Making Democracy Work--Really Work

Gun sales are up in 2020.  Significantly.  In fact as of the end of October a new record has been set in the United States.  Over 17 million guns have been sold this year.  And they are not just being bought by the usual gun buyers.  Many are first time gun buyers.  And they come in all shades of red, blue and purple.  People are anxious, frightened, angry.  They feel a need to protect themselves from those with whom they disagree.

I don't know about you, but I find this rather unsettling.  Not because I am unduly afraid of being shot by some outraged citizen who doesn't like how I vote or what I believe.  But rather, because it seems to point to a real decline in societal trust.  Our ability to trust one another enough to openly disagree with one another is a cornerstone of democracy.  It is what makes it work. Because let's face it, we are never going to all agree on everything.  We're probably not even going to come close!  But that should be OK.  That should be part and parcel of what it means to be an American.  You and I both have a right to believe what we want.  We both have a right to advocate for our own position. And we should be able to do so without resorting to violence.

There was a time in this nation's history when even the slightest insult could result in a duel to the death--just ask Alexander Hamilton or Aaron Burr.  But in time we came tor realize (at least legally) that wasn't a very good way to settle differences.  And so, for the most part, the guns were put away.  But which comes first, learning to trust one another, or putting away the guns?  Clearly, that's one of those dividing issues in our society, but really . . . do we need to return to the days of the Wild West?

Call me naïve, call me idealistic, but I've not given up hope.  I still believe we can make this democracy thing work, really work, for the good of all.  But only if we set aside our weapons, not just the guns, but the verbal weapons as well, and really listen to one another.  Really listen.  Maybe if we did that we wouldn't need to stock up on so, so many firearms.