In today’s political climate, I have been studying the origins of our democracy to better understand why the founders chose to establish a republic. In this form of government, power ultimately belongs to the people and is exercised through elected representatives with an elected president rather than a monarch. Thomas Jefferson believed that a thriving democracy depends on an educated public. In his view, education was essential for society and government to function effectively and to safeguard against tyranny. The curriculum should help students develop critical-thinking skills by choosing a topic, writing an essay that explains its purpose, and supporting their ideas with evidence. In doing so, their work should be objective, truthful and grounded in facts rather than innuendo or falsehoods. The current presidential administration undermines these principles by spreading lies so often that falsehoods have nearly become the standard way policy is communicated. Over time, some people have become numb to these claims and stopped questioning their accuracy. That is my greatest concern: Complacency can open the door to authoritarianism. So what can we do to preserve the rule of law and protect the Constitution that safeguards our freedoms? Our options are limited because Republicans currently hold majorities in the House and Senate, as well as influence over the Supreme Court and Department of Justice, institutions that in my view have weakened their oversight responsibilities and too often defer to the president’s wishes. With the next presidential election not scheduled until 2028, the most meaningful path forward is to change the balance of power in Congress. I am not urging anyone to blindly change party allegiance. Instead, I encourage you to be an active political participant: Review your local representative’s voting record and decide whether they are serving your best interests. If they are not, remember that your vote is your strongest tool for challenging the president’s agenda and helping protect democracy in America. My greatest concern is not whether citizens have the right to vote, but whether the president will try to undermine or suppress that right by any available means, including placing ICE agents at polling places, discouraging voter turnout, or benefiting from potential interference by foreign governments such as Russia. The president’s continued focus on alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election, combined with the influence of election deniers around him, remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Please vote your conscience in the November midterm elections! John White Midway The post Founders get it right? appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less