"This Democracy Thang" - Commentary by Tony Seton

This Democracy Thang

This democracy thang has some wrinkles in it, at least as far as it’s being practiced. Let’s acknowledge right off the bat, as Churchill observed, that it is a terrible form of government, albeit the best we have. The essential problems lie in its principle components -- the people -- those who vote and those who count the votes.

Let’s start with the half of the eligibles in our country who don’t even vote. Most have their own reasons, such as they don’t think their vote makes a difference or they think by casting a ballot that they will be called for jury duty. Whether their excuse is based on ignorance or sloth, the fact is that their posture is very unpatriotic. Granted that there often doesn’t seem to be much of a choice between candidates, but the refusal to cast a ballot is corrosive of our political structure.

I believe that voting should be required. Not that someone has to vote for anyone, but everyone should at least have to file a ballot. These days, with permanent absentees available in at least some states, it takes less than a minute to fill out one’s name and address -- and nothing else if they so choose -- and the price of a stamp to show that they hold our democratic system dear.

Call me a grouch, but I would go further and suggest that people who don’t cast a ballot shouldn’t receive public assistance. And if you push me, I’d say take away their driver’s license. Or make them move to the Ukraine.

As regards the other side of the ballot box, I think we’ve seen enough questions arise about our voting procedures to place our entire elections process in jeopardy. Whether it’s because public officials who actively discourage voting through the use of arcane regulations, intimidating registrars, and a paucity of voting booths, or the cheats who would have us vote electronically without a paper trail, the fact is that many Americans have lost confidence in our elections results.

For a democratic society, the lack of faith in the elections process is an unhealthy condition, at best. The fact that more people aren’t concerned is an indication that the body politic is seriously ill and may signal that in the long run, democracy doesn’t work, at least not when people are involved.

And that’s SetonnoteS...I’m Tony Seton.