Pratical Politics

Okay, within the next two weeks, it should all be over. The early ballots will have been counted, the Nov. 5 voting tallies will have been done—maybe a slight delay in the overseas ballots arriving might withhold the announcement a little longer—but Kamala Harris will be announced as the next POTUS of the United States of America.
But unfortunately, that will not be the play’s end. Not yet. Donald Trump, as is his wont. will try every trick known and probably a few not yet known to contest the final vote count. He has attracted thousands of zealots to assist him, and they will try to bring as many legal suits as possible to nullify the vote count, along with several attempts by minions for Trump to not officially certify the vote in several states.
There will be a lengthy commotion created—the more noise the better—which will embarrass the U.S. as the world’s reigning example of the “best” democratic government. After all, to ultimately lose the challenges against the vote count—as he surely will—Mr. Trump knows he will face not just a quick dissolution of his public status to that of an also-ran (a faded star no one remembers), but he will also surely face the increased probability of spending the rest of his elderhood in federal and state prison.
So, while making sure to vote for and against all of the many meaningful propositions on this year’s California ballot (especially vote for Prop 6) as citizens we can look forward to the tail end of 2024 as a colorful climax of a highly entertaining movie, maybe one destined to someday win an Academy Award.
This example of a major attempt to deflate American democracy can (and should) become a new enticement to teach much more political science and civics in American high schools and colleges. For long, the lack of robust teaching in that field has been known to be a significant problem in American public education. But as is often the case, we only pay to fix the water pipes in the house (and other such problems) when the flood has already warped the floor and caused other major damage.
Out of this major clanging in our ears and water at our feet, the American system’s Electoral College will most likely finally be mothballed and real American democracy will reign. That will be a result worth the turmoil. Time for the real 21st century of politics to prevail.
Professor David L. Horne is founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute, which is a new 501(c)(3) pending community-based organization or non-governmental organization (NGO). It is the stepparent organization for the California Black Think Tank which still operates and which meets every fourth Friday.
DISCLAIMER: The beliefs and viewpoints expressed in opinion pieces, letters to the editor, by columnists and/or contributing writers are not necessarily those of OurWeekly.