Democracy [In]Action

How Citizen Apathy Threatens America and What We Can Do About It

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS 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 records the effects of apathy on civic participation. More importantly, it reminds readers that America and its future belong to them and encourages them to participate in the civic life of their communities and nation.

Loaded with original survey data and rigorous analysis, this book recounts a story of civic engagement in decline. The larger purpose 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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$19.95
ISBN: 979-8-90026-033-4
Imprint: RealClear Publishing
SKU: 18-1577-01
Categories:RealClear Publishing, RealClear Publishing

“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

Travis N. Taylor, PhD

Public Opinion Researcher, Strategic Consultant, and Social Scientist

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 Law and 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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