"If you decide not to vote, that's a consequence. If you are a Hispanic man and you're frustrated about inflation, and so you decided, ah, you know what, all that rhetoric about Trump doesn't matter. 'I'm just mad about inflation,' And now your sons are being stopped in L.A. because they look Latino and maybe without the ability to call anybody, might just be locked up, well, that's a test."
"You can't just be a scold all the time. You can't constantly lecture people without acknowledging that you've got some blind spots too, and that life's messy."
The Trump administration's policies are framed as a test of institutional and civic commitment to founding principles and democratic norms. Political disengagement, including not voting, carries real consequences for communities facing targeted enforcement and discrimination. Economic frustration can lead voters to overlook broader civil rights implications, risking protection losses for marginalized groups. Polarizing or holier-than-thou messaging can alienate potential allies and deepen partisan divides. Effective political engagement requires acknowledging blind spots, treating people respectfully across differences, and balancing core convictions with empathy. Current events may jolt public complacency and prompt renewed civic responsibility.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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