Democracy in One Book or Less

It’s startling to realize how little I know about democracy in America and how deeply flawed the system really is. It’s not startling to realize that a Democrat blames Republicans for those flaws.

I’m mostly kidding. This book is fantastic. Litt walks us through a sort of primer on voting, how a bill becomes law, and the basic function of each branch of the government. It’s full of information that you should’ve learned in school but probably didn’t.

What I loved about this book is that Litt makes no attempts to hide the very real and very serious flaws within our political system. But at the same time, he gives us a lot of reason for hope. I would be wary of a book that touted America as the perfect form of government. Yet, I found this book and its many legitimate accusations against our system reassuring.

Of course it’s flawed. Democracy was created by flawed people, and it’s run by flawed people. And rather than face that fact with a shrug of the shoulders, Litt encourages us to get our hands dirty to make it better.

He provides his own suggestions for solutions—some I agree with, some I don’t—and encourages us to do the same. It’s so much easier, however, to sit on my couch and be a critic. But Litt’s book is a tip of the cap to the ones in the arena, the ones fighting with blood and sweat, ignoring the onlookers who yell them down, yet fighting for them all the same.

I think that’s beautiful. I think that’s something to be hopeful about. Because at the end of the day, when people can vote, there’s always hope.

Favorite Quote

To inherit a republic in peril, and pass on a republic in peril, is no failure. It’s quite literally the best we can do.