Most of the time, we don’t think much about democracy. It’s just there—quietly doing its job in the background. It keeps our schools open, our roads repaired, our businesses running and economy humming, and our disagreements settled without violence. We usually only notice it when something starts to go wrong.

And right now, something is going wrong.

Our democracy is under real stress. Power is becoming more concentrated regardless of which political party is in power.  Checks and balances – the guardrails that keep one branch of government gaining too much power – are weaker than they should be.  Courts are being talked about as partisan, and our judges are facing threats simply for doing their jobs. And this isn’t about one party or one president—it’s a broader problem that should concern all of us.

This isn’t just a legal issue. It’s an economic one. Our economy runs on trust—trust that the rules are fair, that contracts will be enforced, and that disputes will be resolved peacefully. When people stop believing the law applies equally to everyone, that trust disappears. And when trust disappears, systems start to break down.

[SPEAKER’S NOTE:  If you have a personal story about what democracy means to you and why and why you think it is threatened, or if you have a particular concern given an event in your local community, you should consider adding that in here.]

So, what can we do about the current situation? I want to suggest three things—things every one of us can do.

First, speak up.

Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. Talk to your neighbors and co-workers. And if you ever have a chance to speak to a larger group—at a church, a community meeting, or a civic organization—take it.

You don’t need a law degree or a perfect speech. Just speak honestly about why you care about our democracy and why it matters.   When people hear others speak with clarity and conviction, they are more likely to find their own voices — including those who hold an elected office.

When you do speak up, focus on principles, not on personalities or policies. Personalities and policies can divide us whereas core democratic principles often remind us of the fundamental values we share as Americans.

So, what are those core principles? What are the basic values we all depend on, even when we disagree? To me, four really matter:

Principle No. 1 — The rule of law. 

“Rule of law” can sound like lawyer talk, but the idea is simple: in America, everyone plays by the same rules. No special treatment. No free passes. Not for the powerful, not for the wealthy, not for people in office.

Thomas Paine said it best more than 200 years ago: “In America, the law is king.” That idea—no one above the law—is what keeps power from piling up in the hands of a few.

You know the rule of law is breaking down when people are treated differently based on who they are, when judges rule one way for friends or those in power and another way for everyone else, when laws are used to punish enemies instead of protecting everyone.

And you know it is working when even powerful people are held accountable, when courts rule against the government that appointed them, and when elections change leaders without retaliation.

When we lose the rule of law, we don’t get more freedom. We get less fairness, less safety, and more fear.

Principle No. 2 — Freedom of speech and a free press. 

These rights come first in the Bill of Rights for a reason. Free speech lets us criticize leaders, debate ideas, and make informed choices. A free press gives us the facts we need to do that.

When these freedoms are working, journalists expose wrongdoing, communities hold open debates, and many voices are heard. When they’re not, reporters are threatened, facts are buried under lies, and people start censoring themselves out of fear.

Once speech is silenced and the press is weakened, power stops listening. And when that happens, other freedoms quickly erode as well.

Principle No. 3 — An independent judiciary. 

Courts only work if judges can decide cases based on law and facts—not politics. An independent judiciary is what keeps government power in check and protects individual rights.

But when we label judges as “Democratic” or “Republican,” we chip away at that independence. We send the message that judges are just politicians in robes—and that makes threats and intimidation more likely.

A healthy judiciary is one people may disagree with, but still respect. An unhealthy one is feared, ignored, manipulated or disparaged. And without fair courts, rights become promises on paper—and nothing more.

Principle No. 4 — The right to vote. 

Free and fair elections are the heart of democracy. Voting is how we choose leaders, correct course, and settle disagreements peacefully.

When elections are fair, results are accepted, and power changes hands without violence. When they’re undermined—when voters are intimidated, election workers are threatened, or trust is destroyed without evidence—the whole system is at risk.

If voting stops working, legitimacy collapses, extremism grows, and power no longer flows from the people; rather it flows from those in charge.

Getting more Americans to speak up for these four principles and reminding others of their importance to our daily lives can go a long way towards protecting them.

Second, build bridges.

In addition to speaking up, the second thing you can do stand up for our democracy is work to build bridges in your community.  Our democracy doesn’t live only in our institutions — it also lives in and survives through respectful relationships with our fellow Americans. Building bridges begins by having conversations with your neighbors, friends and work colleagues, especially those with whom you may not see eye to eye. And it requires that we not demonize those with opinions that differ from ours but rather respect that not everyone sees the world we do — and that’s ok because we don’t have to agree on everything.  But we do have to keep talking to each other to keep our communities and our democracy healthy and functional.

And remember, almost all Americans do believe in the basic principles underlying our democracy, even if we argue passionately about policy choices that may be before us. Finding common ground doesn’t mean giving up your beliefs or your causes. It simply means that we collective choose to share a future together based on the core values that have underpinned our democracy for the past 250 years.

Third, give your time, and if possible, your financial support.

Democracy isn’t self-sustaining. Every generation has had to protect it. Sometimes by marching. Sometimes by voting. Sometimes by volunteering, donating, or speaking up when something isn’t right.

If you can volunteer — do it.  Become a poll worker.  Work to educate yourself and your family on basic civics and support civics education in your schools.  Vote and encourage others to do so as well.  Take the time to become informed on issues by being a discerning consumer of news and information.  Stand up for your local institutions and your neighbors if they become unfairly attacked or if their rights are threatened.  If you can financially support organizations that defend democracy and the rule of law — do so. Every hour of your time you give and every dollar you contribute helps keep our system fair, free, and accountable.

Standing up for democracy and the rule of law doesn’t have to be hard or all consuming.  Before you leave tonight, decide on one thing you can and will do. If you are at dinner or lunch this week or next and the conversation turns to politics, consider bringing up one or all the of four principles and explain why they matter to you.  When you open your laptop or tablet tomorrow morning, consider subscribing to your local or national newspaper and then keep informed about both national and local events. If you have ten minutes this week, reach out to your local state and federal representatives and let them know your thoughts on these issues, or write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing your feelings on these issues and why they matter to you.   

[SPEAKER’S NOTE:  If there is a local organization or effort that needs support, you should consider calling that out here.]

These are hard times. I know many of us would rather be thinking about weekend plans than the next national crisis. But remember, this isn’t the first time we as Americans have faced serious challenges. As a country, we’ve endured a civil war, a depression, and two world wars. Our ancestors expanded freedom again and again whether it be voting rights or civil rights, simply because ordinary people got engaged and refused to give up.

[SPEAKER’S NOTE:  If you have a personal or a local story about how democracy was defended in your local community recently or in the past, you could consider using that instead of the above examples.]

Now it’s our turn. Our democracy doesn’t survive because it’s inevitable. It survives because people like you and me stand up for it.
And if we do our part—if we speak up, build bridges, and stay engaged—our democracy will endure and be a model for the world. 

The choice is ours.

Thank you.