Emily Amick, a lawyer and co-author of "Democracy in Retrograde," shares her insights on practical civic engagement and political participation. She argues that civic involvement can serve as self-care, helping to combat feelings of hopelessness in today's climate. Amick discusses how to identify your 'civic personality' and offers tips for cultivating a healthy news diet. The conversation also touches on citizen-led ballot initiatives in Utah and the amusing trend of 'stealth shopping' among couples. Discover how small actions can lead to big changes in democracy.
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insights INSIGHT
Dark Money's Impact
The rise of dark money and increasingly tribalized voices contribute to democratic backsliding.
Engaging in local politics offers a more hopeful and impactful way to participate in democracy.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Civic Engagement as Self-Care
Treat civic engagement as self-care, combating loneliness and building community.
Find your civic personality to discover authentic and sustainable ways to participate.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Finding Your Civic Personality
Identify your civic personality type (leader, giver, connector, creator) to find fulfilling ways to engage.
Embrace diverse forms of engagement beyond traditional political activities.
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How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives
Sami Sage
Emily Amick
In 'Democracy in Retrograde', Sami Sage and Emily Amick offer a unique blend of self-help and political manifesto. The book is designed to help individuals overcome feelings of discouragement and isolation in the current political climate by engaging in civic activities tailored to their values, skills, passions, resources, and time. It uses real stories of regular citizens who have made a difference and includes quizzes, questions, and journaling exercises to help readers find meaningful civic actions. The authors emphasize civic engagement as a form of self-care and a way to assert one’s values and self-respect, bridging the personal and the political. The book aims to inspire and empower readers to participate more actively in democracy and find hope and positivity in the current political landscape.
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If you’ve been feeling hopeless about the news, the election, the economy, the climate crisis and everything else that’s going on, today’s episode is for you. Emily Amick, lawyer and co-author of “Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives,” argues we can all become better participants in our democracy. And we don’t need to have a gazillion dollars to do it. On the show today, Amick explains why we should treat civic engagement as self-care, how to find your civic personality and ways to cultivate a news diet that doesn’t put you in a doom loop. Plus, the moment she realized our democracy was headed in the wrong direction.
Then, we’ll get into how voters in Utah fought to protect the power of citizen-led ballot initiatives and why shoppers hide purchases from their romantic partners. Plus, an anime cosplayer was wrong about what it would take to create her own costume.
How are you getting involved in civic life? What helps you fend off feelings of hopelessness? Let us know at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
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