This week I read Joyce Vance’s new book “Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual For Keeping A Democracy.” Joyce spent 25 years as a federal prosecutor, has been a legal analyst on MSNBC and MSNOW, and is a law professor at the University of Alabama School of Law. She is an optimist and she loves our democracy. But she totally understands the threat this administration poses to the rule of law and our Constitution. So she herself is willing to fight to have America return on the path that our founders began 250 years ago. She urges each of us who love our country to join the good fight to right the ship of America.
However, she understands that these are dark times because of the almost daily deluge of attacks on the principles of our democracy. A natural inclination is to simply give up, to believe in the powerlessness of our institutions and ourselves, and to ignore the assaults on our freedoms and rights. But she reminds us that this is exactly what autocrats wish us to do. So she has written a book to inspire us to rise up and meet the challenges of today and fight for a better future for us all. She reminds us not to be that proverbial frog in the boiling pot that fails to realize the life-threatening danger until it’s too late. The time is now to come together and act.
Joyce gives us a great history lesson about the principles of our founders and citizens who rose to meet great challenges throughout our history and have prevailed. She reminds us that 250 years ago, colonists were in a similar situation where, because of the new idea of a government by and for the people, a seemingly powerless band of souls rose up to defeat a king and his empire. (Speaking of resisting kings, there are four NO KINGS rallies here in Bucks County on Saturday, March 28 where you can join the anti-monarchy spirit of our founders!)
Joyce also shows us through her close readings of the Federalist Papers that the structure of our government was in great part designed to provide a check to those ambitious selfish people who would seek to be king. The three part structure of the judiciary, the legislature and the executive as well as the balancing act of federal, state and local power centers were designed to provide checks to executive overreach. Although there have been some judicial disappointments (especially by the Supreme Court), lately the courts have been resisting the illegal actions of this administration, thereby giving us hope that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. She understands that the GOP led legislature has failed to defend the rule of law and the Constitution, which makes it all the more critical for us, the People, to remove the GOP majority in the House and Senate in November 2026. We need to have faith in our institutions and in ourselves to motivate us to restore American democracy.
READ: ‘We the People’ Hold More Power. Here’s What to Know Before ‘No Kings’ Protests on March 28
Joyce lists so many things for us to do to join the fight. I’ll list just a few: stay informed, contradict disinformation in your community, register people to vote, vote, elect leaders who cherish our American democracy, show faith in and help improve our democratic institutions, celebrate American holidays, teach our children and immigrants well about our democracy, and join a political book club. By coincidence, Bucks County’s Joe Sundeen is leading a Book Discussion Group on this very book of only 177 pages. Contact him at jeesbay(at)aol.com if you want to join the discussion on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM on Zoom.
Did Joyce and I convince you to join the fight?
By coincidence, Newtown Democrats is having a Volunteer Open House on Thursday, April 9th at 7:00 PM at the Newtown Municipal Building (100 Municipal Drive, Newtown.) Join us to learn specifics of how you can help us strengthen our democracy right here in Newtown. I am sure there are also many other political or advocacy organizations (such as Indivisible or local Democratic municipalities) near you that would welcome your support.
If you don’t have time to read Joyce’s book before April 23rd, here are her concluding inspiring words:
“I wrote this book as part of my ongoing commitment, part call to arms, part how-to manual. Now it’s your turn. Let’s go fight for the country we love, not on a battlefield but with understanding, ideas, and commitment. It’s our time to serve.”
I hope to see some of you on March 28th, April 9th and April 23rd!
