mactrunk
What kind of government will enable us to live our lives as we wish? Considering this question reveals that the objectives of both sides of our country’s politics may be more alike than different.
The political right wants the freedom to enact what it believes is best for themselves and others. So does the political left.
The difference that remains is what both sides think of two pillars of our democracy as we know it, expressed repeatedly in our Constitution. First is the rule of law requiring that it apply to everyone equally. Second is majority rule by means of the vote. It does no good to mess with either of these enterprises.
To undermine the rule of law by transforming the justice system with politically biased or unqualified practitioners will dangerously hand power over to moneyed forces that will act without restraint. And to undermine the vote whereby certain populations are rendered voiceless compared to others is quite simply a form of cheating.
Neither effort will achieve anything good and instead send our way of life, our democracy, over the cliff. Regardless of whether the political right or left presides in the White House and/or Congress, clearly there is one other rule that applies and it resides in each person we elect.
It is what that candidate is made of, his or her integrity, honesty, and intelligence. Those qualities, the rules each individual lives by, may be hard to discern amid quirks of personality and the ability of some to lie without conscience, but it is essential for every voter to learn how to do it.
Regardless of political positioning, men and women whose inner makeup is admirable can be trusted to behave well in our representative government — no matter the circumstances.
Lorraine Desrosiers
Hadley
