I served on the Ketchikan Borough Assembly from 2000 to 2006. That experience of governing in accord with democratic principles reinforced my belief that democracy, and democratic institutions, work. The Assembly members often did not agree on the policy decisions and the actions we took. But all of us had an equal opportunity to express ourselves, listen to other points of view and try to persuade other members that a certain approach was best for the borough. Those processes were open to the public, and the public had genuine opportunities to weigh in and influence our decisions.
And through this process, we served the people of Ketchikan.
As I’ve experienced the blessings of liberty over a long life, I have had the good fortune to travel around the world and visit democracies and kingdoms, countries both wealthy and impoverished, and this has led me to appreciate the system we have here at home. At home I’ve frequently worked for the adoption of public policies I favored, and opposed some that I didn’t favor.
I’ve won some and lost some. Yet, I’ve always believed that, however imperfect, and whatever the wins and losses, the principles and benefits of democratic self-government were a rock-solid foundation to our lives as Americans — the foundation for American exceptionalism. What worries me now is that many of my fellow citizens seem ready to abandon that democratic foundation and replace it with a system where self-interest, power and wealth for a few are more important than working for the good of us all.
I believe that if you want both freedom and a government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens, you must have democracy and a dedication to democratic institutions. Authoritarian countries may serve the material needs of their citizens, but the price you pay is the sacrifice of freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of worship and so on. Citizens of our great country should think long and hard before sacrificing our democracy and democratic institutions for that bargain.
— Bill Rotecki
Ketchikan
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