OUR VIEW: Democracy based on majority rule

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OUR VIEW

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following Daily Republic editorial is reprinted from Election Day, Nov. 7, 2006.

Many voters will feel a sense of relief when this election is behind us. Not because they cherish democracy any less and not because their right to vote has become more difficult to carry out. Absentee voting rules have been relaxed. More and more voters are voting early.

However, many voters are unsettled and even upset at the contentiousness of the debate over issues and among candidates.

Not that these battles over moral and ethical issues are new. Look at the past campaigns between Bill Clinton and George Bush, or between Tom Daschle and John Thune. The issues of “right and wrong” prominently figured in those campaigns, as well, which makes today’s vote all the more important but not unusual.

One question that is worth considering is this: Will today’s election settle things?

It’s an easy question to answer and what it means is that this state and this nation will continue to seek consensus on divisive issues. It won’t be easy and we predict it won’t happen anytime soon.

We’re reminded of what former Sen. Tom Daschle once said when he was accused of being an obstructionist in Congress. He replied that while compromise was essential to the democratic process, an elected official should never compromises on his core values or beliefs.

And that’s where we are today. We have large contingents of people in this great state and nation that are on opposite sides of important and emotional issues. Compromise may not and cannot be the answer. In the end, it is a majority vote.

That is, after all, the democratic way.

Tags: election 2012, opinion, updates, editorials, democracy