Karl Meyer: Choices in our democracy

Published: 01-05-2024 1:44 PM

Modified: 01-05-2024 9:18 PM

“We the People.” Those words have defined ourselves, our collective rights and freedoms since the Constitution was signed in 1789. Though its source is unclear, I’ve always believed, “With great freedom comes great responsibility.” As the 2024 election looms, the essence of that statement defines its stakes: Will we defend our freedoms and responsibilities for a democratically elected leadership for those who come after?

The stakes for our democratic experiment have never been higher. Starkly, our choices boil down to two:

1. Choose a candidate who would erase the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies.

1(a). Choose again a candidate who, through mob rule, threats, vigilante violence, intimidation and misuse of the courts, attempted to hijack “We the People” and enshrine himself as dictator.

1(b). Choose again one who holds sacrosanct an individual’s right to cache military-style weapons that turn our schools, churches, synagogues and shopping malls into unspeakable killing fields.

1(c). Choose he who sows hatred, fear, division by race, scorns a free press and pledges allegiance only to his personal flag while slow-dancing a litany of lawsuits for obstruction, incitement and insurrection, and others for assaults, while a known consort of at least one porn star.

Or, we can vote for democracy and dignity:

2. Choosing a candidate whose allegiance is to our Constitution and the First Amendment, and who honors our individual and collective freedoms of speech, religion, a free press, and the right of the people to peaceably assemble.

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