President Donald Trump claims his election win gave him a mandate to dictate how our constitutional democracy will operate. Let’s be clear about this so-called mandate. Trump won less than half the popular vote, or 49.8%. He received 77 million votes to Kamala Harris’ 75 million. But only 64% of Americans eligible to vote actually voted. Some 90 million Americans eligible to vote didn’t vote. There may be good reasons why persons don’t vote. I certainly do not excuse it.

But like it or not, they are a part of “We the People” that our Framers dreamed would be the beginning of our majestic experiment to “form a more perfect Union.” And Trump’s mandate is derived from 30% of “The People.” And too, with Trump’s election, we probably have the least perfect union in our lifetime.