Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
What It Means To Live In A Democracry
November 9, 2004
George Denise, Scoutmaster

Last week we held elections and, among other things, we re-elected President Bush for another four years. This election wasn't as close as the previous one. While President Bush won the popular vote by over 3 million votes and 31 of the 50 states, he still only won the electoral college vote by one state, Ohio. And it was a fairly close vote in Ohio.

Nonetheless, he won.

It is not surprising that we have close elections. Political parties and politicians in America have had over 200 years to figure out how to run a successful campaign. If you think about it, in a two-party system, if each party and each candidate does a perfect job of campaigning, then the election will end in a tie.

It therefore saddens me, that I have heard several famous people say they are so disappointed by the election results that they are going to move to another country. Actually, it makes me angry!

It also makes me want to say "Good riddance!" Obviously, these people miss the whole point of living in a democracy. In a democracy, each side presents their platform: what they stand for, what they have done, what they plan to do in the future. Each of the candidates does his best to convince us he is the right choice; then we the people vote. Only one candidate can win. Almost half of the population will have voted for the losing candidate. But there is an inherent understanding in a democracy: once the election is over, you set aside your differences and do your best to support your government.

Threatening to move to another country because your candidate didn't win sounds to me like a sore loser, taking his ball and going home because he struck out. Or a three-year old throwing himself down in the aisle of the grocery store because him mother didn't buy him the candy bar he wanted.

Democracy doesn't guarantee that you will win; it only guarantees you the opportunity to compete: to run for office, to support your candidate, to speak your mind, and to vote. And that is considerably more than any other form of government offers.

So for those who threaten to move to another country, I say, "Go on! Get out!" "Take your ball and go home, you big baby!" 'Cause we still have the playing field, the United States of America, and it's the greatest playing field, the greatest nation, on Earth!

Thank you, and God be with you.