Democracy Is An Untidy, Often Messy, Matter.

We cannot determine or control the reasons why people vote or support the policies they do or prevent them from convincing others to do the same. In the voting booth, citizens are a law unto themselves. They can vote for whatever or whoever they want for any reason that motivates them. It is pointless to demand purity of principle on this matter. Voters act out of prejudice, self-interest, racial identity, ignorance, and for all sorts of other good and bad reasons, including their religious beliefs, philosophical commitments, and a devotion to justice based on American principles. Let us be realists about the matter. Democracy is an untidy, often messy, matter. The people can do what they want, to be restrained only by Constitutional mandates.

Voters in the recent past chose good and bad administrations

Nixon (R) - 6yrs in office. 76 criminal indictments. 55 convictions. 15 prison sentences.

Ford (R) - 2 1/2 yrs in office. one indictment and one conviction. one prison sentence. Pardoned Richard Nixon.

Carter (D) - 4yrs in office. one indictment. zero convictions and zero prison sentences.

Reagan (R) - 8yrs in office. 26 criminal indictments. 16 convictions. 8 prison sentences.

Bush, George H. W. (R) - 4yrs in office. one indictment. one conviction. one prison sentence.

Clinton (D) - 8yrs in office. 2 criminal indictments. one conviction. one prison sentence Jim McDougal, was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 1996 and sentenced to 3/1/2 years in prison

Bush, George W. (R) - 8yrs in office. 16 criminal indictments. 16 convictions. 9 prison sentences.

Obama (D) - 8yrs in office. zero criminal indictments, zero convictions, and zero prison sentences.

Trump (R) - 3 yrs in office. We'll just have to wait and see if he follows in the footsteps of past Republican administrations