Creating restorative democracy

Sam Smith - We are these days overwhelmed by the immoral to criminal behavior of many who profess to lead our democracy, and things are not getting better. There is a useful parallel here to be found in our ethnic relations. The evil is so prevalent that we have  become obsessed with attacking the wrongs while unconsciously ignoring another course, namely creating a community that offers a moral and decent alternative.  

January 6th, for example, illustrates what has gone wrong, but offers no wisdom on how to move to a society without January 6ths. This is not to say we turn our backs on past evils, rather that we borrow from a effort being used with crime, i.e. the restorative justice movement, which seeks not just to punish the past but to create a better future. 

A restorative democracy movement would seek ways to make the fair and decent work again. Such an effort is not likely to be born in Washington, the major crime scene of the nation's second war against democracy. Rather it will be the work of those in places elsewhere in the country finding ways to come together and and make America America again. 

Every state and local legislative body, for example, could hold hearings on how their jurisdiction could better meet the dreams of our Constitution. Governors and mayors could gather and come up with a set of proposals on restoring democracy. Civic groups, including churches, could bring people together to discuss how to make our choices more fairly. The media could turn its obsession with power into reporting on how people around the country are going things better. 

Donald Trump is a sick, mentally perverted, thief of power and a major problem. But this does not mean we have to limit our efforts to dealing with him. We need to create an alternative that is far more appealing to far more Americans, in short to restore democracy.