The old politics in the U.S., and perhaps in the world, has been so corrupted that we can scarcely any longer be called a democracy. That old politics is now almost totally controlled and in service to an economic elite. In order to resurrect a democracy in this nation we must turn our back on the corrupted version of our national politics and forge a new politics growing from the fertile ground of democratic citizenship and community to provide the bedrock upon which to build a renewed and thriving democracy.
It is sad that this nation, founded nearly 250 years ago on the idealism of democracy, is now on the brink of foundering and reverting back to the autocratic and aristocratic options it had hoped to leave behind. That hope had been to build a new incarnation of that old idea, democracy, bringing the opportunity of direct involvement and participation in decisions about the direction of the nation and a sense of self-determination to the ordinary citizens of the nation.
Two of the most significant elements of our attempts at democracy have been the concepts of citizenship and community. These two elements are at the very core of what a democracy is about and provide a way to revive and reclaim the rest of democracy.
Citizenship in a democracy is different from the older concept of citizenship in a nation. That old concept of citizenship often meant that you were merely a resident of a particular nation, with perhaps some rights and some protections but certainly obligations to support the directions of that nation, provide financing when necessary and to make sacrifices if so directed. The difference in a democracy is that there is the expectation of participation in the decision-making politics of that nation. In fact, it is a requirement and obligation of citizenship in a democracy if that democracy is to thrive. This participation is the most important entitlement, being based upon simply being a citizen regardless of status, wealth, power or influence.
If citizens decide not to participate, they indicate they no longer value and treasure the very thing that is at the heart of a functioning democracy.
Of course, those who would usurp the power of the citizens try all kinds of chicanery to discourage citizen participation. Here are a few of their ploys:
 · Convincing citizens that their vote is the only thing that matters, and therefore the only time that requires their participation is during the election cycle. After that they are simply to stay in the background and let their duly elected representatives make decisions for them. If they are dissatisfied, they should wait for the next election.
 · Manipulating the voting mechanisms to prioritize money over individual voices.
 · Devising a multitude of schemes to control the vote in favor of whatever elites might be in control such as gerrymandering, making voting difficult for certain groups, controlling voting rolls and restricting voting in a variety of ways.
 · Packing the mechanisms of government to prevent them from fulfilling their function including committees, the legislature itself and the Supreme Court. The result being governmental dysfunction and loss of faith in the entire system leading to citizen apathy.
 · Using the obstinacy of the Senate and the Supreme Court to thwart progress and/or change.
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