In President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address, he said, “Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest.” Is democracy dying on the vines?
President Lyndon Baines Jonson, during the signing of the Voting Rights Act, said, “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever designed by man for breaking down the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.” He recognized the power and hope of the vote. But is democracy now dying on the vines?
The United States Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United, made it possible for a few billionaires to spend millions of dollars on elections without reporting how much or to whom or for what. In fact, just 158 (138 Republicans, 20 Democrats) gave nearly half of the early money raised in the presidential primary. Is democracy dying on the vines in these Unites States of America?
The U.S. Supreme Court in the Shelby vs. Holder case gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act by making Section 5 inoperable. Section 5 was the strongest and most effective enforcement mechanism for the Voting Rights Act. This arm of protection for voting rights was ripped away. Is democracy dying on the vines?
In Alabama, we have made it harder for citizens to vote. We have required voter photo ID even though there is no evidence that people were going to the polls pretending to be someone else in order to vote. This requirement impacts poor, older, younger and minority people far more than others because fewer own cars and/or can drive. In the 2014 general election, the United States had the lowest voter turnout (36 percent) since World War II. Alabama’s turnout was 41 percent, the lowest in 28 years. Is democracy dying on the vines?
In the last few years, 15 states have passed laws making it more difficult to vote. Forces are suppressing the vote in ways ranging from voter photo ID to restricting voter registration to curtailing voting days and hours, to discriminatory redistricting to changing voting places, etc. Is democracy dying on the vines in these United States of America?
The journey toward democracy in these United States of America has been a long and twisted one. It took nearly 200 years before most Americans possessed the legal right to vote. The very birth of this country is rooted in voting as manifested by the famous slogan, “No taxation without representation.” Is democracy dying on the vines?
From the beginning, the right to vote was determined by each state. As history demonstrates, mostly White men with property had the right to vote in 1787 when the Constitution of the United States of America was signed at the convention in Philadelphia. Gradually, White men who had served in the militia and/or paid high taxes obtained the right to vote. By the 1820s, virtually all White men had the right to vote. After the Civil War and the end of slavery, Black men were provided the right to vote upon the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1869. However, this right for African American males was crushed in fewer than 20 years by state-imposed literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, violence, etc. A half century later, White women secured the right to vote upon ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Finally, African Americans, Native Americans and others were provided the right to vote pursuant to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Is democracy now dying on the vines in these United States of America?
Even the 1965 Voting Rights Act took decades to be effectively implemented. In truth, it has never been fully implemented although much progress has been made. Now that right is being gutted. Is democracy dying on the vines?
There is now a move before the United States Supreme Court (Evenwell v. Abbot) to change the very definition of representation in redistricting. If these forces have their way we will no longer follow the proverbial “one man, one vote” principle. These anti-voting forces are trying to substitute the “one person, one vote” principle in redistricting with a “one eligible voter, one vote.” In deciding the makeup of districts, children would not be counted. Hispanics, African Americans and other ethnic groups, who tend to have more children would have less representation. Convicted felons would be excluded, disproportionately affecting African Americans and other minorities. This looming decision has far-reaching implications. Is democracy dying on the vines?
All these various schemes designed to restrict voting are powerful signs of democracy dying on the vines. However, the most pervasive sign is the exploding feeling that voting does not make a difference. If we feel that our vote does not matter, we make sure it does not matter by not voting. Is democracy dying on the vines in these United States of America?
EPILOGUE – This is a crucial moment for democracy in these United States of America. In the long journey toward democracy, progress has generally moved forward over time. Now it appears to be moving backward in a very extraordinary way. It appears that democracy is dying on the vines in these United States of America.
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