Q&A: He’s served presidents, and now he’s serving democracy

Arthur Blaustein, 87, is passionate about community solution. Now resigned after a tenure that is long teacher of community development, politics and public policy at UC Berkeley, he’s got simply released the next version of “Democracy just isn’t a Spectator Sport.” The engagement that is civic includes a conversation of community solution, inspirational tales, businesses with volunteer possibilities, and a preface imploring visitors to try the 2020 election campaign.

Blaustein started volunteering in university and got hooked. He taught college dropouts in Harlem, became involved with American Jewish Congress and chaired its action that is social committee. He headed south aided by the United states Legion Willard directly Post, supporting voting that is equal for several People in the us (“We idea we settled that,” he stated regarding present assaults on voting liberties), plus in 1965 marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Blaustein had been appointed towards the nationwide Advisory Council on Economic chance by President Jimmy Carter, and also to the board of this National Endowment for the Humanities by President Bill Clinton, serving under five presidents in every.

J.: You start your guide by writing that election anxiety condition emerged into the 2016 election period and it is “on the rise,” and describe the slide that is“long the slippery slope of anti-democratic policies and behavior” that put our democracy in danger. You’ve been through numerous elections, is that one actually therefore important?

Arthur Blaustein: I’ve been taking part in every campaign that is presidential since 1960. Here is the many dangerous additionally the most terrifying. There were two terrifying periods in my own life — the very first had been the McCarthy age, the next had been the Cuban missile crisis. But it is more threatening.

Why? Among the applicants, Donald Trump, could be the president we’ve that is worst ever had in the us. He’s a pathological liar and a sociopath, he’s unstable … and that’s a combination that is deadly. You don’t understand what he could be likely to do. He understands absolutely nothing about US history, American values, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. All he understands is exactly what he views on Fox Information.

Just exactly exactly exactly How did Trump’s election effect your writing?

It forced me personally to use in the introduction that is new governmental interpretation of what’s going on. Having taught for several these years, portal link the theme that is central of training ended up being the necessity of democratic values and democracy into the U.S. But we now see democracy being subverted.

In your guide you list 25 reasons why you should vote. exactly What you think will be the top five?

Jobs at a full time income wage, affordable medical care, the Supreme Court, environmental surroundings and international warming, honest federal federal government.

A Arthur that is young Blaustein component into the Selma Civil Rights marches in 1965. (Photo/Courtesy Blaustein)

Just exactly just What would you tell those people who are disillusioned and want to sit the Nov. out 3 election?

Democracy has reached stake. If you’d like to turn this nation in to a banana republic or fascist nation, don’t vote. If Trump wins you’re going to own battle wars in this nation, it will be such in pretty bad shape. It might be therefore dystopian. I’m actually a sort that is objective of, but I’m frightened.

You started volunteering in college and have now served presidents that are several. Exactly what are a handful of your many experiences that are memorable?

I obtained one thing out of each and every one. Under Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, we served in VISTA Volunteers in Service to America. That has been a watch opener — how poverty that is cruel be, and exactly how many individuals had been involved. Into the National Endowment for the Humanities, I served regarding the general public funds committee for museums, libraries, universities, general general general general public television and radio. We discovered great deal about their value and value.

The time that is first volunteered was at university, in 1956, as a new Democrat. We provided to simply simply take a female around to talk. It had been Eleanor Roosevelt. That was a phenomenal experience.

What’s the state that is current of participation and volunteerism in this nation?

Pupils are actually community that is doing in center schools, prep schools, high schools … Young people are actually invested in civic engagement and democratic values and assisting this nation. They’re more engaged, right down to 12 years of age.

Does Judaism influence the way you’ve drawn in your daily life?

It possessed an effect that is big. The thought of justice, integrity of character, community — all of them are crucial.