I realize I frequently discuss liberal democracy, voting, encouraging voters to research the issues, and decide on which candidate and political party supports the ideal our democracy is important and actually is quite fragile in today's hyper polarized political environment. I discuss some various aspects that you may consider important for people of the United States as we consider who we are as a country during this critical point in time. Thanks for listening.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

Being aware of what we say and do are important. Of course, this word "aware" is now often associated with the new word, "Woke," and it's thoroughly weaponized to the point many people are offended at others who are "aware" or "woke" to slights and even injustices. This is especially true concerning racial and ethnicities, gender issues, religion, and even against people who have physical and emotional challenges. This short episode is about this topic. I find peace in being aware or woke to the plight of others. I hope this is the same with many of my listeners.

In theory and often in practice, liberal democracy principles exist in various Republics, not just in the United States. The right to vote is what citizens expect and deserve as part of a kind of citizens' contract with the government in those countries. In fact, the right to vote is codified in many constitutions as a matter of law.

However, liberal democratic principals have always been under fire and pressure from would be autocrats, authoritarians, war lords, strong men, and those who would enrich themselves and their families. One element in pressuring the downfall of liberal democracies is a charismatic leader gaining followers and convincing them that their interest lies best in a single individual who will fix everything, including bringing back some unrealistic resemblance of the past. You know. Thinking that all was so wonderful a decade, two decades, or even centuries past.

As we all know, we humans have a great capacity for good and an equal (and sometimes greater) capacity for the opposite. Suspicion of the other, racial and ethnic animus, distrust of immigrants, fear, and all manner of grievances are ingredients of a perfect toxic stew to turn citizens against each other. Indeed, some of these would be leaders foment division of a country's electorate to perpetuate their thirst for power.

Often these leaders will lie, target low information voters, weaponize programs of social equity or justice, and even attempt to dilute the voting franchise as a means to divide the country. And guess what; it's worked in the past, it's working now, and will continue to do so if people remain complacent.

A call to action is for citizens to exercise their right to vote in local and national elections, learn about government, review various issues and proposals on the ballot, become a high information voter, and avoid going in the direction of negativism that would-be autocrats seek and foment.

On today's solo episode, I discuss these topics and more. I also play a short audio clip from an episode of a well known television series that first aired on January 24, 1963. I've viewed this entire episode (season 4, episode 24) at least 5 times over the past 20 years. Indeed, it's quite haunting in its relevancy to today's political environment in many countries who exercise liberal democratic principles.

As always, The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests at time to share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms:

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/its-not-all-bad

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7