EVENT: Cleared up confusion, misinformation

During his presidency, George Washington witnessed the friction between the Democratic-Republican Party in opposition to the Federalists. It concerned Washington that this friction would ultimately undermine all the efforts made to establish popular sovereignty, unity and productive patriotism in our nation.

Washington stated in his farewell address: “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust domain.”

I would like to thank the League of Women Voters for providing our community an opportunity to gather factual information pertaining to the Open Primary and the Ranked Choice Voting Initiative. 

The event in Coeur d’Alene was heavily attended by folks of various political persuasions. The questions from the audience were thoughtful and relevant. The panelists did an excellent job of clearing up voter confusion about the initiative. 

Furthermore, the panelists aimed to debunk the disinformation and propaganda being spread across social media and by opinion pieces being published across the state seeking to disenfranchise voters they fear who may not be in agreement with their political ideology. 

Every effort made to ensure every eligible United States citizen an equal voice in our elections calms Washington’s concerns and supports the objective behind the founding documents of our nation. 

Every effort to respect those who have fought, died and otherwise have suffered to defend our freedoms, as this initiative does, deserves the support of each and every one of us. 

DEBORAH ROSE

Kootenai County