JES "Future of Democracy" Event

Image caption

The Jefferson Educational Society hosted an event called the Future of Democracy. 

Historian Heather Cox Richardson and writer for The Atlantic Tom Nichols had a conversation that went into the state of our election process, what's at stake for this election, and how the past has influenced where democracy stands today. 

There was a big turnout for the discussion event.  Tom Nichols said that he hopes that people walk away from the event knowing about the importance of voting, taking it seriously and peacefully as well. Here's what Nichols says about democracy. 

“Democracy is about controlling your own fate. It’s about controlling your own destiny as a citizen among citizens so you can together decide your course. It’s not just about you. It’s about community. It’s about your country, but it is about choice,” Nichols said. 

When asked what democracy means, Heather Cox Richardson said democracy is where everyone can be treated the same before the law. Cox Richardson said it’s important to have these conversations always. 

“It is important before this election for people to be thinking about these issues and thinking about what it means to have a say in your government, and what you want the government to do in your life. How you want them to treat you. It’s absolutely imperative right now to get people on the same page as to what they want the government to do,” Cox Richardson said.