𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙾𝙽 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙸𝙽 🔹 How we choose our leaders

In a country that celebrates a culture of over-the-top, high-octane hilarity and features non-stop pop music “idols” performing on explosive stages, President Joe Biden may appear as a mostly gray, amorphous figure mumbling incoherent irrelevancies into empty space. His message gets lost in the noise. True, he is not the rock star that many demand; he is the competent political mechanic we needed to repair the damage done by his irresponsible predecessor, an inept Congress, and a Supreme Court intent on undoing Congress’s work. Biden won the 2020 presidential election with just 51.3% of the popular vote, but it was enough. Notably, the election saw the highest voter turnout ever recorded, with 66.8% of citizens aged 18 and over participating. That’s great, but what about the other 34%, the non-voters? In the 2022 midterm elections, the highest turnout was 80% in Oregon, the lowest was 51% in Joe Manchin’s West Virginia, and California had just 65.6%. Is this participatory democracy? Barely. Why?

Here’s a clue. During the mid-1960s, I worked for a multinational corporation tasked with introducing a manufacturing process to potential customers in the U.S., Central America, and the Caribbean. My target market was the shoe, clothing, and allied trades, which had moved to the Midwest and Southern states for cheap labor and government incentives. However, this meant hiring and training a workforce primarily composed of rural individuals who were largely isolated and uninterested in matters beyond their immediate surroundings. This isolation has led to a lack of understanding of our unique democracy, allowing our political system to be upended and enabling the minority to overcome the majority’s will. This unfortunate situation affects all levels of our politics, from state to county to city. Voter turnout is a telling indicator.

In West Hollywood’s inaugural City Council election in 1984, 17,000 voters turned out to choose from 35 candidates vying for one of the newly established five seats. In the more recent 2015 election, over 25,000 votes were recorded, with a higher percentage of eligible voters participating—64%. What concerns me is the cavalier attitude many Americans have toward their civic responsibilities and voting rights. Democracy demands attention and understanding, especially in a culture filled with distractions.

I regret not having been more rigorous when moderating three consecutive candidate forums for city council elections years ago. The process should allow for more in-depth questioning and fuller replies. As residents, we need to clarify what we expect from our Council. Thankfully, Bill Rosendahl took over and brought his polished TV manner to the forums. We made some early mistakes in judgment. Do we know better now? Judging by comments on these pages, I’d say no.

In our city, the dominant culture is that of the LGBTQ+ community, which influences much of what our city is and how it’s perceived by others. While this community brings vibrancy and artistic range, we must ensure that all voices are heard. Cities like West Hollywood are cultural innovators, but we must also prioritize basic services like road maintenance and policing.

As I enjoy my twilight years, I offer these observations and thank wehoville.com for the space on its pages.