LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Hold politicians accountable to truth and reality
In “The Simpsons” episode “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington,” the episode’s climax is that a little girl is losing faith in democracy. “Good Lord!” exclaims the senator, who immediately takes action to restore justice and democratic norms.
That’s because when the episode aired 30 years ago our country had honest disagreements about policies and solutions to social problems, but we still believed in democracy and, to be honest, reality.
In our time we have seen the strange rise of delusional thinking: that Trump won the 2020 election; that he would be installed as president last January February or March (now they say August); or that there was mysterious election fraud (via Italy and military satellites).
Who would have thought that, after defeating fascism and communism in the 20th century, our democratic country would have politicians who attempt to restrict people’s ability to vote for the candidates of their choice?
Yet that is what we are seeing today in swaths of nation. This is why the For the People Act is so important. It means every citizen has a right to vote with access to the polls.
Making it harder for people to vote is undemocratic. Gerrymandering is undemocratic. Threatening poll workers and election officials is undemocratic. Disputing election results without proof is undemocratic.
We must hold our politicians accountable to truth and reality, and our desire to live in a democracy where a citizen’s right to vote is respected.
Elections are not mysterious or difficult, but simply the expression of the will of the people.