Foreword

Every book is a journey. When I first open a new one, I like to scan the table of contents to get a feel of where the authors are trying to take me. When I opened Understanding the U.S. Government: A Guide to Understanding American Government and Elections and skimmed the table of contents, I must admit I began to sweat a little. The series of questions that Peter Tarlow and Stephen Vincent have used to frame this book instantly transported me back to the final exam of my high school civics class, which is not one of my prouder moments. Luckily, unlike that inconsiderate final exam, after raising my blood pressure with those questions, they gave me the answers!

This book is a wonderful reminder of things that are inspirational, confusing, mysterious, frustrating, and practical in our system of governance. More importantly, it is a great primer on how we as citizens can and should participate in that system. It reminds us that, in a successful democracy, “leaders are encouraged to do the will of the people”. Of course, that only works if those leaders know the will of the people. Our job is to tell them. And each of us, no matter where we sit on the political spectrum or how active we have been in our democracy up to this point, has the right and the privilege of making a crystal-clear statement with our vote.

I still remember the first year I voted. I asked myself a lot of the questions that are in the table of contents of this book. I felt stupid because I didn’t already know the answers, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself by asking someone. I would have loved to have this book available back then. It would have removed so many of the artificial concerns and self-doubts that kept me from fully embracing my ability as a citizen to make a difference in this country.

Shortly after I cast my first vote in a presidential election, I entered the United States Air Force. I spent the next 40 years trying to remain as apolitical as possible in my professional life. When I retired, I became the dean of a graduate school founded on the idea of public service as a noble calling, on the criticality of being part of the public solution, and on the imperative of serving your fellow citizens. Reading this book made me realize I had forgotten the answers to many of the questions the authors have addressed. It reminded me that “elections have consequences” and that the role ordinary citizens play in our democracy is the cornerstone of that democracy. It reminded me that the role I play matters. And it gave me knowledge that I need to play that role more capably in the future. I am confident it will do the same for you.

Every book is a journey…this one leads to a better America.