Democracy Matters

Unmasking the Symbolic Impact:  3 Ways Donald Trump Altered Presidential Culture   Oct. 18, 2023 ⏐Bronwyn Metz What is Presidential Culture Today, the symbol of the executive, shaped by precedent, expectations, and perceptions, bestows a substantial portion of presidential power. Buchanan refers to this as “ Presidential Culture ”: “[the] widely held meaning of the presidency derived from selected episodes in the history of the institution, transmitted from one generation to the next by political socialization.” When the American public elected Donald Trump in 2016, many anticipated a refreshing change from the seasoned Washington politicians. Americans got more than we bargained for. Donald Trump's presidency dramatically shifted the office's culture, fundamentally changing its prestigious symbolism. How did he do it? 1) Erosion of Norms and Decorum During his 2016 campaign, Trump positioned himself as an outsider without traditional political experience. This attracted vote...

The term ‘ grassroots ’ is frequently thrown around in progressive politics. We speak of grassroots organizing to mobilize voters who may not otherwise vote, grassroots engagement about attending your county party meeting, or volunteering to be a precinct captain at the hyper-local level – but what can grassroots efforts genuinely do in a time when the national Democratic party has forgotten most Southern states, and left behind their blocs of progressive voters? The answer is never simple, but in the case of many southern states, organizers and advocates must turn to hyper-local politics, grow small-scale party infrastructure, and work as hard as they can until they can prove to the national party that Republican majority states are worth investing in.  In my eyes, this work is personal. My political work started in Oklahoma – a state that was founded on agrarian Socialism, had a Democratic majority until the early 2000s and was swiftly taken over by the Republican supermajority a...

How can we truly claim to have a democracy for all when we recklessly discard one of the few mechanisms in place to safeguard the representation that our democracy desperately needs? On June 29th, 2023, in the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College , the Supreme Court overturned a long-standing pillar of progress: affirmative action. Affirmative action, a policy designed to address historical imbalances and promote diversity, has been a vital tool in leveling the playing field for marginalized communities. It has sought to dismantle systemic barriers that have hindered opportunities for individuals based on race, ethnicity, and other protected characteristics. For decades, it has been a beacon of hope for those striving for equal access to education and employment, aiming to create a more just and inclusive society. Affirmative action is a central mechanism to our collective progress as a democracy. This landmark decision by the Supreme ...

So you may be wondering, what is Moore v. Harper? This groundbreaking case has been going on for over a year now, and when its final verdict comes out this year, it will have major implications for voting rights for many Americans. In 2021, the Republican-led North Carolina state legislature passed a bill that gerrymanders districts to create a state supermajority for their 14 seats. The map gives the Republicans a 99.9% chance of retaining their majority. The state voters were very unhappy with this and decided to contest this map in state courts, as there was a Supreme Court precedent that stated that federal courts cannot hear partisan gerrymandering cases. They contended that this map violated the North Carolina state constitution’s free election clause. At the time, the North Carolina Supreme Court had a Democrat majority within their elected court. The North Carolina Supreme Court agreed with the voters and struck down the map stating that it was an “egregious and intentional par...

French President Emmanual Macron’s recent decision to pass pension reform via decree — instead of putting it to a vote in the National Assembly — has added fuel to the fire that continues to consume the rubbish-filled streets of Paris.  Earlier this year, despite polls consistently showing a majority in disapproval, Macron decided to push ahead with his most unpopular platform initiative: pension and retirement reform. The law will raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 by 2030 and requires workers to contribute a minimum of 43 years in social security payments for a full state pension. The fact that Macron activated Article 49.3 of the Constitution (similar to an executive order) to pass the reform without a vote turned public anger to outrage. In March, the bill survived a vote of no confidence and was enacted into law. This deepened a widely shared feeling amongst the French public that top politicians do not hear the grievances of their citizens, diminishing trust in the gove...

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The Role of Media in Shaping Democracy: The media plays a crucial role in shaping democracy by providing citizens with information and facilitating public discourse. The media has the power to influence public opinion, hold elected officials accountable, and shape policy decisions. As such, the role of the media in a democratic society is essential. However, the modern media landscape has undergone significant changes with the rise of social media and the proliferation of biased news sources. This has raised questions about the role of the media in shaping democracy and its impact on the public. In this blog, we will explore the role of the media in shaping democracy, its importance, and the challenges that must be addressed to ensure that the media continues to play a constructive role in our democratic system. What the Media does: As mentioned, the media plays a crucial role by influencing public opinion, holding elected officials accountable, and shaping policy decisions. The role o...