Imagine a successful and peaceful election taking place...
"... Amid extreme polarization and racial division, on the back of violent protests, while battling voter trust and fighting one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world." (NY Times)
The circumstances sound familiar, don't they? How could ANY country have a peaceful election under those circumstances? Right? Guess what! Boliva just did! Small unstable Bolivia, after 195 years of political turmoil.
Here's the history: Evo Morales, the country's first indigenous President, successfully lifted hundreds of thousands out of poverty. But by the end of 14 years in office, he had become autocratic -- persecuting opponents, harassing the press. When he ran again for President in 2019, there were charges of election fraud, and much protest from the right and the military. Morales fled the country. It was considered a coup.
A very conservative interim President was appointed, Jeanine Anez. She ALSO had an authoritarian streak and repressed Morales supporters, to the extent that government forces killed 23 Indigenous people during a pro-Morales demonstration.
A new election was scheduled, with Morales' chosen successor Luis Arce running against conservative former president Carlos Mesa. People were terrified that this new election would also be the source of violence and fraud.
But it wasn't! Everything proceeded peacefully. Mr. Arce won with 55% of the vote vs. 19% for Mr. Mesa.
The conservatives, with the help of the military, drove the social reformer leader into exile. They assumed the levers of government power, planned a new election, in which another social reformer was elected! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? AND IN BOLIVIA!
- THE CONSERVATIVES IN POWER ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. That's almost impossible to imagine, isn't it? After driving the reformer out of the country, for some reason they wanted an honest and peaceful election more than they wanted to win. And they went to a great deal of trouble to plan the election and educate the voters so that this would happen. Maybe they actually believed in democracy or something?
- THEY HAD OUTSIDE ELECTION OBSERVERS. These trained experts from around the world were there to report any fraud or harassment that would compromise the vote. Oh how I long for outside observers, like the Carter Center sent to Bolivia and countries around the world! Yes, our former President helps others have truly democratic elections. But of course that can't happen here. We're special! Oldest democracy in the world! Or should that be "democracy" -- always with quotes?
- BOLIVIA HAS NO ELECTORAL COLLEGE. In their country they do this very weird thing of just counting up all the votes and awarding the election to the candidate who has the most. As we all know now, we don't just have the Electoral College but the Supreme Court, the House of Reps with two votes per state (for what reason??) and goddess knows what else standing between us and a straight-up majority rule outcome.
A BRIEF RAMBLE
On Saturday, Elizabeth and I went to the Embarcadero for a walk. But first we went to SF MOMA and then had lunch at a wonderful Chinese restaurant, FANG, on Howard just off Third Street. They have lovely outdoor table. It's not typical Chinese fare (which I love too). It's special, but not too expensive -- around $12-$15/dish. They gave us beautiful tea with flower buds that opened.
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