Written by Scott Rasmussen
For years I've been confessing to pessimists that I am an optimist. I firmly believe that America's best days are still to come. My children and-if I am ever blessed with grandchildren-will live better lives than we can imagine today. The future is bright.
I know that many people today believe that our country will be lost if their candidate doesn't win, and I understand why they believe that.
On the other hand, I've been around a while and lived through many "most important" elections of our lifetime. This is the 13th presidential election I've voted in and I have cast votes for R's, D's, and third party options. The one consistent theme is that most of the people I voted for lost.
My confidence in America's future is because I have confidence in the American people. While the Elite 1% and politicians seek to accrue more power, the American people continue to embrace our noble founding ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance.
What the people want matters a lot because positive change in America always begins from outside of official Washington. That's how women got the right to vote and how 401{k) plans were created. Ronald Reagan did not create the tax revolt, he gave voice to what the American people started.
This goes all the way back to the founding of our nation. Some people mistakenly believe that the eloquent words from the Declaration of Independence inspired a revolution. In reality, Thomas Jefferson penned those words 15 months after the war began. Eleven British governors had already been forced to leave the colonies. Like Reagan, Jefferson did not launch the revolt, he gave voice to what the American people started.
None of this is to say it will be easy. As I have expressed my optimism over the years I have also expressed a belief that things will get worse before they get better. That's what happened in the late 60s and the 70s and it's likely to happen again. Positive change may come from outside of official Washington but politicians have tremendous power to do damage. That's a reality we can't avoid.
So, whatever happens today, all of us should work to lift up those noble founding ideals. If you want free speech for yourself, be sure to offer it for others. If you want to exercise your freedoms, be respectful of others who want to do the same. If your team loses, don't overreact. Keep working in your communities to create a better world.
Most importantly, never believe that politicians lead America forward. The American people lead and politicians lag behind.
Scott Rasmussen is the president of RMG Research, Inc. and founder of the Napolitan Institute.
