Democracy

Okay, so there was an election….

And some candidates and ballot issues won, and some lost. Which upsets some people, as it has since the dawn of democracy.

When it comes to elections, I have lived through what I consider good years and bad years, and most years it’s a mixed bag. This is the nature of the voting process. As a people, we have opposing ideas and differing values, and as a people we get to decide which of these ideas and values the majority prefers.

And then, together, we live with those choices, whether we voted for them it or not. Those are the rules of democracy.

Over time, we have made some choices that have proven to be excellent, and others that have not stood the test of time. Every elected leader has proven to be flawed; they are human, and most of their mistakes can be attributed to their humanity rather than malicious intentions. And every elected official has done some things right. (No, really. I looked it up.)

Recently, it dawned on me that there is another amazing thing about a democracy: no matter how you voted, your representatives still work for you. Voting for an individual does not make that individual beholden to you in a special way, and not voting for an individual does not absolve that representative of responsibility for you.

So talk to them. It’s your right to make your voice heard, and it’s their responsibility to listen. Voting is only one way of communicating, and there is no reason the conversation should end when the polls close, no matter who you voted for. So write to them. Tell them what you heard that you like. Or present an alternate point of view. Let them know what matters most to you. And listen. Find out what’s going on in the world, and do it through a number of different outlets. None of us can afford to listen to only those with whom we agree. In these challenging times, we need everyone’s best thinking, and the best representatives—and citizens—understand that.

I am embarrassed to say that, in personal conversations, I have not always been kind in my description of certain politicians. I hope that I have outgrown that. There is no reason to be mean and snarky. Personal shots have no place in our political discourse. Those of us old enough to vote are old enough to avoid words like stupid and idiot when describing elected officials, especially in public.

We are blessed to live in a country where we can speak our minds and vote our consciences. Now that the voting it done, our work together must begin. Only together we can create our optimum future.