Transparency and accountability
The corrupt attacks on our democracy flourish in secret, without meaningful consequences.
In the month we celebrate the founding of the United States - and all the complexities of context that temper that celebration - we also see in vivid display how this nation might be ending its democratic experiment.
While headlines scream about inflation (a terrible problem that, like most economic challenges, disproportionately impacts our most marginalized community members), further down the page are the descriptions of the attempts to overthrow the results of the 2020 presidential election - attempts that continue to this day, are continuing in this moment.
While we learn more about the horrific failures of law enforcement that failed to protect schoolchildren and their teachers in Uvalde, the normalization of violence is presented over and over again by one of our major parties.
While medical providers struggle to continue to offer a full range of care for patients who can become pregnant, we learn more about the intentions of SCOTUS to reconsider more rights, to further step away from its role to ensure the federal government can be a fail-safe for human rights from birth control to voting.
One lesson from all this is clear: without transparency and accountability, our democracy is lost.
Transparency is the commitment to make decisions openly, with full participation of those impacted. As we’ve learned from the hearings examining the insurrection so far, too many high-level leaders kept decisions secret. Too many failed to speak out at the time the insurrection was being planned and implemented. They knew the election was fair, they knew their candidate had lost, and they knew violence from the assembling crowd was likely. They saw their president scheming to stay in power. They failed to raise the alarm. No amount of openness in their testimony now makes up for their silence in the moment.
Accountability is the capacity of our legal and political systems to enforce the law, fairly, without fear or favor for those in power. It includes ensuring consequences for lawbreaking. Without consequences, corruption flourishes. And since the corruption and lawbreaking occurs in pursuit of wealth and power, consequences must include stripping those involved of their wealth and power.
In the eighteen months since the scheme to overthrow the election erupted in violence, the processes of transparency have worked, slowly but surely. We need to see the processes of accountability unfold as well.
Because the attempts to replace pluralistic democracy with nationalism and corruption continue, and build strength when they can operate without transparency and free from meaningful consequences.
As always, I am grateful for your company as we work together to support our human family and appreciate our beautiful planet. Be safe and well.