Biden's Democracy Speech-It Should Spur Elected Democrats To Action

Here is the C-SPAN link to President Biden's speech in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania about democracy.

A consistent theme of the Houston Democracy Project is getting our elected Democrats and Democratic candidates with resources to take threats to democracy seriously. Sometimes it seems they don't fully care, or that the issue does not poll well enough to merit focus.

Elected Democrats have told us for years that our vote is our voice and we should be loyal to the party establishment. Okay. Here is Joe Biden himself saying democracy is the central issue of the 2024 campaign. Surely this will spur the people we vote for and who claim our loyalty to act.

President Biden said in Valley Forge ".....democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot." 

The Houston Democracy Project at bottom line believes that rank and file residents of Houston/Harris County must lead the fight for freedom. Not just retaining the flawed democracy we have now, but moving forward as well.  

But we sure could use some help. 

Here are things elected officials could do:

*Speak frankly about the threat to civil liberties and democracy from the political right and the Republican Party. Bipartisanship is fine with an opposing party that supports democracy. But what if no such opposing political party is available? How are officials preparing constituents for the authoritarian challenge of Trump-led  2024 elections?         

​*Prepare a detailed written plan of increasing November voter turnout. The plan could discuss the hiring of canvassing teams, how these teams will trained and what they will be paid, what groups and organizations will be worked with, what permanent structures to boost turnout the effort will leave for the next election cycle & whatever else I'm missing here. This high turnout is needed to hold Harris County for Democrats, defeat Ted Cruz and strongly oppose Donald Trump. What could be a higher priority for Harris County elected Democrats?    
 
*Speak to law enforcement unions supporting election-deniers such as Ken Paxton, Donald Trump and any Republican who has not publicly distanced themselves from these anti-democratic figures, about the dangers of strong law enforcement support of politicians at odds with our rights. There is no public safety without democracy. We must expand our commonly-held conceptions of public safety to include our freedom.  

When you see candidates on the campaign trail or wherever you see them--Insist they show up for us.  

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].      

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