Nov 14, 2016Opinion: Hats off to our democracy
Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent, put your most nonpartisan hat on and look at the just concluded presidential election from your most optimistic and hopeful viewpoint.
Our democracy and political system allows voters, if they get energized, to produce election outcomes that defy the ability of soothsayers, pundits and pollsters to predict the outcome. I see that as a strong and viable democracy in action. Our democracy and political system produces winners that are usually gracious and almost unfailingly respect their opponents for their commitment to fight for their values and viewpoint.
Our democracy and political system produces losers that almost unfailingly accept defeat graciously and call for a focus on unity and moving our nation forward. I consider that a strong and viable democracy in action. Oh to be sure this presidential election challenged many of us who saw a process that was raw and ugly and never saw our perfect candidate get the support we hoped for.
In the end, we understood our responsibility to vote and once the winner was declared, to renew our commitment to securing a better future for our nation and its people regardless of our agreement with the outcome. Thankfully few of us ever root for our President to fail.
As virtually every major player in the presidential drama voiced during the days following the election: We are not ultimately Republicans, Democrats or Independents–in the end we are Americans. Sometimes those voters on the short end of an election outcome in the United States may be heard saying, “I think I will move to so and so country.” But how many of us are likely to act on that foolhardy statement? I say hats off to our democracy and our political system. Not because of the outcome of any one election but because of the way we do it. I am not moving anywhere. How about you?
— John Keeling, National Potato Council CEO
Source: National Potato Council
