Jenny Oak Tree articles

Jenny Oak Tree writes for Democracy Chronicles from the state of Alabama. Checkout the rest of our international team of authors as well. Together, they help cover free and fair elections on every continent with a focus on election reform in the United States.

On Political Satire at the White House Correspondents Dinner

By Jenny Oak Tree - May 3, 2018 1 Comment

Can a comedian speak out on the issues related to the media? Can a comedian speak out on the injustices occurring in America? Can a comedian speak out about what he or she deems are the most important issues?

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is playing a dangerous game

By Jenny Oak Tree - April 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

The juxtaposition of Kay Ivey promoting the validity of Confederate statues with the first monument dedicated to the era Alabama wants to forget, that of lynching mobs and racial terror is odd and uniquely Alabamian.

Why Former First Lady Dianne Bentley is Alabama’s Feminist Icon

By Jenny Oak Tree - April 21, 2018 Leave a Comment

Bentley is a proud conservative Christian who made a choice in the face of everything she went through to leave a cheating spouse. By all accounts, while the world is trying desperately to promote women, we have a feminist icon in our midst

#termisup: A Message For Africa Day May 25, 2018

By Ngah Gabriel

The amount of lives lost because of third-termist drives is appalling. Africans cannot keep losing their lives so that a few can enjoy power. Africa’s development cannot continue to be held hostage by these few.

Dozing in Delusion: Black America’s Faith in the American Dream

By Hassan Elhage

There is meaningful variation in public opinion regarding how certain groups of Americans view the American Dream. Among the root causes of this variation is race: black Americans specifically seem to embrace the American Dream, and have consistently done so for the past few decades.

Ranked Choice Voting is Not a Conspiracy, it is Nonpartisan

By M D Mitchell

The accusations by entrenched Republican elites in Maine does not change these facts. Republican leaders, sadly and apparently afraid of actually needing to convince the majority of Mainers to support their candidates and policies, have decided to now oppose RCV.

The Democracy Fighters of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade

By Hassan Elhage

I finally understand how, when the Spanish Civil War ignited, a group of young Americans— inexperienced militaristically but politically aware— chose to fight the ideologically-destructive fascism. Their fight was one for democracy worldwide.

Towards a New British-Zimbabwe Diplomatic Relationship

By Farai Chirimumimba

After almost two decades of stalemate, evident change has come to Zimbabwe. British Prime Minister Theresa May now has found a credible ally, in new Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to work to rebuild trust with former its colonial master.

A Look at the Design of the New Taiwanese Referendum Process

By Thomas Manning

Government officials in Taiwan have overhauled the country’s referendum process making it simpler for people to put forth initiatives when trying to make changes to the country’s laws. How will the new system work?

UC Davis Just Made a Video of My Poetry: Refugee/Refugiado

By Ana Maria Fores Tamayo

After a long time coming, Humanizing Deportation at UC Davis has just published a digital version of my poems in both spanish and english, with my own photography, to show the world what asylum seekers go through.

Free and Fair Elections Versus the Modern Republican Party

By M D Mitchell

As a swing voter, who has proudly voted for and supported Republicans in the past, I can’t fathom supporting a party that continues to remove itself from ‘We the People’, to be only for “a few of the people, the whitest and wealthiest.”