Saving our democracy
To the editor:
As Americans celebrate the 4th of July, many are calling for action to “save our democracy.”
Something often overlooked is that in the United States today, we no longer have a democracy. Democracy is generally understood to be where the “majority rules” via our elected representatives, and they derive their “just powers from the consent of the governed” (Declaration of Independence).
That hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Republicans in the Senate haven’t won a majority of the vote since 1996. Republicans have won the popular vote for the presidency only once since 1988. As a result of partisan redistricting, voter suppression laws and policies that make it harder for minorities to vote, Republicans have almost guaranteed themselves victory if they garner somewhat over 40% of the vote.
For example, the Republicans in the Senate now hold 50% of the seats, but they represent only 43% of the voters. In 2000, when Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election, only 42% of Americans voted Republican for the Senate, yet they won 50% of the Senate seats. Based on what the majority wanted and voted for, 2000 should have been a Democratic landslide.
When we talk about “saving our democracy,” we should be talking about “restoring our democracy.” Patriotic Americans want their democracy back, even if it means their favorite candidate might lose. They want to see the policies they voted for get a fair shot in Congress. They want fairness and integrity in their elected officials, not lies and cheating. They want “this great experiment” to succeed.
Susan McGuire
Bokeelia