I was not surprised to see that "by the people" was missing from this famous phrase in the Gettysburg Address.

The "by the people" part was forgotten, a long time ago. "By the people" means we are supposed to govern ourselves. When we do not govern ourselves, others always govern over us - not with us, or for us.

Our failure to self-govern, is how Trump got elected - twice. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Unfortunately, I doubt more than one person, in every hundred thousand, attends a local government meeting on a regular basis. Even fewer citizens have served in local government office, or volunteered to help do the work local government requires.

I bet 99% of American citizens can NOT name three local government agencies, or three people who represent them in local government office. I bet 99% of the American people can NOT tell you what local governments do, what powers they possess, or how they function. I bet 99% of Americans do NOT know when or where local governments meet in their communities. I bet 99.9% of Americans can NOT name three laws that apply to local government.

The difference between local government meetings where hardly any citizens show up and meetings where hundreds of citizens show up is night and day. Unless you plan on attending meetings, electing someone to represent you in local government, is a waste of time and money. You have to show up.

Local government is the place to stop the Trump agenda. It is our line in the sand. It is the place where citizens make a stand. Its the place where Democracy begins, and where it ends.

Refusing to participate in self-governance, is to surrender Democracy itself - and that is exactly what we've done.