Democracy's death greatly exaggerated in Wisconsin

By now, the video from last night (June 5) is beyond viral.  The voter's tearful words in response of his support of Gov. Scott Walker’s recall vote defines spur-of-the-moment goofiness and an utter lack of understanding the most fundamentals of civics.

After the projections were in, and Walker’s position reaffirmed, the emotional man whined to reporters, “We’re not just disappointed! This was the biggest election in America. Democracy died in America tonight!  This was it. If we didn’t win tonight, the end of the USA as we know it just happened!”

His proclamation is so lame I don’t know where to begin. For starters, let me make this clear: I don’t know a whit beyond the sound bites which have been spewing out of Wisconsin the last few years about Walker wanting to curb state pensions and being at odds with powerful unions.

Don’t know enough about any of these things since my only concern for that state purely is that families are safe, well fed and employed; that Harry Houdini’s heritage is being well preserved in Appleton; and that the Green Bay Packers always will remain a contender in the NFL.

In some slim measure, I can grasp this young man's outburst. Obviously, he was a passionate advocate for a cause. It afflicts us all from time to time. He was emotional and speaking from an anguished heart.

Reality: His team lost. That’s politics, my man, and the pendulum doesn’t always swing the way you like. For good or ill.


But his outburst clearly “underscored” his misunderstanding of what democracy – rather a democratic republic and voting – is all about. I find it ironic he would claim that the process is dead on the eve of one of our nation’s greatest and most horrific military engagements to preserve liberty.

And this elusive and wonderful thing we call democracy.

Let me suggest that democracy is not dead in Wisconsin or any state or commonwealth in our nation. But I can tell you where it doesn’t exist or doesn’t seem to have a chance in other spots around the world.

Remember that showdown in Tiananmen Square in the People’s Republic of China back in 1989? Recall that skinny guy called the “Tank Man” who stood his ground in front of those menacing machines and the thousands who later were executed or vanished into the Maoist gulag?

How about North Korea, where three generations of chubby perverts have chosen to isolate the nation and starve their people?  

Let’s zoom over the Iran and Syria, whose populations have tried standing up in protest of murderous zealots and second-string, sonny-boy crackdowns on dissent. And how about that stogie-chomping octogenarian in Cuba and his wrinkled vision, which seems to be gasping its final breaths?

Closer to home, I will admit that our states and our communities – our way of making decisions and refining “democracy” such as it is – has a long way to go. But the road to Utopia takes consensus and compromise. Some aren’t willing to acknowledge and accept that.

Democracy didn’t die in Wisconsin or America last night. The process merely played itself out. Now  sir -- go back to your job and family and begin another day. Pay your taxes, support your community and do good whenever and wherever you can. 

And please, continue to support whatever cause stirs your heart. That's what democracy is all about.