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Democracy Under Assault
Michele Swenson
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About the Author
 Michele Swenson
A life-long activist, Swenson has worked as a volunteer with homeless teens, women and children, done background research for gun safety and health care groups, and testified before the Colorado legislature regarding safe gun laws and health care issues.
The foundation for Democracy Under Assault was laid during Swenson’s first career as an intensive care and obstetrical nurse in the pre-Roe 1970s. During this time, she became immersed in the history of abortion after working with women who died of pregnancies contraindicated for health reasons. Her investigation led to several decades of research into Christian fundamentalist and gun-centered ideologies. Having spent much time monitoring radio/TV broadcasts by right-wing evangelicals and gun advocates, as well as subscribing to their literature, Swenson accumulated notebooks full of direct quotes that illuminate distorted rationales behind extreme ideology.
Swenson has supported and been active in a number of community and national organizations, including interfaith groups concerned with church-state separation, gun safety and health care advocacy groups.  She has given presentations about gun violence and the state of the U.S. health care system before such diverse groups as the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the National Organization of Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) and the Alliance for Retired Americans.
An avid gardener, Swenson lives and works in Colorado, where she enjoys outdoor sports.
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