Democracy Under Siege: Understanding and Resisting Extremism

The People Are the Boss — Why Civic Engagement Is Democracy’s Lifeline

Democracy Under Siege: Understanding and Resisting Extremism

Remembering Who’s in Charge

Democracy only works when we remember who it belongs to: us.

Not the courts, not Congress, not the wealthy donors or loudest pundits — the people. The phrase “We the People” wasn’t poetic fluff in the Constitution; it was a radical declaration of ownership.

Authoritarian movements succeed when citizens forget that power flows upward — from our voices, our votes, our participation.

Every time people withdraw in frustration or decide their engagement “doesn’t matter,” that vacuum gets filled by those who crave control. Civic engagement is not just about casting ballots; it’s about making sure power never hardens into permanent hands.

When the People Step Back, Authoritarians Step In

Cynicism is one of authoritarianism’s greatest allies. When people tune out, stop voting, or disengage because “nothing changes,” they make it easier for a small, organized minority to dominate.