Child's Play, The Citizen, November 2012

The Election Is Over

Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.

By the title of the article, it might appear I am writing a political column. I am not, so bear with me. I'm writing a column on gratitude - something that has been a topic of my columns before around this time of year.

I've followed politics since I was in grade school. I remember the election of Richard M. Nixon in 1968. I didn't understand politics, but I found the process interesting. Now I understand it much better and that, combined with my interest in human behavior, makes politics a daily part of my diet. Over these many years, I've seen a change in American behavior in regard to elections, especially presidential elections. Since the campaign and narrow win of George W. Bush in 2000, the country has never seemed to be more divided. That is not good, but it isn't all bad, either.

I don't know why people vote for whom they vote, but I suspect that decisions by voters of both major parties are more often based on fairly shallow issues - party affiliation, single-issue voting, or voting "against" the other guy. Yet the fact is, more people are voting. People talk about politics more than I've ever experienced before. That is a great thing.

The interest in who gets elected president is growing. Regardless of who won this past election, the process, flawed as it is, works and I am grateful. Whether or not my candidate takes the White House, I'm grateful that Americans care enough to vote. Millions of us went out of our way to vote early or took time out of our busy days to vote on November 6. That is something to celebrate.

While there are always accusations (no matter who wins) of voter fraud, campaign misconduct, or questionable behavior by election officials here and there, for the most part we have an amazing electoral process and we have a Constitution that protects us from tyrants.

If we end up with a president we don't like, at the very worst, we are stuck with him/her for 8 years. There is almost no chance, as there is in many countries around the world, that a tyrant can gain the reins of power and then take over as dictator.

I'm grateful that almost every day, despite my personal frustrations with government intrusion in our lives, that my freedom is protected by our Constitution and our government officials. That has a much broader effect on me than who is in the White House.

I'm grateful that my children can watch this process, learn about governmental styles and philosophies, and then decide for themselves whom they would like to vote for. I'm grateful that my colleagues and I can disagree on politics, and yet still be friends.

Perhaps most of all, I am grateful that I can voice my consent or dissent, as loud as I want, and I don't have to fear arrest, torture, or death.

When Sadam Hussein came into power, the day he took over the parliament, those who were opposed to him were escorted out of the chamber and never seen again. That cannot happen here as long as we are a free people and as long as we value our privilege to vote.

As one who follows elections very closely, I have very strong personal opinions about domestic and foreign policy, economics, party platforms, and specific leaders and their behavior. Yet I always try to remind myself I live in the best country in the world. I try to remember that my wife's grandfather sacrificed three years in WWII, the first three years of my future mother-in-law's life, so that I could enjoy the freedoms I have today.

Millions of men and women have given their all for our country. Some have given their lives to politics and public life, subjecting themselves to a cruel and vicious system, because they want to protect the freedoms of America. Others have given their professional lives serving in the armed forces, some being wounded in battle. And of course others have paid with their lives.

These are gifts that I don't take lightly and, considered from that perspective, who won a given election is a minimal issue - regardless of whether or not he/she was my candidate. This Thanksgiving, don't forget to give thanks for the amazing freedom we celebrate in these United States of America.

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