Cassie:
“Government of the people, by the people, for the people” (quoting Abraham Lincoln)
Danielle:
The government can’t decide whose voice is worthy of being heard.
Aaron:
Democracy is a system of government that (1) should favor the majority but protect the minority and (2) allows individual people, whether through an elected representative or otherwise, to choose how they want to be governed.
Julia:
Democracy means a free state, with a government formed by the will of the people, responsible for preserving the liberties and civil rights of all who live within it.
Zahreen:
Democracy means discourse around what is the best course of action, potentially compromising for the greater good, and when the time comes, having a vote on those actions and living with what the majority decides.
Palak:
Democracy means that citizens must embrace a sense of responsibility and agency, and fight for inclusion for all
in political decision-making.
Wendy:
The most important aspect to a functioning democracy is education. If the populous tasked with the duties of electing leaders is uneducated, the entire concept fails at its root. The education must go well beyond the 3 R’s and include making factual information available and teaching the people how to discern what is inaccurate and misleading.
Liz:
Democracy means that everyone has a voice, but everyone also has a responsibility to stay active so that the loudest voice doesn’t always win.
Kelly:
Democracy means to me that (ideally, though not necessarily true) every person has a voice- and every person has both a right and a responsibility to use their voice.
Vivek:
Democracy is the lust for endless possibilities and the license to embrace curiosity.
Heidi: