Protecting the minority from a false sense of mandate

This morning I read an editorial in the Argus Leader newspaper that stated people living in the blue states (read: Democrats) should stop whining about the election because there were just more red states (read: Republicans). They should stop whining and come together and accept W and the sweeping mandate he received from American voters. Essentially, we should not question our president, because he won the majority vote.

Several thoughts rolled around my head, but mostly I pitied this writer and his simplistic, uneducated view of America. I fear that too many people think as he is thinking.

First off, I do agree that everyone should stop whining about the election. John Kerry has moved on, so should we. However, W’s 51% of the popular vote (versus 49% support for Kerry) CANNOT be considered a sweeping mandate. I’d consider it winning by a nose. Thus, the “slight majority” needs to keep in mind that it has a margin of only 2% more support. If these folks are responsible, they will understand that this is not the time to stomp out the “slight minority” opinion or force an agenda favored by a “slight majority."

I suspect, however, the illusion of a geographic mandate created by the block of red states will color people’s thinking. Thank goodness Alaska isn’t usually represented in its true size on these maps or the “majority” would think they owned America’s pulse! Oh wait, it seems they already think they do.

Anyway, the “majority” cannot legitimately claim it has a mandate in any way. And this mistaken belief that the rest of America should just fall in line and hand W and his evangelical neocon Christian friends a blank check to do whatever they want is not what I believe the founding fathers had in mind.

Thomas Jefferson and others believed in a free and open marketplace of ideas. They set up a series of checks and balances of power so no one could conceivably become a dictator or king. That’s why we have the Senate and the House. The Senate allows an equal voice for even the smallest state, and the House gives stronger voice to the states with greater populations.

Interesting side note: much of the bloc of red states is comprised of western states with relatively small populations. For example Connecticut, a small blue state of 4,845 sq. miles has a population of 3,483,372. Red states Alaska, North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming combined, 1,055,939 sq. miles, have a total population of 3,465,827. Connecticut, in this case, has a great relative minority in size, but actually a slight majority in population.

When we hear complaints about gridlock in Congress, isn’t it better to know that there is some debate taking place on topics that concern us all rather than a ramrod of, let’s say, a slight majority’s agenda? Changing the Constitution should NOT be quick and easy. Representative democracy involves time spent on complex issues. My studies of communication warn of the dangers of groupthink—when everyone seemingly agrees and self-censorship occurs because “minority” opinions are squelched or members who disagree are cast out. This type of behavior is not appropriate in a representative democracy and is attributed more to fascism or monarchy.

Sorry, I’m meandering again. Part of the title of this entry is Protecting the Minority, and that’s what my concern is about. Lately, America’s politics has been about which party is in control instead of individual rights. With the results of this past election the Republicans control the Presidency, the House, and the Senate (with a slight majority—not a sweeping mandate). While the President may “owe” these results to the evangelical Christian voters who apparently turned out the vote on “moral issues,” let’s hope the rights of the “slight minority” of blue-thinking Americans aren’t trampled by a false sense of mandate.

I worry increasingly that the past four years (and now four more) of painting those who disagree with the war in Iraq as traitors to America; one of the most secretive presidential administrations in history; the burgeoning neoconservative religious fundamentalism of many public officials; the unwillingness of the mainstream media to ask tough questions; and an increase in single-issue voting (mainly regarding abortion), will lead to the trampling of individual rights. We must protect and allow minority views or we aren’t any better than the countries so many of those first Americans fled to escape religious persecution.

"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote: a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority." --Ayn Rand, "Collectivized 'Rights,' " The Virtue of Selfishness.