Bob Schwartz

At least four things are working against intense focus on the actual demise of American democracy.

Media consumers are interested in lots of things besides the state of American democracy. And among those are citizens who are not concerned, and in fact support the current trajectory.

Media providers are interested in media consumers, and if those consumers are interested in lots of other things, they will be offered lots of other things. And since some of those consumers are citizens who support the current trajectory, media providers try not to risk losing them with what might be perceived as opinion. Better for those media providers to offer lots of non-controversial stories about entertainment, sports, weather, crime, etc.

Americans are generally confident that whatever is happening in government, America has always found a way to a relatively stable middle ground, so the ultimate risk to democracy is non-existent. As the cliché goes: It can’t happen here.

And of course, there really are things going on in America and the world that do deserve our humane attention and care.

All of us have interests and passions that have nothing to do with the state of American democracy. We pursue those interests with varying degrees of intensity. It might be personal and family situations and relationships. It might be social and cultural interests. The list is long.

Here is the challenge.

If we don’t pay close and constant enough attention to the state of American democracy, if the media providers—including social media—don’t pay close and constant enough attention to the state of American democracy, if we remain irrevocably confident that “it can’t happen here”, it might be and already has.

I am not giving up my interests and passions, and neither do I expect others will. Instead, I am suggesting that to the extent possible, regularly ignore all the tempting news about those interests and passions. Just reprioritize your attention.

If there are not armed federal troops in your city, don’t assume you are immune. If your house has not been searched, don’t assume you are immune. If you think your social media life and personal information isn’t being monitored by your government, you are simply wrong. These and other anti-democratic actions have been or are being taken.

Thomas Jefferson said “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” If the media is not vigilant enough, it is up to you to try to be.