The Founders of the American Republic had the opportunity of a fresh start in the formation of our government. They could look back on European history to see that unity was preferable to fragmentation.
They also realized that as technological, economic and social changes occurred, new political leadership, with a fresh outlook and new ideas, would be needed to guide the nation toward security, peace and prosperity.
The European system of hereditary absolute monarchy required the old king to die before new leadership could be installed. Often social, economic or ideological pressures would build within a nation to the point where violent uprisings occurred in an effort to replace unresponsive leadership.
These nations were ill-served by their rulers, whose government was largely devoted to maintaining self-serving, corrupt regimes. The efforts to displace them wasted many lives and much treasure. The Founders envisioned a government with a built-in mechanism for periodically choosing new leadership, one that would reflect popular support for not only a leader, but also his policy.
The government would serve the People, rascals would be removed from office, the selection of new leaders would be by ballots, not bullets and, most importantly, no property need be damaged in the process. The constitutional government that resulted, though by no means perfect, and subject to continual fine-tuning by a mechanism featured in the original document, has served the nation well for 217 years. During that time it has met and overcome a multitude of challenges.
Now the greatest threat is not any external enemy or terrorist, but a failure of those who have benefited by it from taking the responsibility of fairly participating in it. We see around us venal politicians who have jerrymandered districts that ensure long careers in office.
Our broadcast media conditions us to be lulled into contentment with consumer goods while the means of sustaining our lives are exploited, polluted and exhausted. The leadership so recently chosen seems bent on pursuing policies that are increasingly understood as being ethically wrong and counterproductive in securing liberty and peace.
While this situation is indeed serious, a sufficient number of informed and concerned citizens can still effect a change of leadership and direction and save us from ruin. They can do it by voting, by speaking out and by organizing. As long as there is confidence in the inherent fairness of the vote-counting process, we can still realize the vision of the Founders.
I urge every American to oppose the electronic voting machines foisted on us in the last few years as an enhancement of the democratic process and recognize them for what the are, the end of democracy. Do not support or vote for candidates who promote them, as they are the weapons of mass deception by which government for, of and by the People may indeed perish from the Earth.
Steve Harness
Upper Lake
