“Our political system is incredibly accessible”

I mentioned a book called The Art of the Possible by one Amanda Sussman in a previous post. Picking up from where I left off, I’d like to share another passage from the book, simply because it’s as highly relevant now as ever.

“The notion that our government is open only to a few is a myth,” Sussman says. “In fact, our political system is incredibly accessible. What is threatening our democracy is a dangerous apathy and misguided belief that people can participate only through elections. Many people feel that they cannot have an impact on the specific decisions that affect their lives. They see government as so complex and distant that there is really no point in trying to make a difference. But democracy is not only for the well-funded, entrenched, or few. It is a remarkable political system that includes all of us.”

That might sound rosy or naïve, if not for the fact that it was written by someone who knows a thing or two about reall democratic participation. But we’ll get into that as we continue to examine the book.

Posted in Democracy