So - democracy seems to be on the minds, and in the hearts (and nervous systems) of many people now.   There are concerns that our systems are no longer working - that elections are not to be trusted, that courts are not to be trusted, that the carefully constructed balance of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches has been made unbalanced with nobody providing checks and balances on the others.  What are we to do?

 

As Heather Cox Richardson noted, the future of our nation is in the hands of We, the People.  As a country we have been losing our sense of community, of connection, of working for the greater good.  What can we, the people, do about this?   First and foremost, we can have conversations, both within our own realm but also across perceived borders.  We can help people to ensure that they are registered to vote, assure them that our election processes are still sound, and have conversations about what is on the ballot and how to be more fully informed about the choices.

 

A reminder - if you are wearing a LWV button or t-shirt, or are widely recognized as a member of League, we do not take stands on candidates.   Our conversations are about issues, and processes.  And one of the issues which League stands for is democracy.  Which means that we can speak about our nation's democratic processes.  

 

We can remind people that the Republican party has now posted their platform for 2024 on the GOP.org website. There is also Agenda 47 which is a summary of the programs former President Trump says he will uphold in his next term, and Project 2025 which has been developed by the Heritage Foundation in anticipation of the upcoming Trump presidency.   (Note that Project 2025 is 900+ pages long so you will want to find summaries if you are going to discuss this with people.)   The Democratic party will announce their platform shortly before their convention.  People can also go to whitehouse.gov/therecord for a listing of what has been accomplished in the past 3.5 years. Our goal is for voters to be informed of the facts before they vote.  We help them to find and understand the information so that they can then vote based on their own values and priorities.

 

Although many of us are well informed, or at least highly attuned, to what is happening politically, a great many people are not.  Be willing to seek out, and talk with, the people who are not yet paying attention.   If you are in a group of people who are being dominated by strongly opinionated people, you will probably not be able to engage someone who is already strongly opinionated.  Look for people who are quiet, who are standing back.  They might be wishing for a more nuanced conversation about the state of affairs.

 

Talk to younger voters.  I recently asked a 30-year old friend if she was paying attention to the news, and she asked if Instagram counted?   She occasionally sees news there which she might then Google for details, but it is quite random.  She is a busy working professional who is also working on her MBA so her focus is quite narrow, but she is open to a suggestion that something is important and she should be aware of it.  Choose what seems the most important, or the most pertinent, to their interests.

 

And a final note for this newsletter - I heard someone refer to the recent Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity as a Constitutional Amendment.  It was not.  According to an attorney (and League member ;-)  )  "It was simply a ruling of the Supreme Court interpreting the Constitution. Although that ruling announced a new concept of Presidential immunity under the Constitution, changes or clarifications that come about by Supreme Court opinions are not considered Constitutional amendments, which are changes to the written text of the Constitution following a rather arduous process.  I can see how some might argue that if a court case makes major changes to the interpretation and application of the Constitution then the Constitution is essentially amended, but that is not a “constitutional amendment” as defined or understood in practice."

We are sending out postcards to registered voters whose recent information does not match their voter registration information, asking them to check their voter registration in order to update their address.  It will be a nice time in a park with refreshments, and a supply of yard signs, and time spent making a difference.

(see the lovely graphic below for the details)

 

Flo, one of our newer members, wanted to register voters at the neighborhood event on the 4th of July, as a way to restore her hope for democracy.  I came with voter registration forms and a LWV pin, and she waded out into the crowd - asking most everyone if they were registered. And although we think that most everyone in Cleveland Hts. is registered, she came away with 3 new registrations (an almost 18 year old and a couple who just moved.) And she had a lot of really wonderful conversations with her neighbors.

 

Is there a place you enjoy going so that you feel comfortable being there?   Parks are generally an option, and the libraries have allowed us to be out front.  Most businesses will ask us to leave, but some businesses are more open. Wade Oval Wednesdays, Coit Road Farmer's Market,  and other summer festivals are opportunities.  Although Cleveland Hts. and University Hts. are well served, there are many neighboring communities which have a limited (or nonexistent) League presence.  

 

If there is a place you want to go, reach out to Amy Vegh amyvegh@icloud.com, or Carol Spackey carolspackey@gmail.com in July, or simply reply to this email.  Let's go out there and talk.  You will probably come away feeling like you are making a difference - a powerful feeling indeed.

NOW MORE THAN EVER

 

On President's Day we gathered with members of the community in the Heights Main Library to watch the PBS video A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy, based on the book "The Bill of Obligations:  the Ten Habits of Good Citizens" by Richard Haass.  After watching the video we broke out into small groups to discuss the 10 obligations of citizens and which might need greater attention now.  The discussions were lively and people seemed to find new motivation.  For the record, those 10 obligations are: Remain civil;  stay open to compromise and put community first; teach civics; value norms; reject violence; be informed; get involved; and promote the common good. 

 

 

The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of citizen.  Louis Brandeis  1937

CHUH Chapter Leadership