On Watching Democracy Work

Commentary, Truthiness Comments (1)

To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary. -Abraham Lincoln

America is facing a real problem today: Democracy at work.

On the democratic side (2008), the nominee for president is still in doubt, and the closer the process gets to the convention the more people are talking about it being a run for the money, or with bitterness or even, gasp, like someone will lose.

Isn’t democracy fun?

The worry is that the Democratic Party fight will spill into the convention and make the party seem disorganized.

Poppycock!

The conventions used to be where the candidates were decided, not where they were crowned. Democracy is dirty, messy and to be entered with fists and blows (of the word kind). Then, the winner would calm the masses, and together, stronger for the process go against the real opponent. How a party exits the convention is a real measure of their organization. That is another reason the conventions existed.

Why are people afraid of watching actually democracy at work? The media has been pushing that line for the entirety of March ’08. This pages view is this: the media (liberal or conservative) sells rating. Conflict makes people watch TV. This fight in the democratic party is ratings gold, because without it, all they have is one of the most boring nights of television: convention day. Without this conflict, all we can look forward to is long speeches interrupting the actual way money is being made.

Conflict sells, and sells extremely well.

People on the streets who want the Democratic party contest decided now? Who are bitter if their guy loses? I don’t mean to be dismissive but, someone -had- to lose. When [George] Bush beat [John] Kerry there wasa collective “how did that happen?” And yet, no riots, no burning cars (France) no … nothing. Wallstreet went back looking to garner every drop of money it could find, the news cycle moved on to other things (there was no transition to cover) and the people got up and went to their jobs the next day. In an instant, the debate was over, and ifs ands or butts would have to wait four more years.

Every so often there is an opportunity to see the constitution and American democracy at work. There is a sense reading international pages, that their is surprise that one of the worlds more efficient democracy can get into any trouble with its well touted democratic process. Sadly we don’t see it enough. We’ve become more civilized we tell ourselves: Contests are decided after two States vote, and the rest of the voting public doesn’t even bother half the time. Conventions are crownings and ra-ra rallies and every year, voter turn out goes down further and further because what is 1 vote against a 70% poll?

There has been a disservice done to the American constitution for quite some time and right now, -yes right now-, Americans of at least 5 generations are seeing how the system really does work; a process some generations have never seen in action. It was 1976 for the Republicans when Regan almost narrowly beat Ford and then neatly embarrassed him in the republican convention. In the 1980’s Ted Kennedy failed to secure a convention victory against Carter in the democratic convention. Sure, the candidates themselves may be angry, but it’s not about them, it’s about America and americans should be grateful such a process exists for them. In other countries, these fights lead to civil wars.

Since 2000, from a contested election we’ve switched congresses, lost party leaders, shifted lost cabinet members and appointed A Supreme Court Head Chief Justice. I dare say any decade has been this much exciting since the late 70, early 80’s. The active generation entering the working class at this moment, wasn’t even born yet and their managers, may have been too young to know what the fuss was all about. This old, venerable, 200 year old experiment in democracy still chugs along, steadfastly facing the challenges time throws its way.

I say again: damn, isn’t democracy fun?

OceansOfThought @ March 27, 2008