Response to Andrew Reynold’s research on North Carolina’s election system has been published by Andrew himself, again in The News & Observer: The salient points:
A few respondents wrote, “America is a republic, not a democracy.” A ha! They gloated, end of argument: We need not abide by democratic principles because we are a constitutional republic. Coincidentally, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest shouted this at a protester at the General Assembly on December 15. I am not sure if I am in awe of the chutzpah, or appalled at the level of ignorance. Saying the USA is not a democracy because it is a republic is like saying, ‘that’s not a dog, it’s a Labrador Retriever.’ About two thirds of the world’s full democracies are republics, the rest constitutional monarchies. They are all representative democracies, not direct ones – even accepting that the Swiss like a referendum every now and then.
The second criticism was, ‘two wrongs make a right.’ Democrats had abused their power when in office so it’s fair that Republicans abuse power now. It’s certainly true that historically both Democrats and Republicans have been culpable in democracy’s decline but it is also true that in North Carolina recently the Republicans have been most egregious in their contempt for democratic principles. The fact that both parties manipulate elections for partisan gain and wring as much power as they can from their turns in office has caused our institutions to atrophy and ugly polarization to seize the public sphere.
Ah, experts and their expertise, eh? The critics sally forth and, convinced they’ve won the battle, drag their battered bodies, limbs bedewed with that rosy substance, so critical to their existence, back to their castles, from whence they fly pennants of victory and declare It’s merely a flesh wound, and I’ve destroyed that scoundrel.
Yeah. Monty Python would not be amused, either.
So neither side has clean hands. Here’s the thing: Independents are not looking to see which side can more effectively use their advantages to secure their position, but rather Who can effectively govern in a fair manner? Don’t these guys wonder why they’re on a seesaw, rather than in an impenetrable keep? Treating the government as a prize to be ravished, rather than a responsibility to be handled with honor, leaves the ravishers with dishonor on their names and on their supporters, for the zealots who elect people who they know are corrupt or incompetent or off in a land of their own, but boy are they team players, well, they are as guilty of the high crimes and misdemeanors as are those who they supported, rabble-roused for, and elected. (My thoughts on politics as a team sport here.) I do not refer to the casual voter, but to the Party hack who places Party over State under the mistaken belief that politics is a team sport and whoever is anointed had better be your pick, too.
In the future, the names of the GOP legislators will not be venerated, but instead cursed. Does this make them happy?
For better or worse, we just had an election like that, and we’re about to learn the lesson of politics is a team sport. Let’s hope we can recover from the resultant gonorrhea.
