Our Democracy

Today is an important day in our country.  Election Day is finally here.  The day that we, as Americans get to choose our elected officials.  

Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through freely elected officials. Democracy grants us freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, which ensures that voters can be well-informed, enabling them to vote according to their own desires.

Although democracy is far from a perfect political system, it is unquestionably an important apparatus in achieving equality, decreasing conflict, and increasing the participation of the people, making it, in my opinion, the best available system of government.

“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.”

Roald Dahl

Our democracy not only encourages basic American values such as religious freedom and worker rights, but also helps create a more secure, stable, and prosperous global domain in which the United States can advance its national interests.

Our democracy tends to foster human development—as measured by health, education, personal income, and other indicators—more fully than other forms of government do.

Our democracy is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, and our voices will be heard on this historic day. 

We have already set records in the amount of people who have voted and expressed their wishes for the leadership in our country.  For this, we should all be very proud.  In the past, many voters have taken this privilege for granted and not voted on Election Day.  For whatever reason this year has created such an incredible turnout, we should hope that every election from now on matches the numbers of today.  

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

Thomas Jefferson

Liberty, equality, and justice represent basic values of the United States democracy. Our country is always changing and growing based on the needs of its people.  Collectively and individually we are being summoned to look at our beliefs and behaviors and to grow in accordance with today’s challenges.  

There is only one race, we are all in the human race.  No matter how this election turns out after today (or later this week) we need to remember to respect each other.  It is important to be able to express our beliefs without being persecuted for these beliefs.  

Thankfully, we can also look forward to the termination of those monotonous, annoying, repetitive commercials. 

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

Abraham Lincoln