Livingston Today

In a recent opinion piece, Michigan State Senator Jim Runestad highlighted the openness of the American political system, particularly in its approach to dissent and free speech. Runestad argued that the United States stands apart from many other democracies due to its protections for political participation and expression.

He wrote, "One of the great and often underappreciated strengths of the American system is how open it is to dissent. Here, any citizen who believes they have something worth saying can step forward, pay a filing fee or gather signatures, and put their name on the ballot."

Runestad contrasted the American system with parliamentary systems in countries such as Britain, Canada, and Australia, noting that major party candidacies in those nations are often restricted by party leadership decisions. "You must be handpicked by the party leadership or its committees. If you are not chosen, you are then forced to the margins — left to run as a lonely independent or attach yourself to a fringe outfit," he stated.

He also discussed the situation in Europe, pointing out that national parliaments are subject to the authority of the European Union. According to Runestad, "The EU is not simply a cooperative of nations; it is a supranational bureaucracy that claims the authority to override the laws, borders and decisions of sovereign countries. Its unelected commissioners, regulatory technocrats and courts are empowered to dictate policies that no ordinary voter ever approved."

Runestad raised concerns about immigration policy in Europe, suggesting that despite public opposition, EU mandates have led to increased immigration and resettlement quotas. He argued, "Elected national parliaments may protest, but their hands are tied under the rule of a tyrannical, unelected bureaucracy. The will of the people is nullified by technocrats operating at a distance, insulated from accountability."

He also addressed issues related to free speech outside the United States, citing arrest figures in Russia and the United Kingdom for speech-related offenses. "In Russia, where repression dominates, more than 3,000 people have been arrested in recent years for so-called 'speech violations.' In the United Kingdom, the number is even more staggering: over 12,000 people have faced arrest or sanction for even the mildest comments spoken or posted online," Runestad said.

Runestad emphasized the importance of First Amendment protections in the United States. "Thank God, in America, we still have our First Amendment. We must guard this freedom with our lives. It is the last bastion preventing bureaucrats from becoming our overlords. It cannot shrink before power-brokering or easily offended elites," he wrote.

He concluded by asserting that despite imperfections in the U.S. political process, its commitment to free speech and open participation makes it unique. "But the United States is a real republic, defended by real protections for free speech. Our system does not belong to elites or bureaucrats. It belongs to the people. And that is why, for all our imperfections, the United States of America remains the freest nation on Earth," Runestad stated.