Our governmental system isn't sacred; it's man-made, and it can be man-unmade and rebuilt

In preparation for upcoming primaries (March) and mid-term elections (November), this season of "Get With The Times" will be all about civics: the study of the rights and duties of citizens and of how government works.

In this third episode of Season 2, we examine a simple but powerful idea: government isn’t destiny — it’s design.

From tribal consensus systems and monarchies to the U.S. Constitution’s checks and balances, we examine how societies throughout history have organized power, why legitimacy matters, and how American democracy was intentionally constructed to manage conflict rather than eliminate it.

As midterm elections approach, we ask a deeper question: if people built this system — through social contracts, amendments, civil rights movements, and sustained civic pressure — what responsibility and power do we have to shape it now, both nationally and here in Vermilion County?

For show notes, visit www.vermiliontimes.com/get-with-the-times