giving in to this false
real power by giving in to this false
real power by giving in to this false idea we are creating a self-fulfilling
idea we are creating a self-fulfilling
idea we are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that brings about even more
prophecy that brings about even more
prophecy that brings about even more frustration and less trust in our
frustration and less trust in our
frustration and less trust in our democracy we are ceding more power to
democracy we are ceding more power to
democracy we are ceding more power to the powerful for maximum benefit power
the powerful for maximum benefit power
the powerful for maximum benefit power can and should be exercised from the
can and should be exercised from the
can and should be exercised from the bottom up the people in younger
bottom up the people in younger
bottom up the people in younger generation specifically have the power
generation specifically have the power
generation specifically have the power of numbers they can shape the future I’m
of numbers they can shape the future I’m
of numbers they can shape the future I’m sure that they’ve heard this before but
sure that they’ve heard this before but
sure that they’ve heard this before but did not know where to put their energies
did not know where to put their energies
did not know where to put their energies social media means focusing on national
social media means focusing on national
social media means focusing on national politicians is not the answer here the
politicians is not the answer here the
politicians is not the answer here the answer is more practical involvement in
answer is more practical involvement in
answer is more practical involvement in the process my idea is that we start at
the process my idea is that we start at
the process my idea is that we start at the lowest level community democracy
the lowest level community democracy
the lowest level community democracy community democracy refers to the simple
community democracy refers to the simple
community democracy refers to the simple governmental actions happening all the
governmental actions happening all the
governmental actions happening all the time at the local level these are
time at the local level these are
time at the local level these are usually face-to-face interactions
usually face-to-face interactions
usually face-to-face interactions solving all kinds of problems in our
solving all kinds of problems in our
solving all kinds of problems in our community often you
community often you
community often you things like common sense and simple math
things like common sense and simple math
things like common sense and simple math a great feature of the federal system in
a great feature of the federal system in
a great feature of the federal system in the United States is that it’s diffuse
the United States is that it’s diffuse
the United States is that it’s diffuse spread out there’s one national
spread out there’s one national
spread out there’s one national government but also 50 state governments
government but also 50 state governments
government but also 50 state governments in thousands of other local and
in thousands of other local and
in thousands of other local and municipal governing units including
municipal governing units including
municipal governing units including things like City Council’s and school
things like City Council’s and school
things like City Council’s and school boards while the national government
boards while the national government
boards while the national government seems to get all the attention it tends
seems to get all the attention it tends
seems to get all the attention it tends to cause a good portion of our
to cause a good portion of our
to cause a good portion of our dissatisfaction we the people have a
dissatisfaction we the people have a
dissatisfaction we the people have a statistically minuscule effect on it
statistically minuscule effect on it
statistically minuscule effect on it compared to what happens in our own
compared to what happens in our own
compared to what happens in our own communities we are unlikely to see
communities we are unlikely to see
communities we are unlikely to see results at such a high level why focus
results at such a high level why focus
results at such a high level why focus on areas where we have little control
on areas where we have little control
on areas where we have little control let’s focus our energy on where we can
let’s focus our energy on where we can
let’s focus our energy on where we can make a difference that we can see and
make a difference that we can see and
make a difference that we can see and feel in our communities all around us
feel in our communities all around us
feel in our communities all around us those who are involved locally will
those who are involved locally will
those who are involved locally will attest to this unfortunately that
attest to this unfortunately that
attest to this unfortunately that population skews towards older citizens
population skews towards older citizens
population skews towards older citizens the rising generation has not been
the rising generation has not been
the rising generation has not been involved at this level as it should the
involved at this level as it should the
involved at this level as it should the fact is local governments have more of a
fact is local governments have more of a
fact is local governments have more of a direct effect on your everyday life your
direct effect on your everyday life your
direct effect on your everyday life your schools your streets taxes and local
schools your streets taxes and local
schools your streets taxes and local ordinances that you encounter all the
ordinances that you encounter all the
ordinances that you encounter all the time are set by these institutions our
time are set by these institutions our
time are set by these institutions our voice is very significant both during
voice is very significant both during
voice is very significant both during local elections which do not see as much
local elections which do not see as much
local elections which do not see as much participation as their national
participation as their national
participation as their national counterparts and in between when the
counterparts and in between when the
counterparts and in between when the real work of self-government takes place
real work of self-government takes place
real work of self-government takes place participation of any kind at the local
participation of any kind at the local
participation of any kind at the local and community level makes quite a bit of
and community level makes quite a bit of
and community level makes quite a bit of difference attending board meetings
difference attending board meetings
difference attending board meetings candidate gatherings and community
candidate gatherings and community
candidate gatherings and community events like this one or simply having
events like this one or simply having
events like this one or simply having conversations about local concerns Canon
conversations about local concerns Canon
conversations about local concerns Canon does make a difference I’ve seen it
does make a difference I’ve seen it
does make a difference I’ve seen it happen for example when we have hosted
happen for example when we have hosted
happen for example when we have hosted local political events here on campus
local political events here on campus
local political events here on campus even during the heat of an election the
even during the heat of an election the
even during the heat of an election the conversations were civil people had
conversations were civil people had
conversations were civil people had access to the candidates directly and
access to the candidates directly and
access to the candidates directly and the issues discussed weren’t based on
the issues discussed weren’t based on
the issues discussed weren’t based on the positions of political teams but on
the positions of political teams but on
the positions of political teams but on issues that concerned everybody in the
issues that concerned everybody in the
issues that concerned everybody in the room historically speaking movements and
room historically speaking movements and
room historically speaking movements and change come from the bottom up my
change come from the bottom up my
change come from the bottom up my proposal fits this trend I see this idea
proposal fits this trend I see this idea
proposal fits this trend I see this idea as civics from below faith and
as civics from below faith and
as civics from below faith and Democratic Institute
Democratic Institute
Democratic Institute of all sizes can be gained by increased
of all sizes can be gained by increased
of all sizes can be gained by increased engagement where it matters building
engagement where it matters building
engagement where it matters building back confidence in our democratic
back confidence in our democratic
back confidence in our democratic practice in filtering that progress
practice in filtering that progress
practice in filtering that progress upwards towards the national level we
upwards towards the national level we
upwards towards the national level we need a simple change in focus a
need a simple change in focus a
need a simple change in focus a recalibration of energies to where it
recalibration of energies to where it
recalibration of energies to where it counts more in frustrates less I
counts more in frustrates less I
counts more in frustrates less I challenge everyone the young and they’re
challenge everyone the young and they’re
challenge everyone the young and they’re not so young to get involved in about an
not so young to get involved in about an
not so young to get involved in about an issue or proposal and act locally use
issue or proposal and act locally use
issue or proposal and act locally use your social media skills to find out
your social media skills to find out
your social media skills to find out what’s going on around you and get
what’s going on around you and get
what’s going on around you and get involved practice democracy in your own
involved practice democracy in your own
involved practice democracy in your own community show up to meetings meet with
community show up to meetings meet with
community show up to meetings meet with local candidates find others who agree
local candidates find others who agree
local candidates find others who agree with you and organize fight for what you
with you and organize fight for what you
with you and organize fight for what you believe in question decision-makers
believe in question decision-makers
believe in question decision-makers directly and encourage others to
directly and encourage others to
directly and encourage others to participate as we have seen if we are
participate as we have seen if we are
participate as we have seen if we are not using our hard-won rights someone
not using our hard-won rights someone
not using our hard-won rights someone else will in our place once we are
else will in our place once we are
else will in our place once we are engaged again our combined impact can
engaged again our combined impact can
engaged again our combined impact can reverse the dominance of a few that we
reverse the dominance of a few that we
reverse the dominance of a few that we have witnessed let’s begin at the bottom
have witnessed let’s begin at the bottom
have witnessed let’s begin at the bottom and use the system as it’s always been
and use the system as it’s always been
and use the system as it’s always been intended it’s your democracy fight for
intended it’s your democracy fight for
intended it’s your democracy fight for it thank you
it thank you
it thank you [Applause]
”
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