Your Turn: Do we want to save our democratic processes?
If one defines democracy as the served choosing their leaders by free and fair elections, it seems to me that our democracy has finally come to its tipping point.
The nation is divided between two political choices, Democrat and Republican. We are awash in a political system that is now one of our more significant financial industries. The death struggle over gerrymandering, deciding who gets to vote, when and where, and the lobbying that goes with it has become inordinately large.
Further, it seems that many people would prefer an authoritarian rule in this country. And the vast majority of those folks reside in the Republican party. And, since Republicans are outnumbered by Democrats and Independents, that leads to all-out efforts for minority rule.
The belief that our elected officials should have ideas that serve the common good and not just one extreme or another seems like ancient history. Rather, we condemn each other and attack our very symbol of democracy. And Trump didn't start this and he sure isn't the solution.
As I see it, the only way to get back to our constitutional roots is to expand the two party system, place financial limits on campaigns and donations, and finally, to institute ranked choice voting and term limits. Increasingly, we are telling people their vote doesn't really matter; that it's either right wing or left wing; that you are either for me or a despised enemy. Compromise is long gone.
Why are we so afraid of a new approach? It might actually get to reasonable decision making and politicians who are in it for us and not special interests.
What have we got to lose in trying it? Perhaps you may no longer get to make all these personal choices that we treasure as freedoms if we follow the authoritarian route. Or perhaps not the socialism route that so many are fearful of. But maybe, just maybe, we could get to a point where reasoned thinking and compromise might lead to a healthier and happier society where we all have a stake in decision making.
I know one thing for sure — democracy is worth saving and both authoritarianism and socialism are extreme opposites. What I'm not so sure of is whether we want to save our democratic processes.
James J. Cullen, Yarmouth Port
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