Presidential election: An uncertain future

This presidential election will be my 14th. Even though I’ve voted both sides of the aisle, when my candidate of choice lost, there was no doubt in my mind, not a reasonable doubt, but no doubt, a peaceful transition of power would take place; that the country would be in the hands of a patriot, a person who, if not managing things to my personal liking, would protect and honor our Founding Fathers’ idea of how a democracy should and can work in the hands of caring civil servants.

I did not worry about freedom of the press or how the winner might take action against his enemies, both real and imagined. Did I know that a lot of decisions took place in infamous smoke-filled backrooms or behind closed doors? I did; but I didn’t care, because we live in the United States of America, and I knew, with no reason to doubt, that life as I knew it would go on.

Our elections, with very few exceptions, have always been about the economy, taxes, wars and immigration. Democracy has never been on the ballot.

Roy Parfitt, Gig Harbor