Wednesday, November 22, 2000

By AMY RILEY
One Citizen's Perspective

Since it is Thanksgiving week, and has been such a strange month politically, I thought I'd look for the silver lining in our present state of confusion. Being the eternal optimist, I know there must be some good in all of this craziness. Here are a view observations.

If the hand recount continues in Florida, despite the Republican Party's plea to let the machine recount suffice, one of two things can happen. If Bush is declared our next president even after the hand recount, then by allowing the hand recount, we have dulled the resonance of four years of Democratic Party complaining about how the presidential election was not a reflection of the expressed will of the people. If Bush wins using the hand recount tallies, then it's over for Democrats until 2004.

If Gore wins based on votes picked up in Florida during the hand recount, then the sleeping giant that is the standard bearer of this nation's more conservative bent has been not only awakened, but cattle prodded into motion. By no means does this giant represent a majority of American political beliefs, but as we know from this squeaker of a race, it represents a solid 50 percent.

And sadly, in the past eight years, the giant has been lazy and complacent. If Republicans have to suffer what they perceive to be an injustice, then there probably won't be much complacency next time around.

Two or three years ago, I would have estimated that those with more minimalist government views, the political conservatives, made up about one-fourth of all American citizens. Now we know that for every liberal-minded person, there is a countering conservative-minded person. For every left-leaning Constitutional revisionist there is a right-leaning Constitutional constructionist.

Our beliefs exist on a spectrum. We are not a nation of polar extremes, but rather a range of divergent views. The fact that this election has been so close, and so contested, is testimony to me that the American people do care about their right to express their views on government. And surely, no citizen will ever mistakenly believe that his or her vote doesn't matter. That is something to be thankful for.

The beauty of our system is that we don't have to agree. The dialogue that has resulted from the sometimes rancorous discussion of differing views has been the hallmark of our system. It is our birthright. We need not be disgusted with the current uncertainty. We should have a healthy fear, to be sure, and pay careful attention, but we should honor the process even when the process doesn't seem very honorable.

The fact that, for two weeks now, the American people have waited patiently and peacefully to realize the outcome of this election is one of the greatest blessings of liberty. There have been no riots, no bloodshed, just peaceful protests and rapt attention. There has been no social upheaval because we continue to live as free people, and we will continue to do so as long as the American people remain vigilant.

Many of us have poured over the governing documents, the history books, and the media coverage hungrily seeking to better understand our system. That is something to be thankful for, too. Those who are wise demand to be wisely governed.

It is nearly a certainty that someone will be declared president before the January inauguration date. And in the event that is not the case, our Constitution makes provisions for interim leadership. We will not be leaderless.

I am thankful that, in the midst of a situation that at times seems hopelessly deadlocked, we can still have hope. I am thankful that, in a nation that seems divided and broken, that we are still united under a common purpose. I am thankful that we can represent polar views on government if we choose to, and that no single mindset is forced on the people against their will. I am thankful that we can speak out, write letters, and march with a sign in protest.

For all the perceived imperfections, it is still the best system going. And for that, I am thankful.

[Your comments are welcome: ARileyFreePress@aol.com.]

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page