Book Review: Democracy Awakening

Democracy Awakening

Notes on the State of America

By Heather Cox Richardson

Viking 286 pp

Democracy Awakening is a must-read that imparts the unvarnished truth of American history, leading to the current state of our democracy. There has always been a conservative faction in America who are deeply afraid of losing their position as top dog. They truly believe in their own superiority and lay claim to an inheritance that is rooted in authoritarianism. 

Here is the big lie: right-wing thinkers openly profess that America is being undermined by socialism. The conservative faction wants to implement their version of democracy, that is a few white wealthy men are entitled to rule all the rest of us. They believe that the true core principles of democracy—equality before the law, separation of church and state, an independent press, academic freedom, and free markets, must be stamped out because they are indeed socialist principles.

The reality could not be further from the truth. America is rooted in the fundamental value of recognizing the dignity of every human being. America is a nation that is based on the proposition: that all people are indeed equal before the law and entitled to a voice in their government. The American system relies on the working people, not on the wealthy elites.

It is truly astonishing how right-wing thinkers distort true democracy and get away with it. By creating a false narrative, they are essentially rewriting history, talking about good old days that never happened. They’ve managed to attract followers, i.e., Trumpers, who will never benefit from a ruling elite. The slick messaging and distortion of democracy has become a dog and pony show enticing followers who are drawn to a bully pulpit, where might makes right.  

Abraham Lincoln recognized the eternal struggle between two principles, right and wrong, and made it clear that those who wanted the right of self-determination would always have to struggle against those who wanted power. The dynamic between right and wrong has existed since the beginning of American history. This messy business of democracy will never lack the struggle between what is right and what is wrong. 

While Heather Cox Richardson has done an exceptional job of framing the reality of American history, it’s unfortunate that she is preaching to the choir. The audience for her book and her podcast is composed of people who are literate and well-versed in reality. The people who need to read and understand her work are sadly and blindly following the conservative, wealthy elitists who crave power and do not care about the needs of anyone other than themselves.