Guest writer: Let’s fix, not abandon, our broken political system

Patriotic Americans of all viewpoints see plenty of signs that our country’s political system is not serving us well.  Gridlock in Congress, money in politics, uncompetitive elections, politicized courts and presidential overreach are just a few such signs. No wonder so many Americans don’t see a way forward from our country’s economic woes, health challenges and toxic politics. 

It’s tempting to hunker down and sit things out in despair that “things will never change” or in blind hope that “this too shall pass.” But we owe it to ourselves, our children and our grandchildren to do what we can, however seemingly small. Here are a few thoughts on what individuals can do to help steer America’s political system toward working better for us:

1.  In the here and now, speak up. With family, friends and neighbors, at church or in the grocery line, speak out (civilly!) for what you believe America stands for. Do it in person, do it in writing, do it on video. In 1979, Pope John Paul II told the world, including his native Poland, “Be not afraid.” Ten years later, the Iron Curtain fell away.   

2.  In the medium term, vote! Whatever your political views, exercise your voice. Don’t voluntarily give it away by not voting. If you don’t vote, the powers that be have no reason to see you or fear you. We’ll have congressional elections in 20 months, and many state and local elections even before then. Find a candidate who deserves your support, and volunteer to help out. Or support the elections process by volunteering as a local elections administrator. If you’re not already registered to vote, check out vote.gov for how to get started.

3.  In the long run, Americans can do a lot to strengthen our political system, which hasn’t kept up with the times. Name your issue — immigration, health care, taxes, gun safety — and it’s unlikely to get fixed until we first fix the way our government works and how we elect our representatives. Making these structural reforms is a long game, but you can start today. Here are a few suggestions:

• Congress is underperforming. As it legislates less and less, the balance of powers swings toward the executive and judicial branches. “The unfolding constitutional crisis in Washington is the inevitable result of 30 years of congressional dysfunction,” according to Fixing Congress Initiative Director Steven Pearlstein. Americans today see our congressional representatives shirking their legislative responsibility in favor of blindly voting the party line, ensuring safe re-election and engaging in performative TikTok-style politics. Both political parties are culpable (though not necessarily equally). How can Americans change this? Several dedicated non-partisan groups are already working on it:

• FixOurHouse.org advocates for restructuring Congress and congressional elections in ways that would make our representatives more responsive to the American public.

• UniteAmerica.org seeks to reform our system of primary elections. In most states, the taxpayers pay for primary elections, yet the political parties largely control them. But it’s our dang money, so why should we let the political parties hold sway over the primaries? 

• Represent.Us advocates redistricting reform to rid our country of unfair gerrymandering. In most states, the state legislatures draw the voting district lines and use that power to tilt the playing field for partisan advantage and to ensure safe re-election. Americans can have a fairer system by shifting redistricting authority from politicians to public commissions, as is already happening in some states.

• Money is overwhelming American politics.  How can the average American have a real voice when the ultra-rich and shadowy political action committees are spending hundreds of millions to influence electoral outcomes? AmericanPromise.net has a nationwide network of concerned Americans working to establish reasonable limits on out-of-control campaign finance spending.

• America’s courts and judicial appointments are increasingly a field of play for partisan politicking. The Brennan Center for Justice (BrennanCenter.org) is pushing common-sense reforms to depoliticize our judiciary so it will better serve Americans instead of nakedly partisan interests.

How to start? Pick the issue that interests you most. Then get on the email and social media accounts for the corresponding non-partisan advocacy group. There is strength in numbers, so don’t wait to sign up and be seen — perhaps even feared — by the powers that be. After all, they’d rather you just coast along in unquestioning acceptance of a system they’ve shaped to serve themselves instead of the American public. 

Mike Morrow served with the U.S. Department of State as a diplomat for 35 years, retiring in 2021 following three years as senior diplomatic fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He served from 2021–24 on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Free, Fair and Accountable Democracy. He and his wife, Shannon, live in Bellingham.