One Nation Every Vote (OneV) exists because we believe that every American citizen, regardless of political affiliation, deserves meaningful representation through their vote. Democracy is not created when powerful nations impose leaders from the outside; it is built when people participate in collective self-governance. When democratic norms are weakened anywhere, global stability suffers everywhere.
On January 3, the United States carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and their transfer to the United States to face criminal charges. President Trump stated that the U.S. would temporarily administer Venezuela to facilitate a transition of power. This action has raised serious legal and geopolitical questions regarding sovereignty, international law, and democratic legitimacy. Legal scholars and global leaders have questioned the operation’s compatibility with the United Nations Charter, which generally prohibits the use of force against another state except in cases of self-defense or with explicit Security Council authorization.
OneV does not defend Maduro’s rule or minimize the suffering of Venezuelans under years of repression, economic collapse, and institutional erosion. Human rights organizations have documented abuses including restrictions on press freedom, weakened judicial independence, and mass displacement. The question before us is not whether Maduro’s government failed its people—but whether foreign military removal of a leader creates the conditions for lasting democratic governance.
History strongly suggests it does not.
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What History Tells Us About Forcible Regime Change
Across regions and decades, externally imposed regime change has repeatedly produced instability, weakened institutions, and long-term harm to democratic development. Below are brief summaries of key historical cases, with links to deeper analysis for readers who want more detail.
Panama (1989): Quick Removal, Slow Democratic Repair
The U.S. invasion of Panama removed Manuel Noriega swiftly, but at significant civilian cost and amid international condemnation. While Panama eventually achieved democratic stability, that progress resulted from sustained civic engagement and domestic reform, not from the invasion itself.
→ Click here to read the full Panama case study
Iraq (2003): Power Vacuum and Institutional Collapse
The removal of Saddam Hussein ended an authoritarian regime but dismantled state institutions in ways that fueled sectarian violence, insurgency, and long-term instability. Elections followed, but under conditions that undermined legitimacy and public trust.
→ Click here to read the full Iraq case study
Libya (2011): Regime Change Without a State
The NATO-backed removal of Muammar Gaddafi eliminated a dictator but left no durable political framework. Competing militias and rival governments fragmented the country, producing years of conflict and regional destabilization.
→ Click here to read the full Libya case study
Iran (1953): Blowback Across Generations
The U.S.- and UK-backed overthrow of Iran’s democratically elected prime minister weakened Iran’s democratic trajectory and helped set the stage for decades of authoritarianism, revolution, and deep hostility toward the West.
→ Click here to read the full Iran case study
These cases differ in context and outcome, but they share a common lesson: when political agency is taken from a people, democratic legitimacy suffers, often for generations.
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International Law and the Importance of Sovereignty
The UN Charter reflects a global commitment to sovereign equality and non-interference. Article 2(4) prohibits the use of force against another state’s political independence except under narrowly defined circumstances. Many governments and legal scholars have raised concerns that the 2026 Venezuelan operation lacked a clear legal basis under international law.
Respect for sovereignty is not an abstract principle. It is a safeguard for global stability and for the right of people everywhere to determine their own political futures.
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Why Democracy Must Come From Within
Democracy is not simply the absence of a dictator. It is the presence of institutions, norms, and civic participation that allow people to choose leaders, resolve conflicts, and hold power accountable. These foundations cannot be imposed by foreign militaries.
For Venezuelans, and for societies everywhere, lasting democratic representation depends on internal processes: independent institutions, protected civil liberties, inclusive dialogue, and elections rooted in consent. These paths are slower and more complex than military intervention, but history shows they are far more likely to endure.
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Conclusion: Choosing the Ballot Over the Barrel
History offers a clear warning: quick, force-driven solutions rarely produce democratic flourishing. While military interventions may achieve short-term objectives, they often undermine long-term stability, weaken international norms, and strip people of political agency.
OneV stands for democratic engagement, peaceful resolution of political crises, and the principle that true representation comes from the ballot, not the barrel of a gun. Voting is not merely a procedural act; it is a claim to dignity, accountability, and shared ownership of a nation’s future.
If democracy is to thrive in Venezuela, in the United States, and around the world, it must be built by the people who live there. Only then can governance be legitimate, sustainable, and worthy of the trust of those it serves.
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