Former President Ronald Reagan once described America as “a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere.” He and his successors were fully committed to the beacon light of freedom, but that started to diminish in 2020.
The series of hearings by the House Jan. 6 Committee has been a frightening reminder of just how fragile our democracy and fundamental rights are these days. Across America’s heartland, there are disturbing efforts that are putting at risk the foundational pillars of our democracy. The so-called MAGA tsunami has every intention to undermine the transfer of power by replacing someone duly elected with a person resembling a despotic-type ruler.
A free and fair election system is at the core of a true democracy. Yet the 2020 presidential election prompted multiple claims that the election was flawed or stolen that led to numerous states enacting laws to limit voter turn-out. It has gone beyond, setting up state and local regimes to ensure that newly installed election officials can oversee certifying results to ensure a more partisan outcome.
If it comes down to democracy versus autocracy, the litmus test is the transfer of power. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln, expecting defeat in a forthcoming election, wrote, “it seems exceedingly probable that my administration will not be reelected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the president-elect.” One-hundred fifty-six years later, the defeated incumbent did not accept the election results and vowed to do whatever was necessary to stay in office.
In a series of hearings, the Jan. 6 committee has revealed how local election officials and poll workers are being harassed, even threatened, based on false claims of election fraud. In some states, election deniers are now being put in official positions as part of a plot to overturn the will of the people.
How elections are conducted is vital to any functioning democracy. In Washington state, county auditors are tasked with conducting elections — set up polling stations, tabulate the ballots, report and certify election results.
As Clark County auditor (1966-1974), I would meet with the Republican and Democrat party chairpersons prior to an election. These sessions were always collegial, working together to ensure that we had sufficient bipartisan volunteers show up on Election Day. These were neighborhood citizens who devoted the entire day to greet and verify the voters, then proceed to count the ballots and report the election results.
Welcome voters
Elections are partisan, but voters should be welcomed, not frightened, when they arrive to cast ballots. An unusual comparison is Kazakhstan, where I once served as an election observer. Yes, this former Soviet republic is an authoritarian regime with only political parties (basically just one) on the ballot. Yet what I witnessed at the various voting stations were voters bringing their children and having an enjoyable time before entering the voting booth.
Who would ever imagine that America would be reaching a crossroad where we either commit to preserving a true democracy or enter a pathway that leads to authoritarian rule? We are seeing early signs of this playing out in Florida and Texas, where strong-willed governors resemble leaders in Bulgaria and Brazil.
Shortly after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, I was on a delegation tour of the 12 Soviet republics. They were still under authoritarian rule. On the streets you could feel the suppression and fear of the people who had no rights and few opportunities. Ukraine was one of those countries.
As Ronald Reagan’s beacon light is beginning to fade, today’s “shining city upon the hill” may be Kyiv, Ukraine. As a former Soviet Union republic, it was under Russia’s authoritarian rule that had no tolerance for freedom and rights. Fortunately, Ukraine has evolved into a democracy similar to its European neighbors, marked by its courageous leadership and now recognized globally for its commitment and courage to fight and die to preserve the pillars of a true democracy.
Don Bonker is a former Clark County auditor and represented Washington’s 3rd Congressional District from 1975-89.
