Our liberal democracy is becoming more illiberal and less democratic. Our choices this past November were between two candidates who were both disliked by the majority of Americans. Congress has a 16% approval rating, but almost a 100% incumbent reelection rate in the House of Representatives. The system is rigged and corrupt. Nevertheless, I am optimistic. We can fix it. Step 1: Understand the Process It’s undeniable that we, independent thinkers, face an uphill battle in a rigged process, ...

New Jersey is a corrupt state. You could write a book about it. In fact, this reporter did. This reporter did as well. If you grew up here, like me, then government corruption is just part of the landscape of New Jersey politics. We tend to normalize certain things, such our U.S. Senator being indicted on corruption charges and the Democratic establishment proudly signing on to say they are “with him.” Or the county bosses getting to decide who your legislators will be based on the power to awa...

Democracies are not the normal order of human civilizations. Throughout history, and even today, people are far more likely to live under monarchies, dictatorships, and authoritarian regimes than they are to be self-governed. Our democracy was inspired by an era of enlightenment that recognized the importance of individual freedom and human dignity. Maintaining it requires vigilance and direct participation when things have gone awry. Things have gone awry. The Republican Party, the strongest p...