Major events divide our lives into what was before, and what comes after. Defining moments, we might call them, whether those moments are joyful or tragic.
I certainly won’t lump elections in with birth, death, marriage, divorce, cancer or winning the lottery, but elections definitely divide life into what came before and what comes after. The election of 2024 qualifies as a defining moment in our democracy.
Before the keyboard warriors jump all over me, and say that we live in a republic, not a democracy, I’ll concede that they are half right. A republic is our form of government. Democracy is how we exercise “government by the people” to choose what that form looks like. Democracy is the one person/one vote stuff.
Elections differ from other defining moments because they occur routinely. We know when they are coming. We expect them. Nevertheless, I’ve witnessed visceral reactions to these predictable defining moments range from a mob attacking our capitol, to near-apoplectic grief because western civilization is dead and it’s time to move to Canada.
What the “hair on fire” crowd on both sides of the political spectrum seem to have forgotten is that elections have been going on in our country for nearly 250 years, and we’re still here to rejoice or bitch about the outcomes.
The peaceful transfer of power every couple years in the U.S. does not mean that everyone will be tickled pink with the result. If just means that, if your side didn’t win, you won’t be shot or imprisoned for your opposition.
You are still a moral and political free agent in a pluralistic society and, if your side lost, you still have the freedom to peaceably oppose the winners, while you bide your time until the next election.
I remember John Wayne’s words at President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala. He very graciously acknowledged Carter’s election, and celebrated the peaceful transfer of power. Duke wished his new president well, and closed by saying, “I’m considered a member of the opposition... the Loyal Opposition… accent on Loyal. I’d have it no other way.”
I hope there is still a glimmer of that kind of patriotism and citizenship shining in us all.
Speaking of the winners of this election, I think they will find that it is much easier to get elected than it is to govern a free-thinking populace. The real work starts when the gavel drops, and all the campaign rhetoric goes out the window. Then it becomes time to put up or shut up.
The winners of this election will learn that they work in a fishbowl, with every eye upon them to see if they are work horses or show ponies. They must do the daunting work of the people with the sure and certain knowledge that, if they screw things up, there is another election just around the corners.
This election’s losers must behave as the Loyal Opposition, celebrating the system that handed them the loss, even if they can’t celebrate the success of the winners. The institutions and the majesty of democracy are always more important than the people in office.
And the losers should keep in mind that there is another election just around the corner.
Given the magnitude of voter turnout this year, and the margins in contested races, there can be little doubt that the people have spoken loudly and clearly. That, to me, is a source of pride in our country and our state.
This election was but one defining moment in the life of our republic. There are many more of them waiting just around the corner.
Rod Miller can be reached at: RodsMillerWyo@yahoo.com
