July 4, 2026

Democracy Chained
Wichita, Kansas
2003

This image actually appeared as a POTD back in it’s early days in 2003 when but a handful of people had access to it. I repeated it as a POTD in 2010 with the following comment:

“[This image] has been coming to mind lately as I read about all the efforts to stifle voting in the upcoming national election. Voting rights are or should be sacred in this country and what is happening right now is a scary omen of what may be to come. Folks, this is no way to run a democracy!” (Little did I know how true that statement was to become the following January.)

Now some six years later, this image again comes to mind as the country faces not only a renewed assault on voting rights, but also a whole host of other attacks on the ideas and principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago. As a consequence I’m am truly ambivalent about whether or not celebrating this milestone for the country is what I want to do. Certainly what I said back in 2010 holds even more true today and is worth repeating. Folks, this is no way to run a democracy!