If you’re counting on voting out the current administration in November – and believe that your vote will actually count – this documentary will shake you to your core.
Slay the Dragon is about gerrymandering, a topic which sounds like it would be boring and complicated but it’s surprisingly fascinating. It’s also the reason our democracy could die, and if that’s not reason enough to watch it right now, well, you’re probably a Republican.
Directors Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance have created a riveting film which will raise your blood pressure – and your awareness of the main reason our country is where it is right now. They carefully and, in great detail, make it easy to understand how gerrymandering – the mapping of districts to ensure the victory of one party – effectively put Republicans in power for a decade despite the fact that the Democrats won by large numbers.
Are you outraged yet?
The filmmakers focus the story around Katie Fahey, a young activist in Michigan with no background in politics who was just fed up with the system after the Flint water crisis and created a ballot measure to take redistricting power away from the government and put it in the hands of an independent commission.
As her group grows and gets closer and closer to their goal, it is impossible not to be moved – and moved to action. They are a perfect representation of Margaret Mead’s quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
There are a number of Republicans featured in Slay the Dragon who talk so matter-of-factly about their corrupt and sleazy actions, they sound like they’re boasting about what they were able to get away with. Listen to them carefully because it’s likely to be much worse for this election.
Check out the actions you can take at the end of the film – and take them. We the people need to take back our country. As Fahey reminds us, “The voters are supposed to choose their officials. The officials aren’t supposed to choose their voters.”
You can watch Slay the Dragon on demand for $6.99 through Angelika, my favorite theater, here.
Leave a Reply