A warning from Justice Souter

Justice Souter retired from the Supreme Court in 2009.  He died last week.  He was a reasonable and thoughtful judge, but he said little after his retirement.  He did, however, reply to a question in New Hampshire in 2012.

He said he was concerned that the public was not very knowledgeable about how the government worked.  That ignorance could allow an authoritarian leader to gain power.  He said, “An ignorant people can never remain a free people.  Democracy cannot survive too much ignorance.”  

He added that “one person will come forward and say, ‘Give me total power, and I will solve this problem.’ ”

So what do you think?  Maybe the high schools should start teaching civics and citizenship again.  Or maybe that bus has already left the station.

See Adam Liptak, “A Warning From Justice Souther:  Too Much Ignorance Will Imperil Democracy,” New York Times, (May 13, 2025), p. A14.