Another election is once again upon us: the non-presidential midterm election of 2022. Historically, lacking the “star power” of a presidential contest, midterm elections do not draw the attention or participation of many voters. Hopefully, that will not be the case with this midterm. This election is probably the most consequential midterm of my lifetime, a needed referendum on the current state and future direction of the country.
In a typical election, men and women run for office by identifying various programs and priorities they promise to deliver – even though the many levers of government preclude any one representative from accomplishing much on his/her own. They are also likely to demonize their opponent as the devil incarnate, while they alone can save the country from total collapse. Buzz words (“socialism”) and sounds bites (“save social security”) will dominate the political rhetoric; true debate or meaningful, constructive dialog will be banished.
Election 2022 has a different call to citizens than picking a list of political actions and programs. While these are important, there is a more pressing need to (re-)affirm who our country is, what it stands for, and what it values. Because we, as a country, have lost our best sense of ourselves, and who we are about. There are two overriding issues we, the voters, need to address in this election: 1) reaffirming our Constitution and its foundation of the rule of Law that guides us; and 2) protecting, in fact enhancing, the accessibility to, and power of, our vote.
In 2022, we need to clarify whether we will return to a respect for Truth, Honesty, and the Law as fundamental to retain our Constitutional Republic. We accept that politicians will stretch the truth in order to benefit themselves. But over the last six years, outright lying, obfuscation, and endless delays in accountability have become the standard. “The Big Lie(s)” of unsubstantiated “facts” and opinion has made the most implausible seemingly plausible; political posturing has replaced Integrity within many of our American institutions. The bedrock principle that “no man or woman is above the Law” has been shuffled out the door in favor of rampant, unchecked illegality. The stability of Judicial Precedent has been shattered. “For the good of the individual” is replacing “For the good of the Country” as the basis for public service. The equal ability to partake in the country’s economic, religious, and personal opportunities has become questionable. The baffling, increasing violence that surrounds us daily is testament to our division and frustrations. The discord reflects our continual difficulty in trying to balance our Individual Rights versus our Community Responsibility.
As a result of our discord, Trust in our governmental institutions and public servants is at an all-time low; Trust in each other is too often non-existent. This lack of trust makes finding solutions to our many problems near-impossible. We argue incessantly; we do not listen to each other. We do not converse; we yell at each other. Hardened partisan speeches promote our separation and a one-sided view of our Constitutional principles. Yet the strong-minded men who wrote that Constitution realized that they were dependent upon the practical tool of Compromise. Their lesson to each of us is that without Compromise, there would not have been a Constitution. Without that Constitution, there would have been no United States of America.
The right to vote, through which the right to have a say in our government actions and the individuals selected to deliver the will of the people, is one of the primary gifts of American citizenship. For nearly 250 years that right has been expanding to include increasing groups within our electorate. Yet over the last four years we have seen one of the greatest assaults on voting rights since Reconstruction. At times, the right to vote was limited by law: e.g. restricting voting to property owners, or only to men. In other times, it was restricted by actions: e.g. paying poll taxes, requiring literacy tests, subjected to violence and intimidation. With the 1965 Voting Rights Act, most of the overt legal limitations were ended; thereafter, we chipped away at ending the action-based limitations. What we see today are limitations that are “tactically” based. These are the tricks misused to benefit one political party/candidate over another. We see polling stations set up in intentionally inconvenient locations with inconvenient hours; reduced time frames and/or sites for early voting; more technical requirements for obtaining an absentee ballot; restrictions on providing food or drink to people in long lines waiting to vote; dubious challenges to voter rolls. These and other tactics are specifically designed to discourage targeted groups from being able to make their voting intention count. They are all justified as “needed steps to prevent voter fraud” – would-be solutions to a problem we do not have in any meaningful or consequential quantity.
Preserving our democratic foundation, and protecting – and expanding – our right to vote. These are reasons that Election 2022 is so important. We should not be unduly fighting over specific policies and programs; these will continue to come and go as they always have. Rather, we should put our focus – and vote – on the character and integrity of our candidates. Who among them consistently tells us the hard truths; speaks and acts in the positive; is capable of playing well with others; is informed and knowledgeable about the issues facing us; is consistent in their opinions yet able to adapt to new information. Versus those who spout knee-jerk reactions; speaks in the negative; does not play well with others; accepts and/or promotes lies.
These are the overriding issues that we face. Over the last decade, the American Ship of State has taken quite a beating attempting to navigate its way through many stormy waters. The story is told that shortly after the last session of the Constitutional Convention concluded, Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Pennsylvania State House when he encountered one Elizabeth Powel. Ms. Powel asked Dr. Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin is said to have replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Can we keep it, as Dr. Franklin challenges us to do? We need to vote accordingly, as if our future as a country depends upon it. Because it does.
© 2022
Randy Bell https://ThoughtsFromTheMountain.blogspot.com
