Friday, March 29, 2024
39.0°F

DEMOCRACY: It’s in jeopardy

| January 19, 2022 1:00 AM

My faith in the strength of American democracy has been weakened more than I could ever have predicted. The same process has increased my understanding of the innate weakness of democracy.

This country has survived in spite of that weakness and because of that it became a “beacon” (Ronald Reagan) to other countries to establish a democracy.

I attributed the failures of many of them to populations that were just not ready for it. Events of the last several years have demonstrated to me what a miracle the success of our country is and how special factors, like geography, contributed to its success. That and strong roots in British history were essential elements in our development.

All forms of government have dissatisfied citizens. People don’t like “the government” or rules and laws that seem to work against them. But in this country most people follow the rules because they work for the majority.

The further away we get from our roots, combined with our education systems failing to remind us of our foundations, the easier it is to seek change. When there are individuals/groups taking advantage of that who incite them to want change, the roots of overthrow are born. We are not where many countries were in recent centuries but there are similarities.

The future of this country depends on our citizens remembering how much freedom they have while appreciating the limits on freedom that work for all of us. The freedom side of that equation is glorious!

MORTON KRAUS

Coeur d’Alene