Who Lost the Election? We Did!

I am sitting here prior to the results even starting to be reported, but already I know who lost. We did.

Representative government lost – when candidate after candidate eschews compromise, represents contributors first and constituents second or when they so clearly represent only those who vote for them and not the whole of their district.

Democracy lost – when a select, few voices are allowed to so outshout the many.

National identity lost – when eleven states representing but 29% of us US citizens receive virtually all the appearances, ads and field work for Presidential candidates; when 79% of us went virtually ignored.

Education lost – when attention being paid was rewarded not with intelligent explanations of the issues, but with pandering, simplistic half-truths, empty slogans and personal attacks.

Trust lost – when the press, TV and radio are filled with stories about voter fraud, voter suppression, last-minute provisional ballot and ID constraints and other dirty tricks, and confidence in the fairness of our election process eroded.

International respect lost – America as exemplar of democracy sullied in the eyes of the world as we squabble, belittle our leaders, waste unbelievable treasure, and mud wrestle our way into the next phase of never-ending political campaigning and partisan gridlock.

Who lost? We did.