OPINION:
Democracy is no longer the responsibility of the people. It is the responsibility of the political parties, corporations, autocrats and oligarchs in power at the state and national levels.
That makes public life so much easier. Congress and state legislatures do not have to do anything. They leave everything to the president, governors and the courts. The people do even less than their elected representatives. We object to having to participate in jury duty. We don’t turn out at all for off-year local elections. Civic and fraternal organizations are out of the question. Going to church interferes with football.
Our people are safely at home, alternately feeding and nursing addictions. We don’t even have to leave home to work or shop. Everything material and immaterial is brought to our doorsteps, including ballots and sacraments, if desired.
Our people are so stingy with community involvement we won’t even donate blood, and suppliers are pushing the panic button.
It seems parents and public schools have done a bad job raising democracy.
KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY
Woods Cross, Utah
