You Call This A Democracy? (YA)

In You Call This A Democracy? Elizabeth Rusch delivers the most succinct, engaging, and eye opening critique of America's political system. We're led to believe we have government for, of, and by the people. Don't believe that for a minute. Rusch describes eleven ways in which millions of people—particularly members of marginalized groups—are disenfranchised each and every year, for example:
*Since we have an electoral college a candidate can be elected despite losing the popular vote;
*Tactics such as closing polling places, restricting early voting, and requiring expensive and sometimes hard to procure documents as proof of identity make it impossible for a lot of people of color and poor people to vote;
and *Setting the voting age at eighteen excludes millions of people who collectively pay $700 million in taxes each year. (Wasn't taxation without representation why we divorced England in the first place?)
She enhances the engagingness of her text with vivid visuals. In her chapter on how felony convictions render over four million people unable to vote she adds a sense of perspective by showing how the United States has the highest incarceration rates in the whole world. (BTW felonies aren't limited to major stuff like murder. You can commit one by downloading a movie without paying or egging a mailbox on Halloween).
Although she deals in very inconvenient truths, Rusch does so from a perspective of optimism. She believes in the power of younger people to change what needs changing and help usher us into a space where liberty and justice for all isn't just something we rattle off when we recite the pledge of allegiance. Every chapter ends with a what you can do section. And there's a further reading listing of books and electronic sources.
I highly recommend You Call This A Democracy to its target demographics and way beyond. Rusch touches on a lot of stuff adults don't learn in high school and beyond. And it's going to take most of us to carry out the extensive reforms that need to be made.
On a purrrsonal note, I have one recommendation Rusch didn't make: run for local office like town council or school board. I served 11 years on school board that at one point was a three town consolidation and made quite a difference. School boards, BTW, could use younger members. Who would have a better grasp of a school system than someone who has experienced it from the inside?
A great big shout out goes out to the fox who are working to bring about these very necessary reforms.
Jules Hathaway