November 5, 2024
Dear Mr. Franklin,
This is just to say, we kept the republic 237 years and 49 days.
Is it really that dire? Are we no longer a democracy? Did a slim majority of Americans—77 million versus 75 million—really vote out our form of government? If we decide that right now, is it precipitous? If we don’t, are we dithering while Rome burns? Whichever we decide, what do we do next? Report it?
“We can now safely report, as of November 5, 2024, American democracy is at an end.”
Fight it? Keep fighting a mob using Marquis of Queensbury rules?
I don’t know, but here is a suggestion, and it might surprise you.
Nancy Astor, the Viscountess Lady Astor, served in Parliament from 1919 to 1945. When asked about her political success, she said that she took into public life the lessons she learned from her mother:
- If you don’t have anything nice to say, be quiet;
- Play nice and share;
- Do not hit;
- Show some respect; and
- Do unto others.
This may be the time—whether we are on the road to perdition or to redemption—to clarify our demands of our elected representatives. They represent us. OK, what is it we want? This might be a good time to get our expectations clear and be unequivocal about when to shake our heads and when to nod. Maybe it is as simple as what we learned at Mother’s knee.
The Constitution
We might start with the basic expectation of a president of our United States. Article II, Section I of the Constitution says: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
OK, now we are getting somewhere. Let us remind ourselves that ours is a government formed for the benefit of the people, not for the suppression of them. The core of our Constitution and democratic thinking is to respect, not despise, the people; to include, not exclude; and to ask for their support, not frighten them into submission.
Let’s clarify and demand that.
The vice president, senators, and representatives take a similar oath:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
I think we should expect that from our leaders.
If you don’t have anything nice to say
Let’s tell our leaders we want good behavior, civil language, positive reinforcement, and uplifting entertainment. I think we might make clear, regardless of where we think we are heading, that no one wants our leaders to draw pictures of a dystopian landscape, predictions of mass destruction in the offing, and a population of hopeless, helpless people. If you cannot say something nice, be quiet.
Hey, Hollywood, how about less blow-it-up, shoot-it-up and more stories of real heroes—you know, the disinterested, the ones who can think, who seek to be kind, not kill the competition? Feature the ones who can stand firm, and figure out a solution for the greater goo,d not a short cut to self-aggrandizement.
Hey, news media, really: If it bleeds it leads? If a woman has a beard or man bites dog? If it shocks, if it riles up folks, it captures eyes and that means—what? Hey, Zuckerberg, how about if it isn’t true, it doesn’t post? Hey, MSNBC, how about a compound sentence airs only if it makes sense from first word to last? You providers of the lies and the nonsense think that if you disorient the public, depress them, and leave them uncertain what to believe, they will buy more soap flakes? They will buy more soap flakes when they can afford them.
Play nice and share
Let’s continue, where President Biden left off. Let’s repair the economy. Let’s learn to recognize those who are trying to help us and distinguish them from those merely using us. How many Trump supporters have told me they know he is a man of bad character, but they think if we give him the power he will fix their problems? Too many. Let’s not be deceived. Remember the kid in nursery school who said, “That’s mine. That’s mine. It’s all mine.”
Well, now he is a big boy and headed for the White House, and he wants it all for himself none for you.
Show some respect and do unto others
I guarantee there are no others out there who want retribution taken against them. Let’s not do that. Let’s let our representatives, from president down, know that we don’t want that, and if for no other reason that we ourselves do not want to be vulnerable to it.
Luckily, there is the playbook, whether POTUS is a saint or a sinner: Our expections—clearly stated—should be the same.
