Lady Liberty weeps.

As an American, I am embarrassed.

For decades, at least since World War II, this country has stood as an example to the world of what a democracy should be, of how people should be able to use the power of the ballot to determine their own future.

Millions of Americans have proudly worn their country’s uniform or worked for the civilian side of the government in service to that ideal.  Millions of us have taken an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution, which is the founding document that guarantees the rights of Americans to vote for a representative form of government meant to preserve, protect and defend the welfare of the people of this country.

In defiance of those principles and of those oaths, there are Americans today who are engaging in partisan political activities which undermine and violate not only the law, but the spirit of those principles and the very liberties which have made this country great.

This election, to these people, is so critical and they are so determined not to lose that they are willing to violate every principle, every value so bravely defended by so many of the fallen warriors of our past, dishonoring not only themselves, but the deaths of every American who has ever died in defense of those principles.

If you are one of those people, shame on you!  It doesn’t matter what your role many have been, even if all you did was hold the door for someone else who has been more central to the voter suppression and fraudulent activities, you are at fault.

If you are one of the principals, one of the architects of these shameful activities,  not only should you hang your head in shame, but you should be locked in old fashioned stocks for your fellow citizens to throw rotten eggs and veggies at and mock you as the low life cad you are.  You should be tarred and feathered and run out of this country on a rail.

Unfortunately, we can’t do those things in this country any more.  But we DO prosecute felonies, and the architects of this day’s voter suppression efforts should be put up on charges.  They should be stripped of their citizenship and forbidden to vote, to hold public office or to even put up a yard sign.

Sadly, little of this will ever happen.  A few may get prosecuted, like the poll worker accused of changing votes.  Penny ante stuff.  The electoral equivalent of pocket change.

The folks trying to change votes by the thousands or millions will never come to face the music.

Which is why I am embarrassed.   This is third world stuff.  The kind of shenanigans we have come to expect from tin horn dictators.

Come on, Republicans!  Stand up!  Face the voters proudly, stand your ground and make your case.  Sometimes, you will win, sometimes you will lose, but in the end, you must accept that the voters have spoken.  That is how our system was designed by the Founders you worship so.  It is how our ancestors have done it and how we were intended to do it.

By cheating, you not only cheapen yourself, but you tarnish your message and everybody who backs that message.  You shame the very name of this country and prevent us from standing in front of the rest of the world with our heads held high.

You cover us with mud.

Think about that - over two hundred and thirty five years of hard work, blood sweat and tears, and you destroy that good work in a single election.

Shame, shame on you!  You should weep with shame.

Instead, it is I who do.  I and Lady Liberty, we weep for shame.