Engaging With Your Voices Directly
There’s a lot of stirrings in our society. Politics are greatly affecting us socially, mentally, emotionally, and in many other ways. With the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the occurrences and discussions that followed from that, the tragedy of hate and love found its way to strike again.
As I write in a political climate in such upheaval and disillusion, where words are the biggest threat to our society, I always write with accountability and integrity.
Letters to the Editor: Mr. Shinkoskey’s Note
Last week, I received an email, a letter to the editor. It reads as follows:
Dear Editor,
Here is a quick lesson in what democracy is really all about.
There are two aspects of American democracy: how the government is run for those who can vote (originally just white men); and how many other groups can participate later on.
We were very democratic in government structure even when only white men with property could vote. The states and the Congress had the power.
However, we got even more democratic in another important sense when Blacks and women finally won the right to vote.
Unfortunately, while that was happening, we got less democratic as presidents and the courts took away the powers of Congress and the states.
Now, today, everyone can vote, but nobody has any power except one white man in the Oval Office.
—Kimball Shinkoskey
As the new Editor at The San Antonio Observer, I appreciate when people take the time to write to us, especially to me. I encourage you all to write in your thoughts on our columnists’ articles. But as I respond to Mr. Shinkoskey, I also respond to the real tyranny happening in our country.
My Response
The way Mr. S worded his note can be a slippery slope with interpretation. This is an issue all writer’s have and like we’re seeing today, interpretation is always subjective.
Where I’d push back is this: however one feels about how democratic we once were or weren’t, don’t confuse 1700s democracy with 2025 democracy. Mr. S says we were democratic even when only white men could vote. He must be referring to the practice of democracy itself, the act of voting. To call that “democratic” just because ballots were cast is misleading in a sense.
Nothing is truly democratic without equality.
With that being said, what he’s pointing to is that over time the president has come to hold too much power. I also gather this from the previous books and articles Mr. S has authored.
Now, aside from the presidents who had some measure of dignity and integrity, who respected the role of Congress and the Supreme Court, most did not use the office for personal gain, profit, or political revenge. Mr. S might disagree with that assessment. But whether one agrees with him or me, we can at least acknowledge that the idea of a growing concentration of power in the executive branch is not far off from what we are seeing today with Trump.
In his first run, Trump honestly didn’t know what he was doing. He relied on advisors, cabinet officials, and aides who still played by some version of the old rules. In this second term, he knows how to bend those rules, and he’s using them to his advantage.
The One White Man In The Oval Office
So, does nobody have power except one white man in the Oval Office, i.e., Trump? From my perspective, no. That overstates things. Presidents wield enormous influence, but Congress still controls funding, writes laws, and checks the executive. States still run elections, oversee schools, and manage much of daily life. Courts sometimes restrict Congress, but they also restrict presidents.
We need to remember, as Mr. S noted, that everyone can vote. Trump was voted in by the people of this country. Our Congress members are elected by the people. The Supreme Court is appointed by an elected president. It all stems from us.
The Power Of The People In A Democracy
Suggesting that nobody has power but the president undermines the real power we do have as citizens. And while this current president and his administration that was voted in is putting overwhelming pressure on our state, we cannot be cynical about the power of civic engagement.
There may be very powerful people in this world like Trump. I write about these unchecked powers often. But I’ve also written that we ultimately hold the power. When we strike, when we boycott, when we participate civically—corporations bend, wages rise, and bad politicians are voted out. Decency is still a viable concept. Ethical and moral values can still guide us toward a better society.
That is democracy. Not perfect, not static, but alive in our civic actions. And it will remain alive if we remember that power is never truly out of our hands, unless we give it away.
Until then Mr. Shinkoskey, thank you for your note sir. Good night and good luck.
