Democracy is a form of representative self-government that by definition comprises the full participation of all the self-governing selves. When the body politic is constituted in a manner in which some members of society are leveraged out of full inclusion, democracy fails in its prime objective. Our declaratory democratic republic ideal of ‘one person, one vote’ suffers substantial dilution from our system of proxy representation, whereby others stand-in for us. An impersonal representation decided by ballot voting. The results of which are guaranteed by the imprimatur of state and/or federal election rules. These rules determine who qualifies for ballot placement and who won after all votes are counted. There can be no departure from truth and incorruptibility for the will of the people to be done.  But as the saying goes, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Trump’s acquittal, though a foregone conclussion, epitomizes this often quoted principle. The Republican Party and dare I say those who still swear allegiance to the GOP are corrupted by their need to bend the will of the people to their personal benefit. They care not about justice, equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. If they did, they would stop pledging their fidelity to this nefarious, depraved, psychopath. To sellout democracy for personal gain is not simply selfish but morally base.

Thus, they stand against worker unions and liberal PACs, and the redistricting of legislative districts that disenfranchise voting blocks of people of color. Not to mention all the contemptuous attempts to excise from our democracy "of the people, by the people, for the people." 

We recognize the fundamental imperfection of structuring self-autonomous living, while living among other self-autonomous beings. We create rules, make laws to maximize our influence to manifest personal dreams, wishes, and idealistic solutions. And by virtue of ideology, spirituality, philosophy, and self-survival instincts, we sometimes – okay, often — raise our voices symbolically or literally above the din of competing ideas. Deep down, though, we comprehend the essential advantage of democracy over tyranny. At the end of the day, we want the same things: happiness, security, prosperity, perpetual hope. To the degree we want this for others, we possibly could have more in common than we think.

Either way, we share this planet and its resources. The others among us are always among “us.”  And we are always among “them.” Us and Them. Democracy is the way to level out the playing field, against our natural predilection to be the chosen ones. Higher consciousness doesn’t choose between but unites when possible. But if not possible, it demands that we decide truth over self-obsession. In the long term, what was acquitted was insurrection for white supremacy ruling over a nation of immigrants of all races, ethnicities, and spiritual persuasions. 

— Carl