American Democracy is a SHAM(E) Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan US of A declared independence from British hegemony on July 4 ,1776. They drafted their Constitution on 17th Sept,1787. The said Constitution was ratified on June 21,1788. They have had elections once in four years to elect their President since 17th Dec,1788. And once every two years they have the mid terms to elect their Governors of States, Senators and members to the House of Representatives to the US Congress, and other state officials. The purpose of such ‘continuous elections was to let democracy take root and sustain’ wrote John Meecham, the renowned historian. The present hustings’ schedule for mid terms is poised on 8th Nov,2022. But voting in many of the fifty states has already begun.
American Democracy is a SHAM(E)
Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
US of A declared independence from British hegemony on July 4 ,1776. They drafted their Constitution on 17th Sept,1787. The said Constitution was ratified on June 21,1788. They have had elections once in four years to elect their President since 17th Dec,1788. And once every two years they have the mid terms to elect their Governors of States, Senators and members to the House of Representatives to the US Congress, and other state officials. The purpose of such ‘continuous elections was to let democracy take root and sustain’ wrote John Meecham, the renowned historian. The present hustings’ schedule for mid terms is poised on 8th Nov,2022. But voting in many of the fifty states has already begun.
Time to declare American Democracy, nothing less than a diabolical sham. To those who follow the US’ elections, it is less than shocking though surprising that their ‘electoral system’ is ‘incorrigibly bad and horribly broken’ as a NYT columnist described it. US’, a confederation of 13 independent states joined together to form a ‘more prefect union’ as they put it. Civil War and slavery were wrecking balls that Abraham Lincoln quelled. But, its ‘embers continue to burn’ says a sociologist.
US has no Election Commission like ours. Their Federal Election Commission is confined to dealing with political donations to parties/candidates. Elections, be it to States or Presidential, are handled by the 50 States with 50 different rules, regulations, procedures and practices. Strange. States dominate. The Federal Government has little say.
There is no one Voter Identity. Each State insists on its own and the ‘effort is to suppress votes not attract them’ as a commentator puts it. Democracy is all about voters and votes. Despite early voting (unlike our practice) and drop boxes and mail in voting, on different dates in different states, the lack of uniformity is a huge spoilsport.
The multiple differences are a humongous drag on the voters’ interest, inclination and enthusiasm. Already, voter apathy in America has meant less than 50% voting all these years. Donald J Trump’s entry in 2016 and 2020 did infuse and energize voter base and interest. But the Republican refrain of Josef Biden ‘stealing the election’ and Jan 6,2021- insurrection on Capitol Hill, have pivoted to the present dispensation of GOP States legislating to ‘suppress black/coloured votes with a vengeance’ said a political analyst on CNN.
Two hundred and ninety nine ‘2020 election deniers’ are in the fray in mid terms, on 8th Nov,2022. There is open and defiant rhetoric that unless GOP candidates win, elections would be deemed to be ‘rigged’. There is recorded instances of intimidation of voters in early voting. Gerrymandering ( read it up- you will be stupefied how America can preach democracy to the world) exacerbates the environment.
All in all, the entire electoral system in USA is a sham(e). It is democratic despite and not because of their system. Add the Electoral College beast in Presidential election- which has resulted in popular vote triumph being trumped ( Al Gore and Hillary Clinton). The US’ electoral system is everything – to call it a mess and messy. No wonder the voter does not care.
In the US’ elections, Money and Moolah alone matter. And US Supreme Court has willingly sided with it in the infamous verdict in Citizens United. And US Supreme Court has ruthlessly sided with suppression of Voting Rights Act,1965 ( Shelby County v. Holder) in the name of constitutionality. It is anathema to cite ‘constitutionality’ to suppress votes to the legitimate in a democracy. Who cares? Conservative majority in The Nine alone matters.
There cannot be a worst scenario for Dance of Democracy. It is a macabre dance, if anything. Not one to be proud of. It is profoundly pathetic, to say the least. We the People can feel proud of ours, notwithstanding the glitches. Voters are encouraged not suppressed. Voters are keen,willing and enthusiastic. Voting is basically free and fair. And counting is smooth and expeditious within a time line. Does not drag on and on like in the US’ with uncertainty writ large.
Most importantly it is popular vote that determines the Winner. It is voters’ or peoples’ mandate that prevails. Transition is certain and smooth. Character or antecedents of their Candidates is no better. Ours’ are far better and not so polarized and partisan. (True, if you care to follow the US’ debates and election commercials on idiot box and social media).
I would any day vote my chosen Thug. I make my choice. And my vote matters, not suppressed or denied. Our system is divine compared to that wretched mess that US’ electoral system is.The exchanges in public, print ,electronic and social media is vitriolic, venomous, scurrilous, hateful, defamatory and worse. Dirty private linen is hung out in public view. And US’ has the gall, gumption and hypocritical temerity to talk of civility in public discourse!
Marc Elias, a voting rights attorney says, “Today, there are 157 suits pending before courts in 34 States, primarily moved by Republican Partymen and/or right wing activists. The effort is to efface, erase the pageantry of democracy which is so special in America. And they are picking and choosing Trump appointees ( Judges) who seem willing to oblige. That is the sad part of it all. Unless the voters realize the harm to democracy as a proud national institution and vote big to deny the election deniers, we are in deep trouble”.
I am delighted that US’ democracy stands thoroughly exposed. They have no moral, ethical or legal legitimacy left, to teach and preach to the world. The arrival of Donald Trump in 2015 was not the result of the ills but a symbol of all that is rotten in the system. And things are unlikely to change before they get worse.
Shut up! US’ democracy is a SHAM. And a huge SHAME.
( Author of Constitution and its Making/Working- ( Musings,Anecdotes & Episodes),OakBridge Publishing- practicing advocate in the Madras High Court)
