No one expects autocracy and authoritarianism to happen in their country. Until it’s too late.
Scholars know that the breakdown of democracy is a gradual process in which the once unimaginable and unacceptable become normalized. In broad daylight, amidst a flurry of disinformation, lies, voting rights restrictions, and proposed partisan control over elections, a large number of state and federal elected officials no longer support the basic tenets of democracy. These actions have influenced a great many of their followers to do the same, posing a profound threat to our country and a grave potential threat to the Constitution and American democracy.
We are a group of concerned citizens who have known each other for decades. Deeply troubled by the rise of anti-democratic behavior among both elected officials and a large number of fellow citizens, we have decided to act.
Focusing on communities in critical swing regions, Saving Democracy will identify and engage with persuadable citizens in talks about the threat to American democracy.
We will facilitate opportunities for likely voters to engage with one another in serious, heart-to-heart talks about what democracy requires. Along with hiring organizers to support our efforts, our plan includes:
- Reaching out to local business leaders in an effort to generate dialogue about the erosion of democratic norms, stressing the business community’s strong interest in having a stable, rule-following democracy where extremism and threats of violence are sharply discouraged. For local business organizations such as business councils, chambers of commerce, and civic associations and clubs, we will provide speakers and help initiate conversations around defending their members’ interest in a strong and stable democracy.
- Walking door-to-door in working-class and middle-income precincts to first identify and then establish an ongoing conversation with voters open to persuasion.
Please join us in this fledgling effort. We can only succeed with the involvement of others who value democracy as we do.
