A year ago, a mob, led by unscrupulous politicians, stormed the Capitol, almost successfully preventing the transfer of power. All 4 of our former presidents condemned their actions and affirmed the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. Afterwards, there was a brief hope that the riot would give the nation a shock to address the pernicious polarization that threatens American “democracy.”
A year later, however, the promoters of lies about the theft of election results have taken over a political party and stoked distrust in the U.S. electoral system. These forces wield their capabilities and influence by spreading disinformation, which continues to pit Americans against Americans.
I myself faced this threat in my backyard in 1962. At the time, a party county leader who had faked the ballot was trying to steal my chance to run for the Senate from Georgia. This was in the party primaries and I challenged this fraud in court. In the end, the judge declared the vote invalid and I won the election.
For American "democracy" to last, we must hold our leaders and candidates to high standards of conduct.
First, while citizens can disagree on policies, people across the political spectrum must agree with principles and norms of fairness, civility, and respect for the rule of law. Citizens should be able to easily participate in a transparent, safe and secure electoral process. Allegations of electoral irregularities should be submitted in good faith, to be adjudicated by the courts, and all parties involved agree to accept the findings. The electoral process should be conducted peacefully, free from intimidation and violence.