Overview

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY SEEMS TO BE AT A CROSSROADS. Many Americans have simply given up on politics. They've become apathetic--they just don't care. And, honestly, who can blame them? In a world of hyper-polarization and elite-centric political discourse, the average American feels pushed out, so they stop caring. This is discouraging because America's system of government is designed to be, as President Abraham Lincoln famously said, ""of the people, by the people, [and] for the people."" Government that is of, by, and for the people requires action of, by, and for the people. Democracy InAction documents the effects of apathy on civic participation. More importantly, it reminds readers that America and her future belong to them and encourages them to participate in the civic life of their communities and country. Loaded with original survey data and rigorous analysis, this book tells a story of civic engagement in decline. The larger purpose, though, is to solve the problem by encouraging citizens to participate. Designed to reach an audience of everyday Americans--both engaged and unengaged--as well as policymakers, students, and scholars, Democracy InAction brings an educator's approach to document reasons why civic engagement is important in order to influence the reader to do their part. The encouragement provided is intended to overcome apathy--to get the reader to care--and to remedy alienation, to remind the reader that this is their country too. It is also designed to spur policymakers to action by encouraging them to do their part to increase civic participation. Taylor aims to make democracy work for all of us by reminding readers that it takes all of us to make democracy work.

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Table of Contents

Reviews

""A political scientist surveys the threat of apathy to democracy in this nonfiction work . . . The author writes in an accessible style and supports his argument with a wealth of academic and quantitative data. A well-researched, timely reminder of the centrality of civic engagement to the preservation of democracy."" --Kirkus Reviews ""This book is a timely reminder that civic duties remain vital--even when they feel inconvenient or undervalued. Blending research, history, and inspiring stories, it motivates readers to roll up their sleeves and get involved. If you're looking for both encouragement and practical guidance to make a difference in American democracy, this book delivers."" --Hon. Mark R. Kennedy, former US representative, president emeritus of the University of Colorado, and founding director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition ""'Democracy is a team sport.' Truer words were never spoken! And as a former elected official, I can say with confidence that citizens are not pulling their weight on the team. Democracy InAction lays out a logical argument for why civic engagement is important and gives citizens tangible steps they can take to become informed and engaged in improving the quality of their lives and maximizing the blessings we enjoy as citizens of the greatest country in the world."" --Hon. Sharon W. Hewitt, former Louisiana state senator ""Democracy InAction is a home-run, common-sense analysis of how government 'of the people, by the people, [and] for the people' has drifted away from these guiding principles. Regardless of the reader's political viewpoint, there are pearls of wisdom to be harvested from Dr. Taylor's writing."" --Rep. Tony Bacala, Louisiana state representative ""Having been in the trenches of picking over 500 juries over forty years, I have seen firsthand the increased apathy Americans have toward their government and their own role in making sure it is fully functional, serving the people. Dr. Taylor's analyses and recommendations are spot on. I hope the reader will heed the doctor's advice and find their path to get engaged."" --J. Lee Meihls, Ph.D., trial consultant and author of Handicapping the Handicapped: Decision Making in Students' Educational Careers ""Democracy InAction sheds light on the power of civic participation and how apathy threatens us all. It's practical, motivational, and easy to read, with ideas anyone can implement today. Everyone concerned about America's future should pick up this book and discover how even small actions can have a big impact."" --Hon. Tarren Bragdon, CEO, Foundation for Government Accountability and former Maine state legislator ""Democracy InAction highlights something I've seen both in my classroom and in my own family: Civic engagement is something that must be learned and practiced if we wish to continue to create a more perfect union. This book is yet another reminder that none of us are truly passive observers of politics, but rather we can be either more or less capable participants. With clarity and optimism, Dr. Taylor shows how we can all take small, practical steps to move from apathy to agency and why doing so is desperately important for the next generation."" --Lindsey Cormack, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, Stevens Institute of Technology and author of How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It) ""Democracy thrives on participation, yet we witness millions of Americans sitting on the sidelines--not from lack of caring, but from lack of accessible information. At Ballotpedia, we see this challenge daily: voters who want to engage but struggle to find basic details about the candidates on their ballots, especially for crucial local races that directly impact their communities. Democracy InAction tackles this critical issue head-on, exploring how citizen disengagement threatens the very foundation of our democratic system. Taylor's insights align perfectly with what we've observed--that apathy often stems not from indifference but from the overwhelming complexity of navigating our electoral landscape without proper tools and information. As we work to close the ballot information gap nationwide, ensuring every voter can easily access candidate information for all their elections, books like this remind us why that mission matters. An informed electorate isn't just an ideal--it's essential for democracy's survival. The path forward requires engaged, enthusiastic, and equipped voters. This book provides a road map for getting there."" --Geoff Pallay, editor in chief, Ballotpedia ""Democracy InAction is a reminder and a plea for a more engaged citizenry. By failing to register to vote, cast ballots, participate in campaigns, and remain engaged between elections, we dilute the promise and benefits of democracy. Apathy spirals into a doomscroll where alienation devours personal responsibility and breaks the essential role of self-government. We cannot allow this to happen. Dr. Taylor's book is a step toward understanding the decay and how to rebuild. We must leave our homes and reengage our communities. We must get offline and remember what it was like to be social before it was paired with media platforms."" --Michael D. Cohen, Ph.D., founder of Cohen Research Group, publisher of Congress in Your Pocket, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, and author of Modern Political Campaigns ""Democracy InAction is a vitally important book for today's polarized America. Combining history, social science, and common-sense arguments, this book is a reminder of the power of civic participation and the role of an engaged citizenry. This is a research-based clarion call to save American democracy the only way possible--by inspiring 'we the people' to reclaim our role. Buy this book for your children, yourselves, and your country."" --Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, professor of law, The George Washington University and author of Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen's Guide to Constitutional Action ""Any healthy person develops a distaste for partisan politics over time, but this is no reason for apathy. Taylor calls for a more vigorous and deliberative democracy, but he also finds no shortcut to such reforms. We must first overcome apathy and detachment to wake ourselves up and avoid the catastrophes that await any slothful republic."" --John Gastil, Ph.D., distinguished professor of communication arts and sciences, public policy, and political science, The Pennsylvania State University and author of The Jury and Democracy and Hope for Democracy ""In Democracy InAction, Taylor shows that democracy requires not just the consent of the governed but also their participation. From voting booths to jury boxes, campaign offices to opinion polls, the health of the republic depends on citizens who take part. This book warns that democracy is becoming a spectator sport. If we want leaders who serve the public, the public must step onto the field."" --John Geraci, president of Crux Research and author of POLLARIZED: Why Americans Don't Trust the Polls And How to Fix Them Before It's Too Late ""Democracy InAction should be required reading for every American. Dr. Taylor provides critical context for how politics really works. This book will restore readers' trust in our democratic system while also providing the tools we all need to understand and question everything about it."" --Dr. Adam Probolsky, nonpartisan pollster and senior research fellow for the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University ""With politics increasingly characterized by partisan polarization, escalating rudeness, and media spectacle, many Americans need to be explicitly invited to step back into their roles as citizens. Democracy InAction not only provides them with just such an invitation but also with an array of persuasive reasons why their--and specifically their--participation is essential, along with concrete first steps for doing so. Restoring a robust version of our democracy depends on more Americans hearing and responding to such calls."" --J. Cherie Strachan, Ph.D., professor of political science and director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron and author of High-Tech Grass Roots: The Professionalization of Local Elections

Author Information

Travis N. Taylor, Ph.D., is the senior market research manager at the Center for Excellence in Polling, a project of the nonpartisan think tank, the Foundation for Government Accountability. He is also the president and chief research officer at Strategic Insights Research, LLC, a professional research group that works in polling, trial consulting, and market research for faith-based organizations and businesses. He has previously worked as a campaign manager, campaign consultant, state legislative aide, congressional legislative correspondent, and university instructor. He has managed or consulted for more than eighty political campaigns and dozens of trials in both state and federal courts and has conducted more than 300 public opinion research projects. Dr. Taylor has published academic research in Journal of Lawand Courts, Judicature, The Jury Expert, Critique, and the Oxford Handbook of Political Representation in Liberal Democracies. He has also contributed numerous op-eds and media commentary, including in RealClearPolitics, The Hill, Congressional Quarterly Roll Call Guide, CQ Connectivity, The Washington Times, The Free Press, The Blaze, Daily Caller, The Daily Beast, Wisconsin State Journal, KJRH 2News (Tulsa, OK, NBC affiliate), Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio), Louisville Courier-Journal (Kentucky), WRFL Radio (Kentucky), and LaCrosse Tribune (Wisconsin). Democracy InAction is his first book. He has also testified in the Ohio Senate, the Ohio House of Representatives, and the Indiana House of Representatives. Dr. Taylor earned his Ph.D. in political science with an emphasis on public opinion, state judicial selection, and public policy from the University of Kentucky. He also holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Kentucky, a master's degree in political management from The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Louisiana. When he is not asking voters or jurors for their opinions, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, tae kwon do, and cycling. He lives with his wife and their two sons outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is active in both his church and community.

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