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There are threats to our representative democracy, but that isn’t the
news. There have always been
threats to our representative democracy and if reasonable people make
reasonable decisions we will reach reasonable solutions. The danger is the when the power of the
fringe faction overwhelms the power of the reasonable mass. In our current political environment
the following are the tools of the fringe faction and their use elevates the
real and potential danger to democratic principals.
Gerrymandering: The purposeful drawing of political boundaries to
maximize the influence of a ruling minority over an overall majority. The danger and very real effect of this
practice is that the will of the majority is thwarted and the primary election
becomes the de facto election. When this occurs the power of the fringe is
magnified and the power of the mass is diminished. The solution is to oppose the practice and not to vote for
its proponents.
Voter Suppression: Voter suppression is disguised as a reasonable practice
to prevent voter fraud. The only
fraud in the voter fraud argument is that there is voter fraud. It does not exist. People who don’t have the right to
vote, simply don’t vote. Heck, the people who have the right to vote... don’t
vote. And there is the rub. So few people vote that preventing
someone from voting is as powerful as getting someone to vote. This is especially true if a faction
targets those that are unlikely to vote for faction in the first place. The
most fundamental right of an American citizen is access to the ballot. Those
that work contrary to this right are the most base opportunists. The solution is to oppose the practice
and not to vote for its proponents.
Unfettered Campaign Finance:
The argument is that dollars = speech. That premise is false.
Speech = speech. Dollars =
access, influence, coercion, special consideration and media time. If we
believe in the premise of one person - one vote, then that requires limits on
those who individually have the resources of 100’s or even 1,000’s of
people. To not do so is to abandon
democracy for oligarchy. The solution is to oppose the practice and not to vote
for its proponents.
The Attack on Public Education: Key to a thriving democracy is an
educated citizenry. An educated citizenry questions, thinks, considers and
votes with reason and reflection. For a faction that is afraid of a growing
populace that does not look like them, the last thing the faction wants is for
those they deem different making mass, educated decisions at the ballot
box. When a faction defunds,
devalues and debases public education, the faction diminishes access and
opportunities to those who most need it, and who coincidentally have the most
compelling reasons to question the status quo. The solution is to oppose the practice and not to vote for
its proponents.
This post is in no way a partisan attack. In fact, in the recent past,
both parties have been guilty of engaging in each of the dangerous practices I
have presented. Which is why I
have always voted a split ticket. I don’t vote party. I vote for the smartest
candidate that most consistently plays by the rules that are best for the
country. And that is why the
threats I have listed could fade away almost overnight. All it takes is more of
the collective us not only voting, but voting with consideration and
reflection.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
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