MID-MICHIGAN VIEWS Science and the threat to democracy
A special section of the magazine Science (4 September 2020) is devoted to interdisciplinary experts responding to the authoritarian threat to America and the World.
All that is good about this nation is in danger. We must adapt to achieve our ideals in the 21st century. We live in a world where dictators are destroying democracy and we have a President more comfortable comporting with them than with our allies.
We must learn about the challenges and opportunities of our increasingly multiethnic society, of reducing inequality among minorities and providing representation for the poor and underprivileged. We must combat the disinformation tactics being used against us. This is the most critical election in our lifetime.
There is verified data associated with each portion of the section that strengthens the case. In Racial authoritarianism in the U.S. democracy, they make the point that too often evidence of police brutality is obscured, making procedural reforms more difficult for over a hundred years. There is too much state power to coerce, surveil, and enact police violence, especially on the poor, Black, Brown and Native, then do nothing to correct it.
In another portion they recommend using artificial intelligence to aid in redistricting political district boundaries to make it fairer. They then make a case that political campaigns are most effective only in close races. They go on to indicate that social diversity and economic interdependence can increase prosocial behavior in a more peaceable community of varied members.
In the penultimate portion they show that when the poor are given the opportunity to acquire political power they can help improve their economic status and become productive citizens. Finally they are distressed that in many democracies there is now backsliding on support for improving the overall conditions for all people.
• A neighbor wrote this and sent this to me. It is important information about the election:
Due to the November 2018 passage of a statewide ballot proposal, all registered voters in Michigan are now eligible to vote via absentee ballot without a specific reason. If you did not select the absentee ballot option for the November General Election on the August Primary absentee ballot application, which was mailed to your residence, you may still vote absentee on November 3rd by completing one of the following:
Complete an Absentee Voter Application Form which is available at the City Clerk’s office or can be found online at www.michigan.gov/ sos. By law, this form must be completed by October 30, 2020, but is recommended to be done earlier to allow adequate time for postal delivery.
Absentee ballots will be mailed by the end of September to those individuals who previously requested an absentee ballot for the November 3rd election. All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020.
Absentee ballots can be mailed to City Hall, 320 W. Broadway Street. If mailing your absentee ballot, allow adequate time for postal delivery and signature verification.
Drop absentee ballots off at the Absentee Ballot Drop Box located on the sidewalk near the main entrance of City Hall. Drop off ballot in person at the City Clerk’s Office located on the second floor of City Hall, 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
In-person absentee voting: This option is available at the City Clerk’s office from the end of September until Monday, November 2, 2020 at 4 p.m. For your convenience, the City Clerk’s office will also be open for in-person absentee voting on Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Even though safety protocols will be in place at all polling locations, absentee voting is the safest option during this COVID-19 pandemic.