The People Know Best

Trust the People

I was watching the news at noon the other day when a glitch in the local cable caused the news to be a still picture of a dog food advertisement. Needing my news fix, I switched back and forth between Fox and CNN hoping they would cancel each other’s bias, and I would get some actual news. Fox was busy blaming liberals for all of America’s ills while CNN was interviewing a college professor who apparently knows all there is to know about political science. The college professor made a statement that stopped me in my tracks. He said the reason we need to continue with an impeachment trial is to make sure Trump doesn’t get his hands on a pile of money and run again in 2024. I take exception to his statement.

It takes more than money to run for president. I agree that lack of money can force a candidate out of the race, but lots of money doesn’t automatically make someone a candidate. If money was the only consideration, Michael Bloomberg would be president now instead of Joe Biden. Bloomberg had lots more money. The American electorate (in this case the Democrats) chose Biden. I think they made the right choice. The jury is still out on Biden, but I’m convinced Bloomberg would have been an awful president. American elections are not for sale.

Contrary to the professor on CNN, I have faith in the voters. After seeing how Trump conducted himself in his last couple of months, I have no doubt he would be discounted as a candidate in 2024. He challenged the constitutional process in which our leaders are elected. He put himself ahead of country and rallied his supporters against the foundations of our democracy. The vast majority of Americans were appalled. The citizens of these United States would never offer the presidency to Donald Trump again. We don’t need an impeachment trial to make our decision for us.

CNN is not the only institution lacking confidence in the democratic process. There are ample examples close to home. The voters of Washington state have approved the initiative for $30 car tags three times. Each time the State Supreme Court overturned the voters on various technicalities. The court has been accused of being a pawn of the Governor and State Attorney General. I have found no evidence to disprove the allegation. There were twelve advisory votes on the ballot in 2018 that expressed the opinion of the voters on several tax measures passed at the end of the legislative session. Washington State law makers ignored all of them!

The American voters elected Joe Biden because they want the country to heal. Trump was rude, he picked unnecessary fights, and divided the country. Biden is “Not Trump” and promised to bring the country together. However, he has shown no signs of trying to reconcile our differences. If Biden continue to ignore the people, he will pay the price.

Frank Watson is retired air Force Colonel and ling-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.