David Marshall
(6/2022) In 1790, George Washington stated, "The establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness." Democracy was referred to as the great experiment because it was unknown to the Founders if the proposed system of self-government by the people could withstand the test of time. Will there ever be a point where we can say that the experiment is complete and America has achieved her intended goal? What would "human happiness" look like in our politically, religious and racially diverse society?
The great experiment is not only a continuous process throughout centuries, but the nature of the experiment evolves as the description ‘We the People" changes by becoming more inclusive of others. Originally, "We the People" was limited and was a term which was not applied to the lives of everyone born in the United States. When the Constitution was written, poor white men were unable to vote. Women and people of color were also excluded from casting a ballot. During that time period, only wealthy white men who owned property were given the honor of full citizenship and the right to vote.
The great experiment took on more challenges as "We the People" became multiethnic and multi-religious. Throughout history, we have seen how America has successfully met many of the challenges. But in recent years, democracy has become more fragile. Today, we can see that our concern should not be focused just on the actual system of democracy, but its focus should be on the character of the people within the system.
The fight to save democracy must be a multiracial, multicultural and a bipartisan effort. The Founders knew the challenges that lay ahead. For example, while as a group they choose not to take on the issue of slavery, but many of them believed future leaders would eventually have the moral conviction to end it. The Founders recognized human imperfections with the tendency to abuse power. Therefore, history and current events shows how the great experiment is depended on citizens, along with those elected to represent us. There has to be respect for humanity, ethics and integrity embedded deep within our sense of community.
The Founders’ ideas were based on enduring principles and the need for laws dependent upon the consent of a people who understood those principles. One of the unique features of the great experiment rest in the fact that the Founders acknowledged how individual rights are derived from the truth that "all men are created equal". Therefore, democracy relies on its citizens exercising the Golden Rule, which is the ethical principle of treating others as you would prefer to be treated. It instructs us to put ourselves in our neighbor’s place, and guide our behavior accordingly. It assumes that when we put ourselves in our neighbor’s place, we are wise enough not to make any foolish decisions and decent enough not to make evil ones. The application of the Golden Rule is a moral checks and balance which transcends race, gender, class, religion, political party and zip code.
The United State has been one of the most diverse countries in the world for quite some time. Until recently not many people would have placed American democracy at serious risk. Did the Founders ever think future generations of Americans would strategize ways to destroy our system of government by the people? The events surrounding the 2020 presidential election makes the realty of a fallen American democracy even more real. The nation heard the published recording with the former president pressuring the top election official in Georgia to "find" enough votes to overturn his defeat in the state. When it becomes a win-at-any-cost struggle for power, can democracy survive our current political polarizations and lack of ethics?
"All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, "Donald Trump says, according to the audio of a phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. "There’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, that you’ve recalculated." As legal scholars described the comments as a flagrant abuse of power, democracy is dependent on public servants like Raffensperger who, as a fellow Republican, was respectfully willing to tell a sitting president he was wrong. For that reason, the overturning of a fair and accurate election didn’t happen in Georgia in 2020.
Having lessons learned, things are lining up where future state representatives in Pennsylvania may be less willing to resist than their counterparts in Georgia when it comes time to oversee the 2024 presidential election results. The recent primary election in Pennsylvania is alarming considering the Trump-backed GOP gubernatorial candidate (Doug Mastriano) has proposed things that could create election chaos, according to experts who are already fearful of a democratic breakdown around the 2024 presidential contest.
Mastriano, who was present at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, has vowed to decertify voting machines in counties where he suspects the result was rigged. He emphasized that the Republican-controlled legislature should have the right to take control of the all-important choice over which presidential electors are sent to Washington. As governor of Pennsylvania, Mastriano would have the unusual authority to directly appoint the secretary of state, who serves as the chief elections officer and must sign off on results. If he or she submits to internal or external political pressure, and refuses to certify the election results despite what the court says and despite clear evidence, chaos without a doubt will occur locally and nationally. If one is seeking to destroy American democracy, this would be a good strategy.
It was encouraging to see Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger take the brave and unpopular stand to defend democracy, it is equally encouraging the see Rep. Liz Cheney take a bold stand to defend humanity. Cheney wrote via Twitter "The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-Semitism. History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them." With hate crimes and domestic terrorism on the rise we need to follow the Golden Rule while embracing Rep. Cheney’s bold example of speaking out.
David W. Marshall is author of the book "God Bless Our Divided America" and member of Country First. Country First is focused on recognizing that Republicans, Democrats or Independents don’t have to be enemies just because they have different experiences and perspectives. To learn more about Country First visit www.country1st.com
