Do Americans Still Believe in Democracy?

When I was growing up in a Chicago suburb in the 1950’s. every school day, every public meeting, and many private meetings began with the Pledge of Allegiance, and what’s more important, everyone believed it. We all agreed on the Constitution’s guarantee of a republican form of government. We all believed in free and fair elections (although many of our black compatriots were prevented from voting). We all believed that we could lose an election, then come back at the next election with better arguments and better candidates.

In 2021, we all still “pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America”, but as “to the republic for which it stands…with liberty and justice for all”? …we are no longer so sure, and we no longer believe in “one nation”.

A republic is defined as” a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch” A democracy is defined similarly as “a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.” (both definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary). So do you believe in the American republic? In American democracy?

Through gerrymandering, voter suppression, and outright election stealing, too many politicians demonstrate their preference for a system in which power brokers, politicians, and plutocrats (rather than voters) get to choose the leaders. And too many citizens have bought into the same anti-democratic sentiment. These people often pledge allegiance to the American flag, but they only favor democracy when their side wins. When their side loses, they do not admit defeat, nor do they ascribe their loss to failing ideas or bad candidates or superior opponents. Rather, they blame election fraud.

I side with those who believe in democracy and who, I sincerely hope, remain in the majority among our citizenry. In my book 21sr Century Common Sense, I wrote this:

“I accept without qualification or argument the underlying principle that all of us are created equal. Someone who rejects that principle might find little of merit in 21st Century Common Sense. We will examine those practices which give some citizens an inherent advantage over others to see whether we can realize greater opportunity for all.”

Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016, whether or not you like the results. Joe Biden won in 2020, whether or not you like the results. In both cases, our duty as citizens is to salute smartly and move on If you supported the losing side in either case, your political duty is to find a better candidate and better arguments in the next contest.