A Democratic Republic ... Going ... Going ...

There are a lot of issues that have to be dealt with today. New Supreme Court Justices, Intelligent Design in schools, ending the war in Iraq, and preventing war elsewhere. All serious issues, to be sure, but there is a single overriding issue that is screaming for attention. The overriding issue is that without a well functioning Democratic Republic, all other issues will be beyond our influence or control.

Today our future, our children’s future, the continued existence of our Democratic Republic, our system of one person - one vote, is being dismantled bit by bit. Our government is under the control of one party with a very clear economic and social agenda, and a penchant for using the civility and trust of others against them. 'Others', of course, include anyone not in conformance with the party line.

How did we get to this point? Some will tell us it’s the will of the people. Others will say we’ve been had. The arguments that our elections have not been legitimate since 2000 are not without merit. Actually, many of our elections in the past have been less than democratic, the ‘Daley Machine’ of the ‘50's and ‘60's in Chicago being probably the most infamous, but there are many other examples. The fact is that people in power will do anything to keep it, and those not in power will do anything to get it. It is truly a Machiavellian world, and the only thing that allows it to survive as such is the silence of the people.

It was only fourteen years ago this month that another republic, the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic, ceased to exist. Much has been made of Capitalism over Socialism as the cause of the downfall, but we shouldn’t be so quick to assume that what we are told is in fact what happened. There is ample evidence that the underlying cause was the disintegration of the party from within. A one party republic became unmanageable when there were opposing points of view about the direction of the country, and there was no means for a disenfranchised citizenry to even let its will be known. Regardless of what path the citizenry would choose to follow, a focused government would most likely have survived.

So, what does that have to do with us?

We have a Democratic Republic.

We have a vote.

Or do we?

Anyone not convinced that serious problems exist, should read Civil Action No. C2-04-1139, which is available online at www.nvri.org/about/ohio_cobb_ badnarik_counterclaims_123004.pdf. It is a filing in Federal Court, which presents to the court the evidence of a political party in Ohio working in it’s own behalf while supposedly representing all of “We the People.” In addition, a group of prominent statisticians working together in the group, U.S. Counts Votes, has presented data demonstrating the practical impossibility of the differences between exit polls and verified tallies across the country, that were seen in the last election.

In addition, The Presidents’ recent appointment of John Bolton during the congressional recess seems to be not only a slap in the face of the Senate, which votes on our behalf in this case, and thumb in the eye of “We the People,” but by my reading of the constitution is obviously illegal. Section 2. Paragraph 3. reads as follows:

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, buy [si] granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. (A reasonable measure in consideration of the difficulty of communication at the time.)(emphasis added)

Clearly, this vacancy did not happen during the recess of the Senate. This section of the constitution was obviously put in place to allow an office to continue functioning when an unexpected vacancy occurred during the Senates recess, not one that was left open and under consideration by the Senate. It is also clear that the obvious self-serving misuse of this provision to circumvent the democratic process does great harm to our democracy. But, it happened in a one party system, and while there were voices of dissent, there was no power to intervene.

But, the past has been written, and there is no eraser, so a great many people will ask, “What’s the point?”

The point is, that even though several Senators and Congresspersons have prepared bills to address the inequities in the electoral system, the issue is mute on capitol hill. Our present day one party government is ensuring that the issue of voters rights, and reforms to the electoral system don’t even get to the floor of the Congress - in either house. What better way to silence the voice of the people?

Are we powerless? No, something can be done. If the people of the United States, regardless of party preference, will rise up and demand that the system be repaired, it is likely we will avoid finding ourselves in the same position as the people in the now defunct USSR, without a meaningful voice in our government. If the people don’t give voice to their concern and demand to be heard, it won’t matter which party is in control, our interests will not be served.

Unless, and until, a very large number of people demand that their representatives in Congress address the problem of honest elections the problem will not be addressed. The need for verified voter paper trails, for every eligible voter having a reasonable opportunity to cast a ballot, for elections to be overseen by non partisan officials, is absolutely necessary for the defense of our democracy.

The election process needs to be repaired. It only takes a minute to send an email to a Senator or Congressperson. Each has a website with a page for comments. The addresses are easy to remember, www.lastname.senate.gov or www.lastname.house.gov.

A long letter isn’t necessary, just a note that says, “I realize that there is a lot to do, but first fix the electoral system,” is enough to make the point. Do it now.

A continued apathetic silence will only ensure that the democracy in our Democratic Republic is

going. . . .going . . . .GONE!