All In: The Fight for Democracy

"Then you ask yourself, why do we have this architecture of all of these obstacles - voter ID, gerrymandering, purging, poll closures - why do we have all of this if voter fraud is virtually nonexistent? When you ask that question that way, then it leads you down a path where America must look at itself again, the way that it looked at itself when it saw the cataclysm on the Edmund Pettus Bridge." -- Professor Carol Anderson

A documentary that works pretty well as a history lesson of voter suppression in America, covering its founding, Reconstruction, the Jim Crow south, and the Civil Rights movement in ways that are accessible and informative. More importantly, it connects the dots to the present day, leading to the shameful gutting of the Voting Rights Act in the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision, and its creation of "Jim Crow 2.0" as Carol Anderson put it. I liked how it reminds us of Chief Justice John Roberts' apprenticeship under William Rehnquist, and the latter's role on the front lines of voter suppression in Arizona in the 1960's. I liked how it also reminded us of the genesis of Florida's ban on ex-felons voting (hint: it's racist). The film puts a lot of its focus on Stacey Abrams and her narrow loss in Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial election, one rife with voter suppression and certainly a worthy topic (she's such a fantastic leader!), though I think it sacrifices a few things as a result, such as the disastrous Rucho v. Common Cause gerrymandering decision. It does present the case that change is only possible through sustained effort and protest, and that voting is a critical part of democracy, serving as an effective call to action. Overall, well worth watching, as the fight continues.

Unfair, undemocratic, biased, discriminatory, immoral, partisan, autocratic, oppressive; with a common denominator the world over - white middle aged and older men, who are the curse of freedom, truth and democracy (obvs. not all of them). They've been around a while, just search for 'A Rotten Borough' online to find out more.

Being able to vote as a legitimate resident in any country should be as easy as going outside and holding up your arm. If your views are then reflected in representatives appointed through proportional representation, you have democracy. Break either of those rules and, as much as you'd like to think otherwise, you're under the control of others and, most likely, through men with the common attributes and characteristics previously alluded to - another one of them being they don't like your right to vote if you're not like them.

Stop what you're doing and watch this. Never has a doc been more timely and vital.

Much of the documentary covers familiar ground - the abolition of slavery, the progress during reconstruction, and then the restriction of opportunities to vote by means both legal and illegal. In that regard, the documentary repeats a host of documentaries already out there - such as "13th".

What makes this documentary worthwhile is that it sticks to a basic point: it doesn't matter if you're republican or democrat, we should all agree on the basic principle of democracy - one person, one vote, and that all people in good standing should be able to vote. If you accept that premise then it's important to defend it, no matter your political views. Democracy is not a single, simple pure thing. It's messy. Various elites seek to capture the process. Preventing that is not easy.

The film's greatest strength is its moving portrayal of the cost of democracy, It's not just about turning up to vote on the day - it's also about making sure you get the chance to do that. That's takes effort, but that's the price of freedom.

Again, whatever your political views, make sure you have the chance to vote - it's your duty.

You could argue it's preachy, but it's preachy for a very good reason.

While the presentation isn't too flashy either, this compellingly and coherently breaks down many of the current problems with the voting system in the USA, focusing on (but not always limited to) minority groups.

I learnt a good deal from watching this, and the way it cut back and forth between historical events in the America's past regarding voting rights and what was happening in the present day was really well done.

Great interviews, great editing, and great information. It's a little in terms of visuals and entertainment value, and some people are unfortunately going to remain unswayed by the arguments presented, but I thought it was a very good and extremely relevant documentary that's worth a watch in these trying times.