"Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people." (Abraham Lincoln)
President Lincoln is considered one of the great American presidents and he spoke at a time when the modern media complex with its 24/7/365 news cycle did not exist. He is not wrong, though.
The essence of democracy is based on the fundamental notion that each and every individual within a society should have a say in how the society runs and under what rules it operates.
Inherent within the democratic system of government is a belief in the people - in their goodness and wisdom.
Democracy is based on the notion the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Greatness is achieved by working towards a common good to which all of the participants within a democracy will aspire. But participation is critical to the success of any democracy.
"Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choices are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."
(Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Participation requires knowledge and understanding. It doesn't necessarily require schooling or an advanced degree. Instead, a democracy demands of its citizens more than a passing familiarity with the issues on the table.
And perhaps more importantly, what is not on the table.
For example, Hillary Clinton is not advocating for a repeal of the Second Amendment and yet many voters seem to think that will happen on her watch.
Education is critical, which brings me to a quote from an unidentified female voter commenting on last week's debate: "My team is the Republicans and if this jackass is leading it, so be it. I'm not switching teams."
The issues don't seem to matter. The substance of the debate between Clinton and Donald Trump were irrelevant.
Voting is about having "my team" win. (I suspect Franklin D. Roosevelt turned over in his grave.)
In 1920, H.L. Mencken observed: "As democracy is perfected, the office of the president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folk of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron."
Having watched the debate, this November might see the arrival of that "great and glorious day."
Of course, Mencken was being satirical. The day will be neither great nor glorious if Trump wins the White House.
Indeed, the first face-to-face contest between Trump and Clinton made it overwhelmingly apparent he is demagogue who has the outward appearance of a fool and a narcissist.
I know many people who tell me Trump is a lot smarter than pundits understand.
That may be true but the petulant child who stood on the stage repeatedly saying "wrong" and "I did not say that" was not presidential material.
By all accounts, Clinton won the debate but the bump in the polls taken since the debate doesn't give her a clear majority. It is still a tight race and The Donald could win.
This is despite his petulant performance. For a man who wants to run one of the world's largest economies and take on the mantle of "Leader of the Free World," he was hopelessly under prepared. More to the point, he lost his cool and should have alienated voters in his own party let alone the rest of the voting public.
If this presidential election is decided on content and character, the race shouldn't be even close. It is not that Clinton trapped Trump with clever "gotcha moments" and witty quotes.
She didn't have to. He went down that road all on his own.
The issue of Miss Universe Alicia Machado should have disappeared from the news much quicker than it did. But Trump seemed desperate to double-down on trashing this poor woman. He truly doesn't seem to understand why some people might find him offensive.
But the much bigger gaffe - the one which should truly alienate members of his own party - is when Clinton was questioning his tax returns.
When asked why he hasn't released his tax returns, he claimed it is because they are under audit. When it was suggested he might not have paid any income tax, he declared it was because he is "smart." That he is a smart businessman who in the words of his campaign pays as little tax as he can legally get away with.
More to the point, he proudly declared during the debate he takes "advantage of the system."
No one likes it when they are taken advantage of and so the voters should rightly reject this man.
They certainly shouldn't let a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron become president.
