Perspective

Carpe Diem

by Yvonne Takvorian Saville, Esquire

"Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried." –Winston Churchill

I anticipate that this time next month, about half of the country is going to be dissatisfied with whomever is elected as our 44th President. Although the members of one party will be disappointed with the results, we must remember how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America and have the right to participate freely in the finest form of democracy the world has to offer.

Educating our children about our government starts at an early age. My oldest son recently started school and one of the first things he will learn is the Pledge of Allegiance. I hope that in addition to memorizing those words, he also begins to learn how special that declaration is and why that tradition is so important to us as a democratic society.

With all the fanfare that precedes a presidential election, the significance of our political system should not be forgotten. "Democracy", which originates from ancient Greece, means "Rule by the People" and is used as a measurement of how much influence a people has over their government.1 The contemporary meaning of democracy stands for a "form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people...but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed..."2

In 1776, our forefathers created the institutions that give us the freedom and power to govern ourselves: a constitution that limits the powers and controls the formal operation of government; an election of officials; the right to vote; freedom of expression and freedom of association; equality before the law and due process under the rule of law.3 Additionally, the inherent checks and balances in our system help maintain the separation of powers and prevent any one branch from transcending its constitutional boundaries.

Having the ability to choose our federal and state leaders is not something that should be taken for granted. So many have sacrificed so much to afford us that right and yet, only half of our population exercise it.4 Such widespread voter apathy is difficult to understand when there are so many important issues addressed by our governing bodies which affect all of us. Issues such as attaining affordable health care for our families, obtaining a quality education for our children, creating and preserving a stable economy so that our jobs and financial institutions remain secure, and procuring a safe environment in which we feel protected and free to lead our lives.

One of the benefits of being part of our democracy is that we have the opportunity to express our opinions and beliefs. With the election upon us, we are more aware than ever of our differing political ideologies on various topics including crime and punishment, abortion, morality, taxation, governmental encroachment, use of military power and environmental concerns (to name only a few). Interestingly, although both predominant political parties maintain that their candidates have the answers and plans to correct many of our societal problems, these parties are at real odds with each other over how to achieve those goals. Our divergent viewpoints and strong partisan sentiment can sometimes lead to our failure to find common solutions on the most fundamental of issues. And yet, despite our diversity and differences, our democratic process thrives.

My son is obviously not old enough to vote, but I can help him learn and appreciate what it means to live in a society where the people can influence their government and where they have an impact on the issues that affect us. In fact, I intend to take him with me when I cast my votes next month. Our Constitution empowers us to choose the individuals who will best represent our interests and ideals and it is our duty to take part in this democracy, OUR democracy, to ensure we are adequately represented.

As election day approaches, we should reflect upon what a unique privilege we have been afforded by our founding fathers and preserved by countless patriots for over two centuries. If you know someone who does not plan on exercising their right to vote, you should encourage them to reconsider as each person’s right to vote and represent themselves in this democracy can and does make a difference. I hope each of you take your majority or minority views, your widely or narrowly held opinions, and your steadfast beliefs to the polls on November 2nd!

"Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and heart to this vote." – Daniel Webster, Eulogy on Adams and Jefferson

1 www.wikipedia.org
2 Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary
3 www.wikipedia.org
4 www.fec.gov/pages/htmlto5.htm; www.fec.gov/pages/2000turnout/reg&to00.htm

Return to October 2004 Table of Contents.