As the November elections draw near, there are a lot of things that remind us how imperfect our system of democracy is. Anyone who’s watched TV in a state that’s not Utah is probably at least a little put off by the ad-nauseam ads that insist the other candidate makes unflattering faces, has occasional bad-hair days, and shouts in slow motion.
But there’s plenty to be proud of too—lines of people waiting to register to vote; sharp questions from citizens at debates and town halls across America. We have a system that is fair, more or less, and that has provided for the peaceful transition of power for nearly two-and-a-quarter centuries. (Cue “America the Beautiful” here.)
