The sad display playing out at the empty “American State Fair” befits a national mood that isn’t all that celebratory about this country’s 250th birthday. But partisan theatrics aside, it’s a genuinely historic anniversary and opportunity to take stock about democracy in America.
This week in OtherWords, Mitchell Zimmerman writes that democracy has always been a contested project in the United States. But thanks to the tireless efforts of movements across generations, we’ve made remarkable strides toward the nobler aspirations of the Declaration of Independence in these last 250 years.
What’s exceptional, he says, is the outright hostility to those aspirations by those in power today. But as in times past, ordinary Americans are fighting back hard to create a better version of the democracy we were promised.
That’s a theme Meg Bostrom, Michael Chameides, and Elaine Mejia explored last week when they held up local fights against Big Tech, Big Ag, and other behemoths as carrying forward a vision of genuine democracy. And this week, Brakeyshia Samms explores it through the tax code, showing how it’s historically been used to widen the racial wealth divide — but with some popular reforms, could do the opposite.
Also this week, Jordan Liz comments on the Supreme Court’s outrageous ruling greenlighting efforts to deport TPS holders and calls on Congress to stop the deportation of migrants into active war zones. And Jessie Sicley shares her own story about the social safety net, calling lawmakers to patch its many holes as a step toward genuine economic democracy.
New This Week…
At 250, American Democracy is Under Siege | Mitchell Zimmerman
As the Trump regime attacks the foundations of our democracy, Americans are fighting back.
America at 250: It’s Time for a Tax Code That Lives Up to Our Ideals | Brakeyshia Samms
After 250 years, our leaders must show a commitment to completing the unfinished work of American democracy.
We Shouldn’t Deport People Into War Zones | Jordan Liz
Congress must not let Trump revoke protections for people fleeing countries the U.S. government itself considers unsafe.
Our Safety Net Was Already Full of Holes. They’re Only Getting Bigger. | Jessie Sicley
This administration and Congress are slashing benefits even as life gets unbearably expensive for working people.
In Case You Missed It…
This July 4, Celebrate the Idea That the People Are Supposed to Be in Charge | Meg Bostrom, Michael Chameides, and Elaine Mejia
As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, the most patriotic thing we can do is remember whose hands this country is supposed to be in: ours.
While Families Struggle, Republicans Are Fighting Pride Month | Sonali Kolhatkar
Costs are rising. Instead of confronting those problems, some GOP officials turned June into a culture-war campaign.
Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Fortune Is a Flashing Warning Light for Democracy | Chuck Collins
The planet’s first trillionaire is not a sign of economic health. It’s an indicator of extreme inequality and the dangers of concentrated power.
The Cruelty and Futility of Criminalizing Homelessness | Farrah Hassen
Two years since the Supreme Court greenlit crackdowns on homelessness, it’s clearer than ever: “The solution isn’t a cell. It’s a front door.”
