Summer is here and we have just celebrated the Fourth of July. It’s going to get hot. The election season is here. The first debate is over and the polls are coming in, with President Biden slipping 3 to 5 points. It is going to get hotter.

Democracy is said to be in the balance. Both candidates warn us if the other one wins, it is over and only they can preserve democracy. We are in a lovehate war and prisoners of the popularized thoughts from elitest focus groups where political speak designates right from wrong and propagandized by a bias media. Face it, whether CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox or others, editorial opinion permeates what we hear as truth. Real news, void of commentary is a commodity in short supply. Media has patrons who attempt to tell us what we are to believe. The concept is called “truth to power,” but what is truth in politics?

If the elections are free and fair, then democracy has survived. In my opinion, it is the republic which is in peril, not democracy. Our democratic- republic is a system of laws, created and theoretically followed by those we elect and enforced by the judicial system.

Many Americans feel the Biden administration has weaponized the justice system and unjustly gone after former President Trump. If you are a Democrat, you probably believe Trump is guilty of crimes. If a Republican, you probably see this as an unfair persecution. State governments have tried to keep him off the ballot, using the 14th Amendment and the accusation of his instigating an insurrection on January 6, 2021.

This strategy also works for the Republicans who say democracy is threatened by attempting to block a candidate and sequester the vote, the very foundation of democracy.

After the recent decision of the Supreme Court on presidential immunity, President Biden has tried to incite the public in a speech, saying that “any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.” He claimed the High Court issued ‘a fundamentally new principle, and it’s a dangerous president.” His claim is false.

The justices said specifically a president is not shielded from prosecution for private actions, not a part of his constitutional duties. The Court’s ruling will also protect Mr. Biden and he should be glad considering he has ignored immigration law, allowing, even encouraging millions of immigrants to illegally enter the country and ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling that only Congress has the right to eliminate student debt. President Biden has ignored that law and the Court’s decision and in a vote-soliciting appeal continues to issue orders to cancel student debt.

Progressives take issue with the High Court and tout the necessity of packing it with progressive judges. They still sting from the three originalist Justices seated during the Trump presidency. Progressive Congresswoman Cortez (AOC) has announced she will file impeachment articles against some of the “rogue” Justices for their centrist and constitutional rulings on this year’s docket.

Looking at actions during the Biden presidency, one must conclude Democrats had rather rule by executive orders than by duly passed laws as stipulated in our Constitution.

Beginning with the Obama administration, government dictates began making social changes which seem backward. Diversity, equity and inclusion have canceled the idea of equality, void of race, sex, merit or politics. When someone is chosen for a job, qualifications might be a criterion. I will consider potential as well, as people grow into jobs. Consider the selection of our vice president who was chosen by Biden who promised to select a “woman of color.” To me, that decision excluded all others with broader political experience and was unwise as she was and is completely unqualified to be president. Such are the DEI decrees of current politics and to the exclusion of those who think differently. Everyone is equal except those who aren’t. DEI may appeal to some, but it discredits the principle of truth to power.

Mr. Biden also mishandled classified material by retaining documents dating back to his time in the Senate, Neither candidate is a perfect person or perfect choice. Each have glaring faults. Mr. Trump is a braggart and often exaggerates beyond truth. He demands personal loyalty of his advisors, above objective perspective on issues. His childish name-calling is far from becoming to the presidency. He is accused of being totally selfish in his quest to be president again. He has offended many in government by declaring he will drain the swamp. Those in the intelligence community claim he is unfit to be president and not to be trusted with our nation’s secrets. He is currently under indictment for mishandling classified material, but the special counsel Robert Hur, refused to refer Biden for charges, stating he is to old and feeble, with a lapsing memory to be successfully prosecuted. Other accusations of his direct involvement with his son, Hunter also shadow him. Media figures are now reporting receiving pre-approved questions before Biden interviews. You can only ask him what he is prepared to answer. Truth to power?

I am concerned for our country for several reasons. Merit and truth matter. We are political prisoners of what we perceive as truth, entrenched in one camp or another. Each side wants control of government and no matter which candidate wins, the fight for control will continue. Our politicians have ceased being for the people, opting to preserve their power. President Ronald Reagan said that “The founding fathers understood that only by making government the servant, not the master, only by positing sovereignty in the people and not the state, can we hope to protect freedom.

President Biden’s lackluster debate performance may prove to benefit down-ballot challengers seeking to defeat incumbents. We need a new crop of politicians. Let us pray for our country that those who govern us will seek the will of the people and may the people field candidates who represent us.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Tom Wright is a columnist from Santa Fe and an investor in El Rito Media, LLC., owner of the Artesia Daily Press)