FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Stolen elections don’t bring down democracies

Stolen elections don’t bring down democracies

Re: “US elections have been stolen in past”, Opinion, October 24.

I was surprised by the author’s forgetfulness. Yale Professor Stephen Carter is correct that individual elections have been stolen in the past – but he forgot to mention that the downfall of democracy is institutional failure, not a stolen election.
Ancient Rome – on which America based its democracy – fell largely due to institutional failure. Institutions exist to provide a check on corruption, and no democracy can exist without them. This year both of America’s political parties have failed in providing suitable presidential candidates. The FBI has failed to prevent a criminal from (perhaps) becoming president. The Justice and State departments failed in their related legal roles. The Internal Revenue Service failed to protect political minorities and the Congress failed to protect the middle class – the glue of any lasting democracy.
These are issues which Professor Carter would rather sweep under the rug, but, make no mistake, they are issues which could tear America apart. Carter said there are many reasons to oppose Donald Trump. Let’s not make the selective memory of liberal academics one of them.
Jason A Jellison
Bangkok

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