Institutions & Elections: Trust in Democratic Government Matters

Elections matter. Or do they? Recently people who should know better have been casting preemptive doubt on the 2020 presidential elections. Hillary Clinton offered this advice: “Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances.” Donald Trump, for his part, has expressed deep skepticism about the process, especially as the COVID-19 situation will likely induce many to vote by mail. He tweeted: “Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history.” This week he stoked the fires again. When asked if he was committed to a peaceful transfer of power, Trump was vague: “We’re going to have to see what happens.” According to Axios, a Democratic research firm called Hawkfish, funded by Michael Bloomberg, found that “it’s highly likely that President Trump will appear to have won — potentially in a landslide — on election night, even if he ultimately loses when all the votes are counted.” Of course, “all the votes” consist of the mailed-in ballots about which Trump has voiced concern.

“Do not concede.” “Rigged election.” “Ambiguous results.” If these narratives take root broadly — and there are good reasons to think they already have — the United States is in for a rough time, for the very legitimacy of the democratic process is being thrown into question. In other words, it is one thing to rail against the qualifications or integrity of one’s opponent; it is entirely another thing to denigrate the very process by which our leaders are chosen. Such skepticism will serve to erode an indispensable democratic institution.

MT

About the Author

Mark T. Mitchell

Mark T. Mitchell is Dean of Academic Affairs at Patrick Henry College and the author, most recently, of Power and Purity: The Unholy Marriage that Spawned America’s Social Justice Warriors. He is one of the principal authors of the Open Letter, Liberty and Justice For All.

Featured Tags

Elections matter. Or do they? Recently people who should know better have been casting preemptive doubt on the 2020 presidential elections. Hillary Clinton offered this advice: “Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances.” Donald Trump, for his part, has expressed deep skepticism about the process, especially as the COVID-19 situation will likely induce many to vote by mail. He tweeted: “Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history.” This week he stoked the fires again. When asked if he was committed to a peaceful transfer of power, Trump was vague: “We’re going to have to see what happens.” According to Axios, a Democratic research firm called Hawkfish, funded by Michael Bloomberg, found that “it’s highly likely that President Trump will appear to have won — potentially in a landslide — on election night, even if he ultimately loses when all the votes are counted.” Of course, “all the votes” consist of the mailed-in ballots about which Trump has voiced concern.

“Do not concede.” “Rigged election.” “Ambiguous results.” If these narratives take root broadly — and there are good reasons to think they already have — the United States is in for a rough time, for the very legitimacy of the democratic process is being thrown into question. In other words, it is one thing to rail against the qualifications or integrity of one’s opponent; it is entirely another thing to denigrate the very process by which our leaders are chosen. Such skepticism will serve to erode an indispensable democratic institution.

MT

About the Author

Mark T. Mitchell

Mark T. Mitchell is Dean of Academic Affairs at Patrick Henry College and the author, most recently, of Power and Purity: The Unholy Marriage that Spawned America’s Social Justice Warriors. He is one of the principal authors of the Open Letter, Liberty and Justice For All.