Democracy is at stake; should have listened to Sandra

Sandra Day O’Connor warned that the thinning of civics education would have a negative impact on the country. (public domain photo)

“The practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned by each new generation of citizens.”
—Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

And when it isn’t taught, you might get an American public that’s just fine with kidnapping the leader of another country.

That, I fear, could happen in the wake of this past weekend’s U.S. military assault on Venezuela, the nabbing of its president, Nicolas Maduro, his rendition to American soil to stand trial for narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges, and President Trump’s announcement that the United States will run the country (and its oil) “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” Whatever that means, and however long that is, is anyone’s guess.

Early polling shows the public opposed to the action. That’s reassuring, but many lawmakers, including at least one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, along with many Venezuelans living here are celebrating the raid.

But one thing is certain. No U.S. president, especially one hellbent on being an absolute ruler, can commit armed forces alone. Congress has the real power. (See the War Powers Resolution of 1973.)

Which brings me back O’Connor—a Supreme Court justice appointed by a conservative Republican president—and her warning about civics education in this country, or the lack thereof.

She worried justifiably that schools were (are) not teaching—at least, not enough—civics, the study of the workings of our democracy, and warned we would pay dearly for it.

A 2024 policy brief by the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, “When and Why Did America Stop Teaching Civics?”, spews out a litany of disturbing figures, bringing into focus how a growing number of Americans haven’t a clue as to how our government works:

· A study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found 70 percent of Americans failed a basic U.S. civics literacy quiz. “One in three respondents did not even know that there exist three branches of government, much less what those branches are and what they do.” according to report.

· A survey from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 5 percent of the U.S. adults surveyed—let that low percentage sink in—could name all five First Amendment rights. Twenty percent couldn’t name any.

· The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” showed that for the first time civics scores of U.S. eighth graders had declined.

Arguably, the devolution in civics literacy corresponds to declining trust in government, according to the policy brief, which can explain, in part, the rise of Trump.

None of which would be OK with O’Connor, who died in 2023.

“Without basic civic education, we cannot expect to preserve or improve our system of government,” she once said.

The state of civics literacy in America leaves me with a disturbing question but the Venezuela raid and where it will lead: Do the American people care?

That’s the $64,000 question. As I said earlier, initial polling shows Americans opposed, but could that change in a week? A month? If oil prices go down further, will we choose our gas tanks over our democracy? Is it always the economy, stupid? Will we continue to give a wit if the president flouts international law, and ours, greenlighting Russia to do the same in Ukraine and China with Taiwan?

I don’t know what happens next, but I know the world just got more dangerous, and all because our president sidestepped our democratic process and could try it again.

For O’Connor’s sake, stay engaged. Don’t tune out.