Use Your Cell Phone Camera to Help Save U.S. Democracy

Along with more than two million others, I subscribe to a daily newsletter written by historian Heather Cox Richardson. Richardson meshes her deep knowledge of history with insightful and valuable perspectives on current events.

A few days ago, Richardson republished a letter from “an anonymous FBI agent” that first appeared on Nicholle Wallace’s MSNBC show. Here’s a version of that letter I’ve lightly edited.

“I orchestrated a clandestine operation to secure the release of an allied soldier held captive by the Taliban. I prevented an ISIS terrorist from boarding a commercial aircraft. I spent 3 months listening to phone intercepts in real time to gather evidence needed to dismantle a violent drug gang. I recruited a source to provide critical intelligence on Russian military activities in Africa. I rescued a citizen being tortured to near death by members of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. I interceded and stopped a juvenile planning to conduct a school shooting. I spent multiple years monitoring the activities of deep cover foreign intelligence officers, leading to their arrest and deportation. I endured extensive hardship to infiltrate a global child trafficking organization. I have been shot in the line of duty.

“I am now sitting in my home, listening to my children play and laugh in the backyard, oblivious to the prospect that their father may be fired in a few days. Fired for conducting a legally authorized investigation. Fired for doing the job that he was hired to do. I have to wonder, when I am gone, who will do the quiet work that is behind the facade of your average neighbor?”

The Real World Consequences of Shutting Down Government Services

I have no way of knowing whether this message is authentic. But it occurred to me while reading it that this is what’s missing in the current showdown over the shutdown of government agencies—a human face.

Not just the job description, but the worker’s story.

Not just the person on the government payroll, but also the person in private business working on a government contract.

Not just descriptions of the services being cut, but the voices of the individuals, families, businesses, and communities that rely on those services.

Massive sharing of those stories can happen, with hardly any cost. Anyone with a smartphone can record videos these days. (See, “cat videos, Facebook.” See also, “dancing teens, TikTok.”)

Trump is, as they say, “flooding the zone” with news he wants communicated. But that effort could be matched—or even trumped—by thousands, tens of thousands, of recipients and providers of threatened public services flooding the zone with their personal stories, told in their own way.

If some concerned citizens are willing to supersize the effort, they could organize a fund to buy time and space and amplify those voices on commercial media.

Democracy Is Under Threat and Citizens Must Act

Why do this? Because on the eve of its 250th anniversary, the democracy invented by our country’s founders—the system that ordinary citizens fought to establish, and countless others have since defended—is at risk.

This isn’t just about government jobs and services. It’s about the lawless way Trump is going about it. It’s about his blatant disregard for democratic processes.

It’s about the GOP congressional majority standing by while it happens. And the uncertainty that, even if the courts intervene, Trump will defiantly say: “Yeah? Make me.”

Since the protective guardrails of democracy are under attack, ordinary citizens have a duty to step up and defend them.

But this time, muskets aren’t needed.

The currency of those we elect is votes. Their vulnerability is public opinion. A massive media-driven voter uprising can shift that opinion—and force public officials who are too spineless to defend democracy into action.

Imagine a tidal wave of individuals telling their stories on social media, YouTube, websites, and commercial media.

Constituent faces. Voices. Written words. Real personal consequences of Trump’s lawless actions added to an onslaught of protesting phone calls, emails, letters, and street demonstrations.

The rural health worker whose clinic gets shuttered.

The farmer who depends on exports.

The small business owner whose government-backed loan disappears.

The flood victim who calls FEMA and finds the number disconnected.

The child with a disability who loses access to treatment.

The elderly person scammed online with no recourse.

The public safety that gets compromised because the FBI agent was unjustly and illegally fired.

Let’s see their faces, hear their voices and read their stories.

This isn’t a simple policy dispute about the size of government. This is an existential crisis. Our system of justice. The rule of law. The separation of powers. The checks and balances that have sustained nearly 250 years of self-governance. All are at risk.

Your Voice Matters So Use It Now

Many have been protesting through phone calls, street demonstrations, and sending mail and emails. All good. But let’s add another potent weapon to the mix—your cell phone camera.

Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of our country.

Or, more simply put: Uncle Sam really, really needs YOU.

Comments? Criticism? Contact Joe Rothstein at jrothstein@rothstein.net