We sometimes forget that our American democracy is the beta test for modern democracies, the early model.

The U.S. Constitution was ratified in the last decade of the 18th century. Men were still wearing waistcoats and breeches. Women wore long dresses and caps.

The idea of the people completely ruling themselves still wasn’t trusted even by the writers of the Constitution. They appeared to hedge their bets on this new form of government, with straitjackets that still constrain us today.

The direct election of senators wasn’t allowed by the Constitution until 1913. Women couldn’t vote until 1920.

Many of us have been shocked in the past few elections to learn that we the people do not directly elect our president and vice-president. The person sitting in the oval office directing our domestic and foreign affairs may rule by favor of a minority of voting Americans.

Writes Larry Diamond: “Our election systems were not built for the modern era.” (“When It Comes to Democracy, the U.S. Is Showing Its Age,” The New York Times, 1 Nov 20)

How do we move to a more democratic form of government? How develop a judicial system freer from political favoritism?

These are questions we must wrestle with if we want a truer democracy in the coming years. How do the people obtain the power when a minority will have to cede that power?