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To the Journal editor:
I believe in a free-market capitalist democracy powered by the people, based on protecting everyone's human rights, and not driven by profit/loss statements or winners/losers. Using a business metaphor, this November the American people will decide if our government becomes privately-owned or remains an employee-owned democracy.
One person, one statement doesn't threaten democracy but I took notice of Binance crypto founder Changpeng Zhao's interview with David Yaffe-Bellany of the New York Times. Zhao stated: "Democracy has been hailed as, like, the Holy Grail for the last couple hundred years, but democracies are inefficient. If you get a benevolent dictator, it's actually extremely efficient. There's very little debate going on. You don't waste time on a lot of frivolous stuff."
Zhao was jailed for money laundering but later pardoned by the president. Currently, Changpeng Zhao’s net worth is estimated to be around $110 billion, making him one of the richest individuals in the world. Zhao's benevolent dictator is a myth, and statement of not wasting time on frivolous stuff means silencing the voice of "The People".
The vast influx of money into politics enables wealthy individuals and corporations to sway election outcomes through extreme false Ads to scare the bejeebers out of us. Rightful so, our First Amendment protects harsh attacks and false claims even if we consider it unfair, but I believe Super PACS and anonymous dark money is a sign of government corruption with profound negative implications across the country. Voters should know who is financing political messages, whether the claims are true or false. Until we reverse Super PACS anonymity, listen to candidates debate each other, while considering political attack Ads just normal election time haunted house "ism" scare tactics.
American's belief in our country's core human rights ideals has protected us from becoming communist, fascist, or monarchic nation run by malevolent dictator for the last 250 years. Our republic matured since the founding, improving human rights each generation while becoming the wealthiest and most influential Nation.
We are once again asked to protect and defend American Democracy this November by electing individuals who will uphold our societal foundation of balancing individual protections with a civil society. Democracy is messy, frustrating, and exhausting but freedom for all isn't free or easy. Each election we need to reevaluate our current State of the Union against America's founding baseline: 1) Freedom of Religion: Freedom to worship or not worship is the individual's choice. 2) Freedom of Speech: Ensures individuals can express themselves without government interference. 3) Freedom of the Press: Protects the right of media to report on government actions and issues without censorship. 4) Right to Assemble: Allows people to gather peacefully for protests or demonstrations. 5) Right to Petition: Grants individuals the ability to make complaints to or seek assistance from their government.
For the last couple hundred years, American citizens have come together to advance mankind's civil rights, and standard of living at home and abroad. We have also experienced shadow democracy at times, where our leaders pushed through constitutional guardrails to gain wealth/power off the backs of others. November's election is an opportunity to bend the arc of freedom toward an enlightened and corruption free democracy.
CEO Changpeng Zhao believes our republic is a failed ideology and should be replaced by a "benevolent dictator." This November, vote for who you believe listens to all "The People" and will honor their oath of office.