By Alison Lueders
I run a successful communications business helping small companies effectively support their sustainability efforts. I am also the daughter of a lawyer. These two factors have influenced my view of the current state of our state and nation’s political environment.
This country has come a long way to recognizing the importance of protecting our environment to avoid the extreme weather we are experiencing today and can in the future. We didn’t arrive at this easily. The democratic process allowed conservation organizations, the public, and small businesses to call on politicians to make policies, often opposed by big corporations, to protect our environment. These policies are backed up by our laws that require compliance so that all will benefit.
Today this democratic process is being threatened by politicians who propose anti-democracy election rules. If successful, politicians will be able to ignore the will of the people and allow laws to protect all of us to be ignored.
We see the rule of law failing today because powerful politicians are not held accountable for their actions. If we allow democracy to slide into autocracy, the rule of law will only work for those in power. It is our responsibility as citizens to work to protect the rule of law and our democracy.