Democracy can’t protect itself

Some things we prize can't protect themselves. Like the environment. Since 1970 it's had the Environmental Protection Agency.

Our democracy can't protect itself either. What percentage of a nation's people must want a government 'of, by, and for the people” to make it a reality?

Between 121 and 140 House members refused to recognize President Joe Biden's election.

The 2020 election turnout was a 120-year record. Yet one-third of eligible voters didn't vote; 23 percent are 'not interested in politics.”

Only 18 percent of Americans think our democracy is 'working very well.” Alternatives to democracy thought 'good” include government by experts (40 percent), a strong man with few legislative restraints (22 percent) and the military (17 percent).

It's not that no one is aware of our democracy's disintegration.

There are already numerous individuals and organizations working to reduce divisiveness and increase collaboration, such as the 56 U.S. House members in the Problem Solvers Caucus, Dr. Chris Peters' Braver Angels Iowa, and LivingRoomConversations.com.

From our nation's beginning, civics preparation was a driving reason for colleges and public K-12 schools. Educators know this, and organizations such as the Education Commission of the States and Educating for American Democracy (with its 'road map for excellence”) are working to bring it back.

The origin of the word 'democracy” (Greek words for 'people rule”) has motivated expansion of the voting base from white, male landowners over 21 to include people of color, women and those over 18.

There are two options for those whose political party loses elections: The one democracy compels is a revised party platform more attractive to the electoral majority than the proposals of the other party; the second is to make it possible for a minority of voters to win the majority of elections and legislative seats with gerrymandered district boundaries and a variety of voter suppression techniques.

The Republican Party has chosen the second. It had no new platform of proposals for the 2020 election. It learned, as Sen. Lindsey Graham explained, that without 'election reform” 'there will never be another Republican president.” It is now pushing some 250 'reforms” in 43 state legislatures.

Many organizations and individuals are working on these challenges - including the U.S. House with its broad 'For the People Act of 2021” (HR 1). The point is not that no one is monitoring and trying to strengthen the weak spots in our democracy. Many people are.

What's needed are two things.

The first is a central institution, constantly monitoring and commenting on all elements of our democracy - the efforts to make them stronger, and where they're under attack. It could be a nonpartisan commission, a major foundation's project or an academic center.

The second is a commitment from the mass media to give the reports of this institution daily coverage - similar to the regular reporting this past year of COVID cases, hospitalizations, deaths and now progress with vaccinations.

For democracy to have a prayer of survival it will require the attention, words and deeds of each of us.

Nicholas Johnson of Iowa City is the author of 'Columns of Democracy.” Comments: mailbox@nicholasjohnson.org