Our democratic republic is designed for and depends on the existence of multiple political viewpoints on an ever-present list of pressing issues. In present extraordinary circumstances, we must ask if the past four years of uninspired caretaker governance are leading to diminishment or demise of a storied political party of its own making. Deceptive mischaracterization of the mental acuity of its White House occupant and his belated, clumsy replacement by an undistinguished and unqualified Vice Presidential understudy appear to be overcoming the patience of a disaffected constituent majority. A marvelously produced but otherwise vacuous national convention has been followed by problematic policy trial balloons that have served to silence further public pre-election comment. Historically, Americans have been characteristically optimistic, but they don’t appear to identify with the established party’s campaign theme of “joy” in an evident context of discouragement with the economy, immigration, crime and drugs. Its blatant ignorance of responsibility for generational change has resulted in an obvious leadership void with no readily visible succession.Too many career politicians without a balance of commercial experience ultimately will lead to factionalization and ideological transformation.The opportunity is at hand for rebirth of “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” but we must be wary of inviting autocracy by default. Phil Osifer