Yes, the USA Is a Democracy!
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You may have heard it said that the United States is a republic and not a democracy. We may not be a pure democracy, in the sense that the people gather to vote on every item of concern. In fact, there are very few such democracies. It’s not a practical system for a nation. However, we are still a democracy. Consider the words of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America:
We the People of the United States,
in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Note the reference to “We the People of the United States .
. . establish this Constitution for the United States.” Yes, it’s the people
who are the foundation of the government of the United States. It’s not the
land owners. It’s not even God. It’s we the people.
It is true that the Founders were
skittish when it came to giving too much power to the people. So they created
significant checks and balances, and in the beginning, they limited “suffrage”
(the right to vote) to white men of property. Thus, they limited the franchise
(the ability to vote) to white men of property. It took the Civil War to move
the country to the point where the 15th Amendment was passed
prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying the right to vote
based on race, ethnicity, and former servitude (1870). While that enabled
persons of color and former slaves to vote. Even then women didn’t have the
right to vote. That took the 19th Amendment (1920) prohibiting the
denial of the right to vote based on gender. The 26th Amendment
guaranteed 18-year-olds the right to vote (thus I could vote in the 1976 elections).
Oh, and the 17th Amendment (1913) allowed the direct election of
Senators (before this most senators were selected by state legislatures). There
are several other amendments dealing with elections, and perhaps we’ll need
more amendments to protect our democracy. Nevertheless, the nature of our
democracy evolved over time. So, while we may be a representative democracy, we’re
still a democracy. We the people still have a say in the way our nation is
governed.
Why am I writing about this? In
large part, it’s because I’m worried about our democracy. Whereas we should
follow the trajectory of the 15th, 17th, and 19th
Amendments to the Constitution to expand the ability of U.S. Citizens to
participate in our democracy through their votes (and if we take this seriously
then we need to vote). There are still constitutional impediments to becoming
more fully a democracy (electoral college). We’ve seen efforts to undermine the
Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sought to protect against voter suppression.
Those efforts have in turn been used to undermine efforts to expand voting access.
Somehow allowing more of our people to vote is a bad thing.
You may
have noticed that we are once again in an election season. It is the primary
season (here in Michigan the primary is scheduled for this coming Tuesday,
August 2), where political parties elect their nominees to represent the party
in the November election. We are witnessing some challenges to our democracy,
even in party elections. That’s because, in our increasingly polarized world,
many candidates are forced to cater to their base, which is often rather
narrow. However, it takes an excited base to win. Thus, in this new world where
in many cases the only real challenge a candidate will face will be in the
primary, there is no room for cooperation or compromise with the other side,
even if such a compromise might benefit the people one represents or seeks to
represent. It’s all a matter of winning and losing. So, in this political world, you’re either
with us or against us. If you don’t play by those rules, you will be slapped
down. Of course, this way of thinking does not lend itself to getting things
done. But that’s the point. If you can stir up the base against the other side,
you don’t have to accomplish anything. This state of affairs has been magnified
by gerrymandered districts (which are not new). dark money, and of course
various forms of media that target specific groups.
From a
Christian point of view, I need to first acknowledge that democracy is not
biblical. No specific political system has been stipulated by the Bible, except
the kingship of Jesus. The guiding principle, in my mind, for any political
decision-making is rooted in the command to love one’s neighbor as one’s self.
As I ponder that command, I believe that Jesus has something in mind that
transcends any political or national system. As I’ve written in my book on the
Lord’s Prayer, our ultimate allegiance is owed to God and not to the nation or
any politician. Thus, my ultimate allegiance to God should help temper my
political instincts. Believe me, I have them. While our ultimate allegiance may
be with God, if we serve in any political office in this country, according to
Article 6 of the Constitution there shall be no religious tests given. That
covers both federal and state offices (and any others in the nation). So those
who insist we are “a Christian nation” and that our leaders should be
Christian, that doesn’t fit the Constitution.
I am by inclination deeply
interested in politics. I grew up in a politically engaged family. Back in the
1960s, my father served as chairman of the local Republican Central Committee
in Siskiyou County and even had his own local radio program. My mother was
president of the local Republican Women organization. I may have changed
parties as an adult, but I learned the importance of paying attention to
politics early in life. Our political system is not perfect, but if we the
people are its foundation, and we take the common good as our guiding
principle, it is workable. Over the past several years I’ve walked neighborhoods
with my good friend Padma Kuppa as she first ran for the state legislature, to which
she has won elections twice, the first time flipping a traditionally Republican
district. Now, she’s running for the state senate, in a district that is nearly
evenly divided politically. Thus, this is no sure thing. (As you can see, I do endorse her candidacy!) While this is the primary season, most people
aren’t focused on parties. They want to see things get done. Many are
frustrated with the current gridlock. Some are so frustrated that they’re ready
to give up, believing that nothing can be done. Believe me, I’ve heard their voices. The
problem with believing that nothing can change is that this lets the most
strident voices control the conversation, which further polarizes the nation.
That is not good for anyone, except the beneficiaries of a broken system!
To read more about my thoughts on matters political, see my books:
Faith in the Public Square: Living Faithfully in the 21st Century, (Energion, 2012).
Ultimate Allegiance: The Subversive Nature of the Lord's Prayer, (Energion, 2010)
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