On the global stage, effective leaders, in this case state actors, lead, principally (if not solely) by example. Doing so spurs collective action and enlists the cooperation of other states. Therefore, if the United States must lead, its institutions, elites and people must set a good example. The country, as a collective unit, must uphold democracy and its institutional and elite components must ensure free and fair elections and work to undermine any efforts that aim to make voting more difficult for supporters of the other party.

The United States was founded on principles of morality and larger-than-life collective goals. The current state of affairs, however, leaves much to be desired. Deprivationist tendencies have become the norm at the institutional level. States, especially great ones, survive and lead by staying true to principles and forging a straight path. Faced with the most challenging of choices, governments must act in the best interest of the people they serve.

Such people-oriented policies further socialize people in the right direction as they equate to the freedom for every American to self-care and cater to family and community. Carrying on in any other way is detrimental to society.

The New Deal earmarked major policy objectives that benefitted society at large. However, our society’s most avaricious forces have destroyed these expectations for the exclusive benefit of the rich.

The safety nets that keep old workers from becoming homeless also provided a consumer base that corporate America could depend on when things go south. However, the richest among us, willing to throw caution to the wind, in our collective lives, only did so for more financial gain, but at what cost?

The cost has been counted in dismantled livelihoods and the throwing of hundreds of thousands of non-violent black citizens in jail in an unjust war on culture. The situation enforces free slave labor in our prison system, again for the exclusive economic benefit of corporate America and its for-profit prison systems, which have an aura of modern concentration camps.

In contrast to all the above expectations I have outlined for what modern, leading democracy should be, ours protects the affluent and allows the destitute to be taken advantage of or possibly lose all rights.

I do believe that you need to take chances to make a decent profit but whatever happened, to the middle ground of opportunity that gives benefit and opportunities to all and not take advantage of our incarcerated fellow citizens.

It is fascinating to see how the rich are comfortable in their gated communities, being able to come and go as they please all while hearing the wailing and the cries of their poor neighbors, just outside their walled houses.

It begs the question of whether they watch TV or crank the dinner music while they are dining. America’s sociopathic approach to economics, since Reagan, has violated the poor, destroyed the middle class, and has barred countless lives from opportunities that have been quickly stolen by corporate America and handed over to other countries where labor costs are substantially less.

These actions have left families in financial despair. And yet life goes on and there is still no agreement on a moral code of conduct. Could we use the golden rule as a litmus test, to help us decide on what is right and fair?

The answer so far has been “no” because the Republicans have been throwing minority voters off the voting rolls in response and if that doesn’t help them get their way, they attempt to overthrow an American Presidential election by the power of The Supreme Court – see Bush vs Gore.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife Virginia Lamp Thomas who worked for the Bush campaign, through the Heritage Foundation would be an advisor to ex-President Donald J. Trump by helping him dismiss whoever was perceived as disloyal and non-committed followers. She ultimately also encouraged him not to concede like they did with W Bush.

This course of action ultimately led to the January 6 insurrection. These political insiders thought that they would steal another American Presidential election through intimidation, and lies. They will use The Supreme Court, throwing minority voters off the voting roll, a January 6 insurrection, or any means of manipulation at their disposal.

These actors believe that they are taking the moral high ground in these matters because of who they think they are, that is Christians, capitalists, wasp, and republican. They are hardly better than any other citizen and their actions are anti-democratic.

Democracy means that everyone has one vote and every vote is counted and administered for the majority. That’s it! It doesn’t matter who you are or what privileged background you may have come from, if you don’t pay the ethical honest price of supporting others, why expect any form of support?

Furthermore, the story should not end there. There should be penalties for people who seditiously attempt to overthrow American elections for money, power, or influence.

How can we allow unarmed black males to be murdered by the police in a chokehold for selling loose cigarettes while allowing others to overthrow an American election and our democracy?

Those who have taken this course of action have beleaguered US democracy and their behavior is treasonous. Americans need to start fighting back to restore the country and the government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is through these principles and struggle that we lead by example.