海角大神

Today鈥檚 five selected stories cover Russian motives in undermining voter trust, what fuels Afghan hope for peace, a search for compassionate solutions in Syria, the U.S. Marines鈥� battle with racism, and a global roundup of credible progress.

The word 鈥渄emocracy鈥� derives from Greek words, demos (people) and kratia (power).聽聽

But when it comes to exercising people power, Americans don鈥檛 have a stellar record. The last time voter turnout topped 60% was five decades ago. It fluctuates, but only has participated in recent presidential elections.

Voter participation in the first four 2020 primary and caucus states has been good but not great for Democrats. But s, reports Rolling Stone, suggesting an engaged Donald Trump base.聽

Every four years, Americans have the duty and privilege of choosing a leader to champion their hopes and values. That鈥檚 why it warmed my heart when a Monitor colleague told me about his 18-year-old son鈥檚 first trip to the ballot box. On Tuesday morning, the whole Kaplan family went to the Joseph P. Manning Elementary School in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood of Boston.聽聽

They voted, and they met Violet, an engaging 101-year-old woman checking addresses. She鈥檚 been a volunteer for the democratic way for 鈥渄ecades,鈥� says my colleague. After loading up on scones and banana bread at the adjacent bake sale, Asher Kaplan proudly slapped the 鈥淚 voted鈥� sticker on his jacket.聽聽聽

We鈥檒l begin to see the results of this kind of carbohydrate-fueled people power when Super Tuesday .聽 Look for our report in Wednesday鈥檚 edition.