Do you avoid family reunions? Do you skip coffee with friends? Have you started fights on social media? Us, too! Why? Politics have become more divisive than ever, and we feel powerless to address it. We’re afraid to talk to about it. We’re concerned about the survival of our relationships, and democracy itself. We believe American democracy, or its republican form, is the best model of government. Our government is modeled on communication and debate, on having constructive conversation, on exercising our freedom of speech. Political differences feel so severe that conversations with family members, close friends, and colleagues are now impossible. We have heard grave concerns that legislative debate has lost its power. Our elected representatives should be able to debate forcefully yet compromise for the common good. Our democracy must depend upon citizens being able to talk with each other; organizations and associations should find agreements on mutual concerns as well as seek common ground. This book focuses on WHAT YOU and WE CAN DO for the common good. When natural disasters hit, communities work together; in the old days, when a barn burned down, the neighbors worked together to raise a new one. It’s your turn. This is your handbook to help RAISE AMERICA.

Buy this book. Give copies away. Toss it like confetti into crowds if you can afford it. Share it with all you know who are patriots who love freedom and America and who share our democratic values. I will, and my copy will soon be dogeared, smudged, with innumerable marginal notes. This book offers hope for our Democracy and a detailed outline of how to save it. It is a primer that brings together lessons in philosophy, history, logic, psychology and civil engagement in not only a call to action, but also as a guidebook as to how to make the call successful. There is remarkable knowledge in this book that will build a more perfect union for every one of us, regardless of Zip code, race, gender, faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It’s a book for all of us.

— Robert Leonard, Political and Cultural Writer, New Your Times, TIME, USA Today & The Des Moines Register

At a time when our democracy faces its greatest threat since the Civil War, Raising America offers a timely refresher. This engaging and accessible book will help remind Americans from all political persuasions how we once made democracy work.

—  Steven Levitsky, Harvard University, co-author, How Democracies Die

This book speaks to what our world desperately needs right now: the hard, yet deeply meaningful, work of bringing
people together to demand of our government policies that embody justice and equity. In short, this is a book that
spurs us toward personal and societal transformation.

— Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, Minister for Environmental Justice, United Church of Christ

Charles R. Kniker learned to cherish democracy spending a year in a Latin American country when Fidel Castro was spreading communism, living in a nation under autocratic rule, with its government strongly influenced by American corporations. He has spent over 30 years in the education field and values diversity of thought and life-long learning. This emphasis on the role of values, respectful dialogue, and humor, occurs in multiple aspects of life. More specifically, develop skills to recognize and negotiate diverse agendas, promote active listening and sharing techniques, and navigate difficult conversations and contentious situations, to ultimately reach common ground solutions. Known for his storytelling, strategic planning expertise, and lyrical song writing (60+ songs); his careers have included: ordained minister (UCC), university professor (24 years), seminary president, higher education administrator, and author of seven books.

Dianne Prichard has a penchant for seeing solutions within problems, from making Shakespeare fun (with sword fights and matchmaking) to organizing mask-making volunteers (250 volunteers delivered 11,000 masks to schools, hospitals and businesses during the COVID epidemic) to filing for office at the last minute (and winning) to saving democracy (this book).

Heuss Printing has been publishing books for over 50 years in Ames, Iowa. All paper comes from responsibly managed forests and any natural byproducts of the production process are recycled in a chemical free environment and remain in the United States.

All rights to intellectual property remain © with Charles Kniker and Dianne Prichard.