What Would Adams and Jefferson Say?

AuthorLivingston, Phil
PositionJohn Adams, Thomas Jefferson, voting machines - Brief Article - Column

A broader voting platform will only enhance the dynamic leadership position our democracy enjoys and ensure that we can deal with the unseen challenges that the future will surely bring.

The end of summer has sadly arrived as I write this column. Although that signals the start of the football season, it was a great American summer for the Livingston family, and we regret its passing. I checked the quotations books for "summer" and found the obvious -- only Shakespeare captured it: "Summer's lease hath all too short a date."

Making it truly the great American summer was reading David McCullough's best-selling biography, John Adams. Trips to Wyoming and Colorado -- coupled with this great tale of Adams' and Jefferson's joint struggles to declare independence, define our nation and establish credibility, credit and military alliances in Europe -- make me ever more appreciative of our incredible country and dynamic democracy.

But when you contrast Adams' violent trips across the Atlantic and the focus and passion with which he took up important debates, one feels that our generation lacks the ability to deal with tough matters directly, quickly and conclusively. Less than a year ago, the Florida recount held our nation in a gripping debate and deadlock, yet today, voting reform is a matter largely off the nation's agenda. Only Florida appears to have addressed the issue in a substantial way.

On the national level, it appears to be an issue that has no monied interests pressing for progress and change. I suspect that Adams and Jefferson would turn over in their graves when learning of the need for such financial sponsorship of important issues. I further suspect that since Adams and Jefferson were both so powerful as to will their lives to end exactly on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they could still manage to simultaneously turn in their graves and cause the ground to shake.

...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT