When Politicians Choose Their Voters

Hot Topic Bold Talk | Vote Matters

Introduction: The Most Dangerous Thing Happening in America May Be Something Most Americans Barely Understand

There are moments in history when democracies are threatened by obvious and dramatic events. Tanks roll through streets. Governments collapse. Constitutions are suspended. Elections disappear overnight.

But there are other quieter moments — when democracy begins eroding slowly, strategically, and almost invisibly. No dramatic announcement is made. No emergency sirens sound. No one officially declares democracy dead. Instead, citizens slowly begin losing faith that their voices matter. And once that happens, democracy begins collapsing from the inside.

That is why we need to talk honestly about gerrymandering. Because this issue is not really about maps. It is not just about district lines. It is not merely a political strategy. It is not some boring technical issue reserved for lawyers, judges, or political insiders. Gerrymandering is ultimately about power. It is about whether voters choose their leaders — or whether politicians choose their voters.

And right now, across multiple Republican-controlled states, Americans are witnessing aggressive efforts to reshape districts in ways that allow politicians to protect themselves from accountability while weakening the political power of communities they fear may vote against them. At the same time, recent Supreme Court decisions have weakened critical voting protections, leaving many Americans feeling increasingly vulnerable, frustrated, and uncertain about whether our institutions are still capable of protecting fair representation.

For many citizens, especially younger voters, communities of color, and politically exhausted Americans, the fear is growing: What if elections are no longer fully competitive? What if politicians already know who will win before ballots are even cast? What if ordinary people no longer have equal political power? And perhaps most dangerously of all: What happens when citizens stop believing participation matters?

Because democracy does not survive on laws alone. Democracy survives because people believe their participation matters. It survives because citizens believe:

  • their vote counts,
  • their voices matter,
  • their communities deserve representation,
  • and their government still belongs to them.

Once people lose that belief, democracy becomes hollow. And that is the emotional crisis America is now facing.

Why Gerrymandering Is So Dangerous

Many Americans hear the word “gerrymandering” and immediately tune out. It sounds procedural.Complicated. Academic. Like something discussed in law schools or political science classes. But the real-world consequences are profound.

Gerrymandering happens when political leaders manipulate voting district boundaries to maximize their own political advantage. Instead of allowing communities to naturally determine election outcomes, politicians redraw district lines in ways that protect their own power. The result is that politicians can often choose the most likely voters to support them while weakening the influence of voters who may oppose them. That may sound abstract until you understand what it means in practice.

It means:

  • some votes carry more influence than others,
  • communities can be intentionally divided,
  • racial and ethnic groups can lose representation,
  • competitive elections disappear,
  • and politicians become less accountable to the public.

When districts are manipulated aggressively enough, politicians no longer fear voters. And when politicians stop fearing voters, democracy becomes dangerously unstable. Because accountability disappears.

Leaders become more extreme. More insulated. More willing to ignore public opinion. Why? Because their greatest threat is no longer the public. Their greatest threat becomes a primary challenger from their own party. That changes everything. Instead of trying to appeal to a broad range of citizens, politicians increasingly cater to the most ideological and extreme elements within their political base.

This creates:

  • more polarization,
  • more extremism,
  • less compromise,
  • and deeper public frustration.

Citizens begin asking: Why doesn’t Congress reflect what most Americans want? Why does nothing change? Why do politicians seem untouchable? Part of the answer is gerrymandering.

The Emotional Cost Americans Rarely Talk About

The damage caused by gerrymandering is not only political. It is emotional. And this emotional damage may ultimately become even more dangerous.

Across America, millions of citizens are exhausted. Not simply tired of political arguments. Not merely frustrated by one party or another. They are emotionally exhausted by feeling powerless. They watch election after election. They see overwhelming public support for certain policies. Yet little seems to change. They see politicians behaving in increasingly extreme ways. They see corruption normalized. They see attacks on institutions. They see endless outrage.

And many begin wondering: What is the point? That question is incredibly dangerous for a democracy. Because authoritarian movements do not only rise through fear. They also rise through exhaustion. When citizens feel powerless long enough, many stop participating. They stop voting. They stop organizing. They stop paying attention. They disconnect emotionally. Not because they stopped caring. But because caring became emotionally painful. And that emotional withdrawal creates opportunities for people who benefit from lower participation, weaker accountability, and public cynicism.

That is why attacks on voting rights and fair representation are never just legal or procedural battles.

They are psychological battles. Battles over whether citizens still believe democracy belongs to them.

The Supreme Court and the Weakening of Voting Protections

Recent Supreme Court decisions have intensified these fears. Many voting rights advocates now believe the Court has steadily weakened federal protections that once guarded against racial discrimination and unfair district manipulation.

For decades, the Voting Rights Act served as one of the most important tools for protecting equal political participation. It was born out of one of the darkest chapters in American history — a period when Black Americans across the South faced systemic efforts to block their participation in democracy. Literacy tests. Poll taxes. Violence. Intimidation. The Voting Rights Act was designed to stop states from using discriminatory tactics to suppress political power.

But over recent years, critical protections within that law have been weakened. Many Americans now fear that states are once again being given greater freedom to pass restrictive voting laws and manipulate districts with less federal oversight. And for communities that historically faced exclusion, those fears are deeply personal. Because history matters. People remember what happened when voting protections disappeared before.

They remember:

  • segregation,
  • intimidation,
  • racial exclusion,
  • and political systems designed to silence entire communities.

That is why conversations about gerrymandering often become emotionally charged. For many Americans, especially communities of color, this is not just theoretical. It feels like history trying to repeat itself.

The Racial Dimensions of Gerrymandering

One of the most painful aspects of modern gerrymandering is its racial impact. Across multiple states, voting rights organizations have argued that district maps weaken the political influence of Black and Latino communities. Sometimes this happens through “packing,” where large numbers of minority voters are concentrated into a small number of districts. Other times it happens through “cracking,” where communities are split apart into multiple districts to dilute their voting strength.

The effect is the same: Communities lose political influence. And when communities lose representation, they also lose power over decisions affecting:

  • healthcare,
  • education,
  • infrastructure,
  • environmental policy,
  • policing,
  • housing,
  • and economic investment.

Representation matters because policy matters. And policy shapes people’s lives. This is why critics increasingly warn that some modern gerrymandering efforts resemble attempts to preserve political power even as demographic changes reshape America.

The fear is not simply that one party wants to win elections. All political parties seek advantage. The deeper concern is whether some leaders are attempting to structurally weaken the political influence of communities they fear may challenge their control.

That is why some advocates now use phrases like “a new Jim Crow era.” Not because history is repeating itself in identical ways. But because they fear familiar patterns:

  • unequal access to power,
  • unequal representation,
  • and systems designed to preserve political dominance.

Whether Americans agree with that language or not, the emotional concern underneath it is very real. People fear becoming politically invisible.

Why Gerrymandering Creates More Extremism

One of the least discussed consequences of gerrymandering is how it fuels political extremism. When districts become heavily manipulated, many elections effectively stop being competitive. In deeply safe districts, politicians no longer worry much about losing to the opposing party. Instead, they worry about being challenged by someone even more ideologically extreme within their own party primary.

That creates incentives for:

  • outrage,
  • ideological purity,
  • performative anger,
  • and political theater.

Compromise becomes dangerous. Moderation becomes risky. And politicians increasingly reward conflict instead of cooperation.

This affects both parties in different ways, but in many Republican-controlled states, aggressive gerrymandering has created districts where politicians feel little pressure to appeal to moderate or independent voters.

That contributes to a political environment where:

  • conspiracy theories spread more easily,
  • compromise is treated as betrayal,
  • and democratic norms weaken.

Citizens then look at Washington and wonder: Why does everyone seem so extreme? Part of the answer is structural. The system increasingly rewards extremism. And when citizens no longer feel represented by their government, public trust collapses further.

Young Americans and the Growing Crisis of Political Cynicism

Perhaps the most alarming consequence of all is what this is doing to younger generations. Many young Americans are growing up in an era defined by:

  • political dysfunction,
  • endless outrage,
  • economic instability,
  • misinformation,
  • attacks on institutions,
  • and declining trust.

Now they are also watching fierce battles over voting rights and fair representation.

Many are asking: Does democracy even work anymore? That question should terrify every American regardless of party. Because democracies survive only when citizens believe peaceful participation can still create meaningful change.

When people lose that belief, society becomes vulnerable to:

  • authoritarianism,
  • political violence,
  • apathy,
  • and democratic collapse.

Younger voters need to see evidence that participation still matters. They need to believe:

  • organizing matters,
  • local elections matter,
  • turnout matters,
  • activism matters,
  • and community action still has power.

Without that hope, cynicism spreads. And cynicism is one of the greatest threats democracy faces.

Why Local Elections Matter More Than Most Americans Realize

One of the reasons gerrymandering has become so powerful is because many Americans focus almost entirely on presidential elections while ignoring state and local politics. But district maps are often drawn at the state level. That means governors, state legislatures, state courts, and local elections can have enormous influence over how political power is distributed.

Many citizens do not realize how much local elections affect:

  • voting access,
  • school funding,
  • healthcare expansion,
  • reproductive rights,
  • environmental protection,
  • and even democratic representation itself.

This is why organizing at the state and local level matters so deeply. If citizens disengage locally, political systems can become increasingly unbalanced over time. And once those systems become entrenched, reversing them becomes far more difficult.

That is why democracy advocates across the country are increasingly emphasizing:

  • grassroots organizing,
  • local turnout,
  • civic education,
  • and sustained community involvement.

Not just outrage. Participation.

The Danger of Political Exhaustion

One of the most important things we need to talk about honestly is political exhaustion. Because millions of Americans are emotionally overwhelmed.

Every day brings another controversy, another attack, another crisis, another legal battle, another frightening headline.

People feel constantly flooded with fear and outrage. Over time, that emotional overload creates numbness. And numbness is dangerous. Because democracy requires emotional investment. It requires citizens who still believe truth matters, participation matters, fairness matters, and community matters.

When exhaustion turns into emotional disengagement, democracy weakens. That is why political leaders, media organizations, and civic voices have a responsibility not only to inform people — but also to help sustain hope. Not false hope. Not denial. But realistic hope grounded in action.

People need to feel there are still things they can do. Otherwise fear simply becomes paralysis.

Why Hope Is a Democratic Necessity

Hope is not weakness. Hope is not naïve. Hope is one of the most important democratic forces we have. Because hopeless citizens stop participating. And participation is the lifeblood of democracy.

This is why stories of organizing, resistance, and unexpected victories matter so much. Recent election surprises in deeply conservative areas demonstrate something critically important: Political outcomes are not always predetermined. Citizens still have power. Turnout still matters. Community engagement still matters. Grassroots organizing still matters.

That does not mean the threats facing democracy are exaggerated. They are real. But despair alone cannot sustain democratic movements. People need reasons to stay engaged. They need to believe their voice matters, their effort matters, and change remains possible.

History repeatedly shows that organized citizens can create extraordinary change even under deeply unfair systems. The civil rights movement. Women’s suffrage. Labor movements. Marriage equality. Voting rights. None of those victories happened because people believed success was guaranteed. They happened because ordinary citizens refused to surrender to hopelessness.

What Gerrymandering Really Says About America Right Now

At its core, the battle over gerrymandering reflects a much deeper national struggle. America is changing. Demographically. Culturally. Politically. Economically. And periods of major change often create fear.

Some leaders respond to that fear by expanding participation and encouraging broader representation. Others respond by trying to hold onto power more aggressively. That is why these fights over voting rights and district maps feel so emotionally intense. Because beneath the legal battles lies a deeper question: Who gets to shape America’s future? Will democracy remain inclusive? Will representation remain fair? Will citizens still believe their voices matter? Or will political systems increasingly become mechanisms for protecting entrenched power?

These are not abstract questions. They shape policy, public trust, national stability, and the emotional health of democracy itself.

The Role of Media and Public Conversation

Another reason this moment feels so dangerous is because Americans increasingly live inside separate information realities. Different media ecosystems present entirely different versions of events. Some Americans see attacks on voting rights everywhere. Others believe concerns about democracy are exaggerated.

This fragmentation makes democratic dialogue far more difficult. But it also makes honest conversation even more important. We need spaces where people can ask hard questions, express fears, challenge assumptions, and discuss democratic principles honestly.

Not every disagreement is a threat to democracy. Healthy democracies require disagreement. But democracies cannot survive when citizens stop believing in shared rules, fair participation, and equal political voice.

That is why these conversations matter. Not to inflame fear. Not to deepen division. But to protect democratic accountability and civic trust.

What Can Citizens Actually Do?

One of the biggest mistakes political conversations make is focusing only on problems. People need solutions. They need direction. They need agency. Otherwise fear simply becomes emotional paralysis.

So what can ordinary citizens actually do?

1. Pay Attention to State and Local Elections

This may be one of the single most important actions citizens can take. State legislature often controls district maps, election laws, and voting access. Local elections shape national democracy more than many people realize.

2. Support Independent Redistricting Commissions

Many reform advocates support independent commissions designed to reduce partisan manipulation in map drawing. Citizens can push for reforms that increase transparency and fairness.

3. Stay Engaged Even When Exhausted

This is emotionally difficult. But disengagement often benefits those already holding power. Democracy requires sustained participation.

4. Support Civic Education

Many Americans simply do not understand how political systems function. Civic education helps citizens protect democratic institutions.

5. Organize Locally

Community organizing remains one of the most effective democratic tools available. People often feel powerless nationally while overlooking the influence they can have locally.

6. Resist Cynicism

Cynicism may feel emotionally protective, but it can become self-fulfilling. If enough citizens decide to participate in this participation no longer matters, democracy weakens dramatically.

7. Keep Having Difficult Conversations

Democracy cannot survive if citizens stop talking to one another. We need spaces where people can discuss fears, frustrations, and solutions honestly.

The Human Side of Democracy

Sometimes political conversations become so focused on strategy, parties, and institutions that we forget democracy is ultimately human. It is about people. People who want dignity, want fairness, want safety, want opportunity, and want their voices respected.

When citizens feel invisible, unheard, or powerless, democratic trust begins breaking down. That is why representation matters. Not because every election outcome will make everyone happy. But because citizens need to believe the system itself remains fair enough for participation to matter.

Without that belief, fear and anger grow. And fear is one of the most dangerous political forces in any society.

Why This Conversation Matters Right Now

America is standing at a difficult crossroads. Many citizens feel angry, exhausted, divided, fearful, and uncertain about the future.

At the same time, fierce battles over voting rights, representation, district maps, and democratic institutions continue escalating. This is not simply another political argument. It is a struggle over whether Americans still believe democracy can work. And the answer to that question will shape the future of this country. Not only legally. Not only politically. Emotionally.

Because democracy is ultimately sustained by public trust. Trust that participation matters. Trust that voices matter. Trust that citizens still have power. If that trust disappears, the damage extends far beyond elections. It affects the emotional fabric of society itself.

Conclusion: Democracy Only Survives If Citizens Refuse to Give Up

The greatest danger facing democracy may not be one politician, one party, or one election. The greatest danger may be citizens losing faith in each other and in the idea that participation still matters.

That is why conversations about gerrymandering are so important. Because underneath the legal language and political strategy lies a deeper moral question: Do we still believe every citizen deserves an equal voice? And if we do, are we willing to protect that principle even when it becomes politically uncomfortable?

America has survived difficult moments before. Moments of division. Moments of fear. Moments when democratic promises felt fragile. Progress has never been automatic. It has always depended on ordinary citizens choosing participation over despair. Choosing engagement over cynicism. Choosing courage over exhaustion.

That remains true today. The future of democracy will not be determined only by courts, politicians, or district maps. It will be determined by whether citizens continue believing their voices matter enough to stay engaged.

Because once people stop believing participation matters, democracy begins disappearing from the inside. But if citizens refuse to give up on each other — and refuse to surrender their belief in participation, accountability, and equal representation — democracy still has a future. The question now is whether Americans are willing to fight emotionally, civically, and collectively for that future.

And perhaps the most important question of all is this: What kind of democracy do we want to leave the next generation? Because the answer to that question will define far more than politics. It will define who we become as a nation.

Episode Summary Points:

  • When Politicians Choose Their Voters: The episode examines how gerrymandering allows politicians to shape voting districts in ways that protect their own power before elections even happen. Instead of voters choosing representatives, representatives are effectively choosing their voters, raising fears about whether democratic participation still truly matters.
  • The Emotional Exhaustion of Democracy: A central theme is the growing emotional fatigue Americans feel from nonstop political conflict, economic stress, and constant crises. The speaker argues that one of the greatest dangers to democracy is not anger, but exhaustion—when citizens begin questioning whether voting or participation still has any impact.
  • Why Gerrymandering Threatens Representation: Gerrymandering is framed not as a debate over maps, but as a deeper struggle over power, accountability, and fair representation. The episode warns that manipulated districts can weaken the political influence of communities, particularly Black and Latino voters, while reducing competitive elections and making politicians less accountable to citizens.
  • The Erosion of Trust in Institutions: The conversation highlights declining trust in institutions meant to protect voting rights, including criticism of Supreme Court decisions that weakened key protections within the Voting Rights Act. The speaker argues that when people lose trust in institutions, they begin losing trust in democracy itself.
  • Local Elections as the Front Line of Democracy: The episode emphasizes that local elections often determine district maps, voting access, school funding, healthcare policy, and community representation. The speaker urges listeners to become informed and engaged locally, arguing that democracy is strengthened when citizens participate beyond presidential elections.
  • The Danger of Cynicism and Disengagement: The speaker warns that cynicism may feel emotionally protective, but becomes dangerous when it leads citizens to withdraw from participation. Democracy weakens rapidly when people stop voting, stop organizing, and stop believing their voices matter.
  • Grassroots Organizing Still Has Power: Despite concerns about political manipulation, the episode argues that organized citizens can still create meaningful change. Examples from Pearland, Texas, and other communities are used to demonstrate how voter turnout and local engagement can overcome political assumptions and challenge entrenched power.
  • A Call to Protect Democracy Through Participation: Ultimately, the episode is a call for citizens to remain engaged even when overwhelmed. The speaker stresses that democracy survives only when people continue participating, demanding accountability, and believing that their voice—and their vote—still matters.

References for Podcast 176:

ARTICLES & SOURCES USED FOR THEMES, FACTS, AND CONTEXT

Voting Rights / Gerrymandering / Democracy

  1. Breaking News: Supreme Court Is Asked to Restore Virginia Voting Map Drawn by Democrats — The New York Times
  2. A Devastating Blow to Voting Rights — Chair Shasti Conrad, Washington Democrats
  3. What’s Next After a Devastating Voting Rights Ruling by SCOTUS? — Austin Weatherford
  4. Republicans Want a New Jim Crow Era — National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC)
  5. It’s a Great Day to Fight for Democracy — NDRC
  6. Margin of Victory: GOP’s Gerrymandering Firewall Puts House Back in Play
  7. Racial Gerrymandering’s “Irresistible Lure”
  8. We Can No Longer Trust SCOTUS to Uphold Voting Rights
  9. Tomorrow: Mass Call to Push Back Against Partisan Gerrymandering and Show Solidarity with Southern States

POLITICAL & SOCIAL CONTEXT

Referenced court cases and democratic issues:

  • Voting Rights Act of 1965
  • Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
  • Allen v. Milligan (2023)
  • Supreme Court voting rights rulings
  • State redistricting battles

Referenced states:

  • Texas
  • Alabama
  • Louisiana
  • Florida
  • North Carolina
  • Virginia

Consider becoming a patron on Patreon. Your support helps us continue to produce in-depth content, bring you crucial insights, and amplify the voices fighting for a truly representative republic. Join our community and help us safeguard the future of American democracy here.

—

Watch the episode here

Listen to the podcast here

When Politicians Choose Their Voters

What Happens When Americans Stop Believing Their Vote Matters?

Gerrymandering And The Shift In Electoral Power

This episode is about when politicians choose their voters and voters don’t get to choose their politicians. Now, I have an important question for you. What happens when Americans begin believing their vote no longer matters? What do you think happens? I don’t think they stopped caring. They truly care about whether the vote matters but it’s due to politicians having figured out a way to choose their voters by gerrymandering before elections even happen.

Think about that. It’s due to the fact that politicians have figured out how to choose their voters by the gerrymandering and redistricting before elections even happen. In this episode, I want to talk about something many Americans hear about but I don’t think fully understand. I’ve read and read and I’ve written a lot of espiodes on it. Gerrymandering is something that people have a hard time imagining happening in America. We’ve always been taught that our vote matters.

The Emotional Erosion Of Democratic Participation

Honestly, this may be one of the most dangerous issues facing our democracy. This issue is not about Maps. It’s not even about politicians. It’s not about politics. It’s about power and representation. It’s about whether ordinary citizens still believe their votes matter. Maybe the biggest question of all is, what happens to democracy when citizens stop believing that their participation matters? That’s an important question. What happens to our democracy when citizens stop believing participation matters?

With all the conversations I have every day about what’s happening in America, I think many of Americans are basically emotionally exhausted. People feel overwhelmed. Every day, there’s some new political battle, some new headline and some new crisis. A lot of the people are quietly asking themselves, “Does my vote matter anymore?” When any of us asked that question, that question scares me.

Let’s break it down and very common language. Gerrymandering happens when politicians redraw voting districts in ways that are designed to help them stay in power. That’s what’s happening. Instead of voters choosing their politicians. Politicians are choosing their voters. I want you to think about this because gerrymandering can be beaten. All of us that care about America and about our democracy can go in and vote. For those who don’t support, gerrymandering and grab that and maintain from then on our democracy.

Hot Topic Bold Talk | Vote Matters

I see another question. How would you feel if elections out outcomes were being shaped before those were even taken in November? How would you feel if election that comes were being shaped before vote even occurred in November? That’s what they’re trying to do. They’re gerrymandering and changing districts in various states. They’re trying to make certain. The politicians want to win and can possibly win because of the way they’re changing the districts.

Would you vote if you’re vote didn’t matter? I think it still matters. I believe that people know that our democratic process is important. I have faith in the American people that they will come out in droves in November. They will show that those that come out and support our democracy are the ones they’re going to elect. I want you to ask yourself something honestly. Do you trust that your elections in your state are fair?

I know elections are not perfect but are they fair? We’ve proved proven in Pearland, Texas by electing a democratic mayor who’s an African-American male. I didn’t even know his history, but he has run seven times and this time he won. His persistence and his qualifications are far above anything that’s happened before. I think what happened that people joined together and they trust in the foundation of democracy and decided to get out and vote. Quentin Wiltz is our new Mayor. It’s important to vote in local elections. I’m going to talk more about that in a moment.

District Manipulation And The Breakdown Of Fair Representation

When you think about it, people start running for election and local elections or mud districts or some school boards or whatever and then they moved to the county, to the state and to the national level. Every election we have is important in state after state. Voting rights groups and democracy organization puts a warning that district maps are being manipulated to protect political power. We see it in Virginia, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina. It raises a serious concern about whether voters are truly going to be represented fairly.

Gerrymandering districts are not fair representation. Districts are drawn to divide communities. We’re seeing a very clear system that’s going on. It’s a design to weaken the political power of Black and Latino voters. I believe in the American democracy that no voter should be minimized. Every voter that is a part of our community, may it be Black, Latino, Asian, Caucasian or whatever, have the right to express themselves and their vote.

Many of Americans now fear that the politicians are becoming less accountable because many elections are no longer truly competitive. If you’re not having competitive elections, then they thinking get away with things because they’re not being held accountable. Here’s the deeper issue, though. When politicians stop fearing voters, democracy changes. It’s exactly what’s happening now. Politicians are becoming more extreme. Compromise disappears, where we can have an effective congress. Outrage becomes political strategy and the ordinary citizen feels invisible.

[bctt tweet=”When politicians stop fearing voters, democracy changes.” via=”no”]

In Brazoria County in Pearland, Texas, which is one of the most diversified towns in United States has no racial group that dominates this town. We have a democratic mayor that will now begin to take actions which he thinks are appropriate to change some of the things that are happening in our county. One of the saddest things happening in America is not people being angry. It’s the exhaustion. It’s when people get tired that they get emotionally drained and feel powerless.

They watch politicians fight over things that ordinary people need. Ordinary people are struggling with healthcare cost, housing cost, economic costs, and food costs. Many fear the future of what’s happening now. Many people quietly are asking another question. What’s the point? What’s the point of going in voting? The point is the democracy becomes very dangerous when citizens emotionally give up on it. Not because of citizens didn’t. They stop caring. It is due to caring but it being in so much emotional pain that they say, “Enough is enough.”

When we say that out loud, that’s when it becomes very dangerous. One of the hardest parts of this conversation is racial impact. For generations, Black Americans, Latinos, other groups and communities of color fought simply to have equal political voice in this country. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed with President Johnson from Texas. He Gave each person the right to vote, participate and to matter. Now, many voting rights advocates fair. We are seeing new forms of political exclusion emerging through district manipulation and weakened voting protection like was under the Civil Rights Act.

Institutional Trust And The Rise Of Political Cynicism

This history matters. People have to remember when the voting rights were ignored prior to 1965, we lived in the America at that time. The same as we’re living now. What is equal representation actually mean to you? Do you believe every community no matter their color? Should they have equal political voice? If you don’t believe that, then what happens to our democracy? One reason fear is growing is because many Americans no longer trust institutions and protect their voting rights.

We certainly can’t trust the Supreme Court of the United States because its decisions have weakened the most important parts of the Voting Rights Act. You can be assured that many citizens in this country fear being abandoned. When people lose trust in the institutions, they begin losing trust in our country. They worry about what’s happening to our democracy.

I do not believe democracy is dead at all. I do not believe that hopelessness is the only answer. In fact, hopelessness is exactly what the extremist wants us to feed on so we’ll get so tired real quick. I don’t know about you but I am not quitting. That is the reason I do these episode, to educate and to engage you. Having discussions with your friends and utilizing some things I’m saying to you tonight to talk with them. One thing history teaches us is that organized citizens still have power. Grass root movements matter. Local elections matter.

[bctt tweet=”I grew up in an era when women did not have many rights. Now, we’re seeing that erosion of women’s rights again.” via=”no”]

There’s an uplift in this community. After Quentin was elected, there’s a different field because they knew some things needed to change. They voted for change by voting him in. Community action really matters. We see it here. Voting still matters. We have seen that in places just like Pearland and other places in our country. Citizens are organizing. They’re showing up and participating. They surprised the political establishment that thinks they are in power. We have a situation in North Dallas, where a democrat ran their and what was considered to be a gerrymander district to give the Republican the position.

It didn’t happen. People came out and voted. I’ll ask you. There are moments in my life that I have helped powerless and then my life was unmanageable. Politically powerless. I grew up in the era when women did not have a lot of rights. Now, we’re seeing that deterioration of women’s rights again. I know what it’s like. If you have felt that powerlessness, if you know the history of our country, what would help restore your faith that participation will matter?

Local Action As The Front Line Of Democracy

That is the most important question we can possibly have. What would help restore your faith that participation matters? This is the reason I want you to pay attention to local elections. Here are some of the things that local officials often have control over district maps, collection laws, school funding, healthcare expansion, reproductive rights, environmental policies and voting access. Every location determines how you’re going to be able to vote.

That is why disengaging locally is dangerous. You need to get involved locally to see how you can help your community maintain democracy. I do want to say something that I think is difficult to say and yet it needs to be said. Cynicism may feed people’s emotional protection. Their cynicism feeds them protecting themselves emotionally, but cynicism can become very dangerous. Once enough citizens decide to feed their cynicism, the participation becomes less.

Democracy is weakened quickly by lack of participation. I understand fully why people feel overwhelmed. I have too in varies points. I have to breathe again and do so many things I do. Reading and continuing to research and prepare these episode because of that gives me a sense that I am putting my voice out there and hopefully helping others. One of the things I have to do is decide I’m going to give up the need to have guarantees in order to take action.

Nothing that means in anything takes energy, commitment and a willingness to take the risk and stand forth. To say, all voices need to be counted fairly. What can we do as ordinary citizens? We can pay attention to local and city elections. One of the things I did as far as I did when we moved here, we immediately got our voter registration. We immediately started reading, finding out things and being educated so we could truly vote with knowledge and experience of other people and what they saw.

[bctt tweet=”Democracy cannot survive if citizens stop talking to each other. We need to stay engaged even when we’re exhausted.” via=”no”]

It’s important to stop focusing on presidential elections and support the local elections because that’s where districts are reformed. We need to support independent redistricting commissions because they’re the ones that establish fair district formation maps. We need to stay informed. When I grew up, we had Civic classes of education about democracy. We don’t have them now. We need to know what our democracy does, how it was formed and how it benefits us in our lives.

We need to have conversations with people and discussions. Democracy cannot survive if citizens stop talking to each other. We need to stay engaged even when we’re exhausted. Honestly, I know that that is hard but I truly think America is standing in one of the greatest crossroads it’s had in a long time. We’re deciding whether we still believe democracy belongs to ordinary people. We are deciding whether equal representations still matters and whether fear and exhaustion will silence their participation. Whether citizens will stay engaged any way possible.

Maybe this is a question for all of us and the one that drives me forward is, what kind of democracy do I want to leave the next generations? I do not want to leave what is happening now. I want a fair representation. I want people to stand with democracy and vote. The conversations no longer about political parties. It is whether Americans still believe their voice matters. Democracy only survives if citizens refused to give up on participation.

If they refuse to give up on participation, they’re going to refuse to give up on accountability of their representatives. They’re going to refuse to give up on each other. Thank you for tuning in. Please remember, your voice matters. Therefore, your vote matters. I encourage you To stand with the democracy and vote. Thank you.

Important Links