The Erosion of Modern Democracy

    On April 6, 2023, two young African American men of the Tennessee House of Representatives (HOR) were expelled from their positions for participating in a protest on March 27, 2023. This protest was in response to a shooting where six people were killed at the Covenant school in Nashville Tennessee. This news prompted a large group of people to make their voices heard on the growing issue of gun reform in the United States. Among those chanting with the protestors were representatives Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson. 

These three representatives were accused of attempting to start an insurrection. The act of chanting along with people is being compared to the events of January 6, 2021. In an unprecedented vote, both representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson have been expelled from the Tennessee HOR. The third, representative Gloria Johnson, was able to retake her seat within the senate. 

It is impossible to not acknowledge that the Tennessee HOR decided to allow the one white representative her seat back while leaving thousands of others without due representation. These former representatives were expelled for leading a protest asking for gun reform following a mass shooting. This ruling brought down democracy that day in the Tennessee House of Representatives; this was an abuse of power highlighting the racist views which encapsulate the current GOP party. 

Members of the GOP party were able to systematically influence the demographic of the House in their favor, eroding the meaning of democracy. Fortunately, the esteemed people of Tennessee have no intention of allowing this overreach to remain. 

This may seem like an issue entirely separate from the great state of Montana; however, this blatant overreach should queue people into the larger political narrative taking place. The Tennessee HOR had the audacity to expel Democratic representatives in front of hundreds of protestors simply for standing up for what they believe in. They decided to question the democratic rights of the people while staring them in the eye and Montana has far less people watching. The Montana legislatures can and will run unchecked and if the GOP thought that the expulsion of these two would go smoothly then what is happening within our government? On April 4, two days prior to the attack on democracy in the Tennessee HOR, the Montana House passed HB 915. This proposed bill seeks to put democracy on the 2024 ballet, stating that the governor shall appoint the Supreme Court Justice instead of the citizens of Montana in a due process vote. This bill outlines the hopes and dreams of the Republican party—to strip people of their right for representation. This bill effectively assures the agenda of a radical political party to run free in the state legislature. This gives the governor supreme power over the future of this state.

In 2024, HB 915 will be on the ballot and I do not think it is going to pass, but it should not be there in the first place. What happened in Tennessee is a cautionary tale which reflects the current values of politics. HB 915 takes away the opportunity for Montana to change its political alignment. It puts the comfort of the governor over the due process of democratic election. There are now a bunch of grumpy old lawmakers who are scared of the new generation. Instead of ushering in a younger demographic, these antique lawmakers will hold onto the power they have established. This house bill is one way in which the government may continue to be endlessly old. There is no assurance that HB 915 will not be abused to curate a triumvirate of political power. It is a case where people stand to gain nothing if this bill is adopted. Just another sign that the state government has moved away from serving the interests of the people as long as it lines their egos and pockets.