Democracy promises a lot, and that's its great appeal to many of us. Some promises get fulfilled. Some don't. That's the way it goes. But here's what democracy does not promise you, no not at all — an unfulfilled meta-promise, if you will: that it will redeem every one of its promises in full measure. Instead, the chance that that will happen is all democracy can assure, along with the chance to voice your disapproval. (Or, equally, your approval.)

That is: If you don't like a particular government, democracy offers you the chance to punish it, even if it cannot guarantee a better one next time. If you're willing to consider democracy in that spirit, many things become clearer. So keep that in mind as we go through our great exercise in voting over the next several weeks.