On election day the reports pour in on major news web sites of election fraud accusations across the country. This is yet one more indication that the great experiment in an American republic is crumbling around us. One of the most noteworthy achievements of our founders and an accomplishment which has always separated us from the Third World and nominal democracies elsewhere has been a system of honest, visible elections which were uniformly trusted by the people followed by orderly transition of power.
Certainly there were 19th century examples of local elections that were corrupted and even violent, but the presidential race has seemed above such things. That's a rose-colored glasses view of history I know. The actuality was not quite so pristine.
Yet, today we see the accusations being cast almost as rapidly as the ballots. Its a bad sign.
Part of the cause might be attributed to the Gore/Bush fiasco in 2000 in which the Democrats simply decided to ignore the very clear procedures of the Constitution regarding an Electoral College as governing in favor of their own interpretation that somehow the popular vote made any difference. If you don't like the outcome change the rules, demand a recount, demand a re-vote, re-examine and grade the votes you've got.
The precedent carried forth into this past primary season where we learned watching those same Democrats that if you whine loud enough the rules can be rewritten after the game to change an outcome. Witness the banishment and reinstatement of delegates from Michigan and Florida to the Democratic National Convention. The rules simply are flexible guidelines. Change as needed to fit the most pressing desires.
Now, enliven your election day depression with this summary of what we appear poised to face:
David Limbaugh Observes the Prospect
I've got to go out to the store and buy some whisky and some ammo. Maybe I'll pick up a new gun too...
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