"It's the statehouses, stupid."
Laboratories of Autocracy shows that far more than the high-profile antics of politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene or Jim Jordan-and yes, even bigger than Donald Trump's "Big Lie"-it's anonymous, often corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country who pose the greatest dangers to American democracy.
Because these statehouses no longer operate as functioning democracies, these unknown politicians have all the incentive to keep doing greater damage, and can not be held accountable however extreme they get. This has driven steep declines in states like Ohio and others across the country. And collectively, it's placed American democracy in its greatest peril since the dawn of the Jim Crow era.
But Pepper doesn't stop there. He lays out a robust pro-democracy agenda outlining how everyone from elected officials to business leaders to everyday citizens can fight back.
“We are living through a revolt against the future. The future will prevail.” — Anand Giridharadas
The title of David Pepper’s book, “Laboratories of Autocracy,” offers a grim but deadly serious spin on Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis’s description of America’s state legislatures as “laboratories of democracy.” The people must now reclaim power! https://t.co/YWDze4SehQ
David Pepper is a politician.
“These days, as former Hamilton County, Ohio commissioner David Pepper put it in his book of the same name, many have become “laboratories of autocracy….” https://t.co/8PdMtri7l4
Democratic Precinct Chair for Precinct 519, Allen County, Indiana. Member of the Allen County Democratic Party. Cat/dog 💕. Avid library user—the ACPL ROCKS.
@sandiegoterri @KenSycspng @stephNmemphis @marceelias we saw them taking over school boards this year. Oh, and try running for something, even if it’s a small role. If the SC is going to give power back to the states, WE need to be in power. And read “Laboratories of Autocracy” by David Pepper. 2/2