To the editor:

Are we a republic or a democracy? Benjamin Franklin stated, “It’s a republic if you can keep it.” At that time, only wealthy, white landowners had the right to vote. They didn’t represent all citizens in this nation. Our constitution says “All men are created equal,” but our founders compromised allowing black men to be only 3/5 of a person. Women also didn’t have equal rights under the law. Does that sound fair to you?

It took decades to resemble a democracy where citizens could vote for representatives to serve in government on their behalf. Women were given voting rights in 1919, and Black Americans in the Civil Rights Act. Democracy has principles of equal rights, opportunity and fair treatment. These should be the principles of America. If you’re a legal citizen, your vote counts because all of us matter, not just the chosen few.

This is a very simplistic view of a complicated issue, but I believe our Founding Fathers wanted a country that would become known as a shining city on the hill. That can only happen if we have equal representation. If only a few people have power, what happens to the rest of us is a very scary scenario.

Kae Luppens

Lemay