Americans Aren’t Practicing Democracy Anymore

Diminishing Civic Participation and Faith in Democracy

• Yoni Appelbaum's October 2018 article discusses the decline of democratic practices in America and its consequences.
• Democracy is not innate but a learned habit that requires constant practice.
• Historically, Americans were actively involved in democratic organizations from a young age, fostering a culture of citizenship.
• In recent decades, there's been a decline in acquiring and practicing democratic habits, leading to negative outcomes.
• Contempt for democratic institutions has risen as people become alienated from established procedures.
• The election of Donald Trump, who disregarded established norms, reflects this decline.
• The strength of the American political system previously relied on high participation rates in democratically governed organizations.
• Addressing the current issues requires a revitalization of democratic habits among Americans, not just removing Trump from office.

Historical Obsession with Associations

• Europeans once studied the success of the United States, focusing on its unique culture of associations.
• Americans commonly addressed challenges by forming voluntary associations with written rules, elected officers, and majority-vote decision-making.
• Alexis de Tocqueville noted that even children in games followed self-established rules and punished transgressions.
• By the late 19th century, many associations mirrored the federal government's structure, with local chapters, state-level gatherings, and national assemblies.
• James Bryce in 1888, admired the speed and effectiveness of associations in the United States.
• These groups had systems of checks and balances, with executive officers accountable to legislative assemblies and independent judiciaries ensuring compliance with the rules.
• The Knights of Pythias, a fraternal order, had a legal guide with 2,827 binding precedents for its tribunals.
• The model of democratic governance was adaptable to various sectors, including business, labor unions, churches, and mutual insurers.
• Civic institutions were run by democratically elected representatives rather than elites or centrally appointed administrators.

Civic Participation as the Norm

• Civic participation was typical, not exceptional.
• Walter B. Hill, the University of Georgia’s president, exaggeratedly claimed that almost everyone held an office.
• Americans focused on rules and procedures, with frequent turnover in offices and the constant formation of new organizations.
• Ordinary citizens were often asked to join committees or chair meetings.
• Henry Robert’s Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies became a best seller, seen as essential.
• Democracy served as a shared civic religion, legitimizing various ideologies.
• Groups excluded from democratic government used democratic governance to advocate for equal citizenship.
• Debtors in a New York jail adopted their own version of the Constitution.
• Free blacks in the North and formerly enslaved blacks in the South actively participated in civic groups.
• Women used charitable societies and ladies’ auxiliaries to engage in public debates and gain the right to vote.
• Arthur Schlesinger Sr. emphasized that voluntary associations provided people with self-government training.

Decline in Civic Engagement

• Robert Putnam highlighted the decline in participation in civic groups in Bowling Alone.
• Membership in such groups fell by 21 percent from 1994 to 2004.
• The decline is understated due to a rise in passive memberships masking a steeper fall in active participation.
• In a 2010 census survey, only 11 percent of respondents had served as an officer or been on a committee.
• Putnam was concerned about the effects on “social capital,” defined as “norms of reciprocity and networks of civic engagement.”
• While volunteerism, religious service attendance, and social media usage remain relatively high, they do not replace the self-government training provided by democratic organizations.
• Young people's declining participation in democratically run organizations correlates with a decrease in faith in democracy.
• In 2011, about a quarter of American Millennials viewed democracy negatively and considered free and fair elections unimportant.
• Gallup polling showed declining faith in major institutions before Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
• Trump challenged the veneration of civic procedure, claiming the system was rigged.

Trump's Appeal to the Disengaged

• Trump won the Republican nomination by appealing to voters with minimal experience in democratic institutions.
• A PRRI/The Atlantic survey in April 2016 showed Trump leading Ted Cruz among Republican-leaning voters (37 to 31 percent).
• However, among those who seldom participated in community activities, Trump led significantly (50 to 24 percent).
• Civically disengaged voters comprised a majority of Trump’s support.
• Trump's general election coalition combined disengaged voters with traditional Republicans.
• Trump maintained his message that the election would decide whether the people or a corrupt political class would rule.
• In office, Trump disregarded established protocols and displayed disdain for democratic procedures.

Challenges to Democratic Norms

• Carl Becker wrote in 1941: “Democratic government, being government by discussion and majority vote, works best when there is nothing of profound importance to discuss”.
• In the polarized environment of 2018, the stakes appear high, making adherence to old rules seem disadvantageous.
• Norms are easily discarded, and Trump’s actions set precedents for future behavior.
• The stability of the American government is a testament to the integration of democracy into American culture, but this is changing.
• Trump prioritizes outcomes over processes, leading opponents to reciprocate.
• Willingness to adhere to settled rules, even to one's own short-term disadvantage, is a challenging democratic habit to acquire.

The End of the Voluntary Association and a Path Forward

• The golden age of voluntary associations is over due to factors like automobiles, television, and two-income households.
• The historical circumstances that fostered voluntary associations are unlikely to return.
• Reviving participatory democracy requires focusing on the youngest generations, where new habits are easily learned.
• Schools are the best place to cultivate self-government.
• This involves creating opportunities for students to govern themselves, not just adding civics classes.
• A study found that active participation in extracurricular activities correlated with a 141 percent increase in the likelihood of voting in a presidential election eight years later, compared to a 2% increase linked to greater civics knowledge.
• Schools with higher percentages of minority students are less likely to have student councils with charters, and these councils have less influence.
• All young Americans should have the chance to write charters, elect officers, and navigate self-governance.
• These activities should be seen as basic curriculum, focusing on the role of rules and procedures in managing disputes.

Cultivating Democratic Habits

• The peak turnout of eligible voters in the 19th century coincided with the peak of associational activity.
• Voting is a habit-forming behavior; encouraging voting in one election increases the likelihood of voting in future elections.
• Americans should be automatically registered to vote at 18.
• The pursuit of efficiency has pushed democratic governance aside.
• Many organizations are run by salaried professionals with uninvolved members.
• Corporations exercise increasing control over the economy and public life, while shareholders have little power.
• Democratic governance, while not the most efficient, is valuable in harmonizing interests and empowering constituents.
• A nation of passive observers is likely to succumb to anger and resentment.
• Reengaging Americans in governance is worth the cost of some efficiency and the displacement of experts with amateurs.
• The American system functions properly when embedded in a culture deeply committed to democracy, which sustains the Constitution.