The "Cracy Election" is Upon Us

This Election Cannot Be Tuned Out

Recently, I was talking with several of my neighbors about current events. At one time or another during the conversation, every participant described the 2024 election as “crazy” in nature. I expect most of us would agree with that assessment, at least to some extent.

Functionally, the general election campaigns for President have already begun, and there are seven grueling months to go before election day on November 5th. The contests for lesser races — e.g. US Senate, US House, governorships, state attorneys general, state secretaries of state, state legislatures, judicial positions on various state courts, and even local commissions and school boards — will soon be set and their respective campaigns underway. It’s a safe bet that almost everybody will be sick of the whole raucous spectacle by the time “judgment day” arrives in the fall.

It’s enough to make many people want to turn off, tune out, and just ignore the whole irksome, messy process until the elections are all over. I understand the thinking, but it’s absolutely NOT the year to take that approach. No, we can’t afford to ignore politics this year because 2024 is not just a crazy election, it really and truly is a “‘Cracy Election.” Let me explain.

This year, both up and down the ballot in nearly every state, we are seeing contests involving candidates with mainstream political philosophies versus those who hold extreme political views. The mainstream candidates are committed to our nation’s founding principles of government by and for the people with equal application of justice under the Rule of Law. We fairly describe this form of government as a democracy (and it’s manifested as a democratic republic as designed by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution).

Our nearly 250-year-old democracy is now being openly challenged by extremists marching under the MAGA banner. These people favor alternative philosophies of governing that will diminish, undermine, and perhaps even destroy our democratic foundations. These alternative philosophies include plutocracy, kleptocracy, kakistocracy, autocracy, or some amalgam of the four. 

Here are the basic definitions of these other approaches to governing (from the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, 2024):

plutocracy — government by and for the benefit of the wealthy

kleptocracy — government by those seeking status & personal enrichment at the expense of the people at large

kakistocracy — government by the worst or least qualified people

autocracy — government in which one person possesses unlimited power

Think carefully about the pronouncements, proposals, policies, and promises touted by the 2024 candidates in the context of these various “cracies”. Then consider the implications for your own lives and the lives of your families, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens if one or more of these alternative governing philosophies is implemented after election of extremist MAGA candidates.

No candidate is perfect, and none will fully embody all of our hopes and dreams. The nation and the world are too complicated for that. But the mainstream candidates do have our collective best interests at heart and place those interests well above their own. The MAGA extremists, on the other hand, will be looking out first and foremost for their own power and benefit to the exclusion of all who are not part of their movement.

Vote like it really matters and makes a difference for everyone. It does. 

Post submitted by James Utt, a volunteer with The Union from Minneapolis, Minnesota

Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.

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