a functioning democracy *is* the people who live in it
This thought brought to you today by three things:
An article about the gutting of the Agency for International Development (USAID), which quoted Elon Musk asking rhetorically "how much democracy" USAID has done lately and following it with "not much."
An email in my inbox this morning from my state association of school librarians, reminding us that despite the administration's executive orders dismantling DEI and threatening consequences for school staff who call students by their preferred names, we are obligated under the state's civil rights act to respecting our students' right to function in society while being who they are.
An email in my inbox a couple weeks ago from the district superintendent, reminding us that ICE agents are to be treated like any other visitor to the building, that we are not to comply with them without a signed warrant, and that we do not have to answer their questions without an attorney present.
How much democracy has USAID done recently? Probably a lot. As my boss and professional colleagues demonstrate, democracy is done by ordinary people making everyday choices. It follows that democracy can be undone by ordinary people making, or refusing to make, other types of ordinary choices.
It's heartening to know my choices matter.