As we contemplate the end of a glorious life on earth for former President Jimmy Carter, whose greatest achievements perhap came after his presidency, a stark contrast is obvious between past leaders of character and present leaders who are characters. It’s painfully obvious who they are, and the danger to our democracy calls for them to be removed from office.
It will probably take the next election for these performance artists who make a lot of noise but who have no real plans to be cast aside. They certainly have no plans that will make our lives better.
We don’t have time for the radical people in office who continually seek to divide us and to take away the freedoms of those with whom they disagree. For these people who have no business representing us, it’s purely about power and having their happiness at the expense of others. Those who most loudly claim cheating and conspiracies are the cheaters and conspiracists. The media should take away their microphones, or we should at least not listen anymore.
Our democracy has many enemies, foreign and domestic. If we don’t elect those who seek to preserve democracy, then our external enemies will have an easy time ending us. Yes, us. There aren’t Republican states and Democratic states. There are American states populated by people of both major parties and others.
Let’s set politics aside and once again identify not as one party or the other, but as fellow citizens. The system is not broken. Our Constitution and form of government is the best there is. It is the people who make it great or broken.
As in sports, if the rules are broken, there is punishment equal to the offense, fairly meted out, often determinative of the outcome. You don’t get to change the rules so that you win, and the other guy loses. Elections can and should be won by persuading voters that you are the best alternative.
We can’t afford passengers. We need actively involved citizens who are involved because they love our country above all and who seek to preserve our democracy. Power comes from the people. Those who appear now to be powerful can have that power taken away if the people so desire it. It takes character and courage of the present crop of office holders to do what is right for our country. If they won’t rise the occasion, then they will be replaced. We don’t have time for any more of this nonsense.
Thank you, President Carter, for your tremendous service to humanity. When you get where you are going, please put in a good word for us. We need it!
TImothy J. Kunselman of Pittsburgh is a retired attorney currently reading biographies of all the U.S. presidents.
