Some Election Thoughts – Part 1
Hey Kids! What time is it?
IT'S TIME TO VOTE
Over the years, our elections have been the source of a few rants. The idea of mandatory voting was the subject of my first When I am King edict in 2012. The 2016 screed is worth a second look because the challenger then is the incumbent now.
With the help of a few daily ‘Candorville’ comic strips from the brilliant Darrin Bell along with other graphics, I offer up a few thoughts regarding the state of our Union and its politics. If you support Donald Trump, I would welcome any logical, fact-based replies.
“The Swift Completion of Their Appointed Rounds” - The Post Office must not fail us at a time when we need it to work. [1] if the Post Office can handle 1.3 billion pieces of extra mail at Christmas time, they should be able to deliver 100 million ballots before Election Day. [2] The president’s job is to make sure government functions works. Can someone remind him of that? The Post Office should be gearing UP for this vital exercise, not cutting back. Speaking of hindering the vote, there should be a special place in hell for a governor who decrees that a county with 4.7 million citizens should have ONE ballot drop box during the pandemic.
The Early Surge - Look at the tremendous number of voters who are turning out at the first opportunity to cast ballots. The long lines and hours of waiting reminded me of past news scenes when dictatorships were overthrown and the free people cast their first ballots. There is no wondering why. People don’t trust Trump’s Post Office to get their ballots delivered AND they want their vote to be in the bank…to count.
Pants on Fire - I am so tired of the media explaining to ME that so much of what the president says is “unfounded” or “lacking evidence” or “not based in fact.” I already know that. The man lies with every breath…even when the truth would better suit his position. When is someone…ANYONE (like maybe the Democratic candidate) going to get in HIS face and say, “That is not true. Why do you keep saying that when there is zip/zero/nada evidence to support it? PROVE IT…or stop saying it.”
Kool Aid, Magic Dust or Rank Hypocrisy – Recently, a North Carolina friend told us that a woman in her exercise class was mad at that mean Joe Biden for interrupting Trump so much at the first debate [WTF?!?]. In all my years, I have never seen such rampant hypocrisy. If Barack Hussein Obama had done one tenth of what Trump has done, “they” would have burned the White House down by now. On the other hand, if you believe “them,” Obama really was a Muslim Nazi Socialist Communist Anti-Christ who was born in Kenya. So, never mind.
Stop Asking for Money. Just Sharpen Your Message – October 9 – MSNBC breathlessly reported that because of slick organizations like ‘Vote Blue,’ certain Democratic Senate challengers are raising more money than the Republican incumbents…often by huge margins. It was also reported that these challengers are ahead in the latest polling. The implication was clear – the RED senators are losing because they’re being outspent. To this, I politely and respectfully say ‘Horsefeathers.’
Joe Biden got a tidal wave of money right after the debate because the president gave a disgraceful performance. The RED senators are trailing in the polls because the country is failing on many fronts and they support the WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER. People are supporting their opponents for a reason (said the chicken to the egg).
The media, especially TV, will never complain about the obscene amounts of money that define our elections…because so much of it goes to buy TV ads. Do they really think that slick ads are the reason people make their decisions and donate money? Donations and preferences follow the outrage, not the other way around.
A Record of Achievement – The failures of this administration are breath-taking. The pandemic response, the economic collapse, the racism and promotion of domestic terrorism, the corruption, self-dealing and sheer incompetence are epic in scale. But none of this should be surprising given who we elected.
I love the irony of voting for people who hate government to run government. What’s wrong with expecting your government to be effective and competent? Instead of making government work, this GOP gang prefers to alter the federal judiciary, erase rules that keep you safe and healthy, prevent certain people from voting and, this is the cherry on top, let their friends and backers raid the Treasury. Is this a great country or what?
“We the People” Are Failing - In one of James Madison’s Federalist Papers, he explained that the new democratic republic they were creating would have some challenges in a world where our species is so prone to corruption and abuse of power. If the power to choose leaders is vested in the voters, then the voters have a responsibility to be informed, understand the important issues and do their job at the polls. Damn. I knew there was a catch.
It seems in this Great, Exceptional, Ordained-by-God-Himself, U.S. of A., our citizen-electorate can be placed into a few categories:
1. A big percentage of people are registered but don’t bother to vote. In 2016, our population had over 214 million registered voters yet only 140 million votes were cast.
2. Given there were almost 250 million who were of voting age last time around, that means another 36 million didn’t even bother to register.
3. With regard to voter knowledge, there is a sizable segment I perceive who don’t care to be informed. They have their priorities and to understand what’s going on is not one of them.
4. There’s another big lump of voters (sadly, they do vote) who believe they are informed but it’s nonsense, conspiracy theories and fake news. They prefer their own prejudices over facts and truth.
5. Unless you can think of another group, that leaves those who try to be informed, pay attention to real news and try to know something about issues that matter. Now I see why some might get depressed wondering if there are enough citizens left who respect this great freedom and take their responsibility seriously.
Be informed. Facts and truth matter.
Make your choices for the right reasons.
Make the time to cast your ballot.
Be proud that you live in a country that takes this process seriously…so far.
Over the years, our elections have been the source of a few rants. The idea of mandatory voting was the subject of my first When I am King edict in 2012. The 2016 screed is worth a second look because the challenger then is the incumbent now.
With the help of a few daily ‘Candorville’ comic strips from the brilliant Darrin Bell along with other graphics, I offer up a few thoughts regarding the state of our Union and its politics. If you support Donald Trump, I would welcome any logical, fact-based replies.
“The Swift Completion of Their Appointed Rounds” - The Post Office must not fail us at a time when we need it to work. [1] if the Post Office can handle 1.3 billion pieces of extra mail at Christmas time, they should be able to deliver 100 million ballots before Election Day. [2] The president’s job is to make sure government functions works. Can someone remind him of that? The Post Office should be gearing UP for this vital exercise, not cutting back. Speaking of hindering the vote, there should be a special place in hell for a governor who decrees that a county with 4.7 million citizens should have ONE ballot drop box during the pandemic.
The Early Surge - Look at the tremendous number of voters who are turning out at the first opportunity to cast ballots. The long lines and hours of waiting reminded me of past news scenes when dictatorships were overthrown and the free people cast their first ballots. There is no wondering why. People don’t trust Trump’s Post Office to get their ballots delivered AND they want their vote to be in the bank…to count.
Pants on Fire - I am so tired of the media explaining to ME that so much of what the president says is “unfounded” or “lacking evidence” or “not based in fact.” I already know that. The man lies with every breath…even when the truth would better suit his position. When is someone…ANYONE (like maybe the Democratic candidate) going to get in HIS face and say, “That is not true. Why do you keep saying that when there is zip/zero/nada evidence to support it? PROVE IT…or stop saying it.”
Kool Aid, Magic Dust or Rank Hypocrisy – Recently, a North Carolina friend told us that a woman in her exercise class was mad at that mean Joe Biden for interrupting Trump so much at the first debate [WTF?!?]. In all my years, I have never seen such rampant hypocrisy. If Barack Hussein Obama had done one tenth of what Trump has done, “they” would have burned the White House down by now. On the other hand, if you believe “them,” Obama really was a Muslim Nazi Socialist Communist Anti-Christ who was born in Kenya. So, never mind.
‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell
Stop Asking for Money. Just Sharpen Your Message – October 9 – MSNBC breathlessly reported that because of slick organizations like ‘Vote Blue,’ certain Democratic Senate challengers are raising more money than the Republican incumbents…often by huge margins. It was also reported that these challengers are ahead in the latest polling. The implication was clear – the RED senators are losing because they’re being outspent. To this, I politely and respectfully say ‘Horsefeathers.’
Joe Biden got a tidal wave of money right after the debate because the president gave a disgraceful performance. The RED senators are trailing in the polls because the country is failing on many fronts and they support the WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER. People are supporting their opponents for a reason (said the chicken to the egg).
‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell
The media, especially TV, will never complain about the obscene amounts of money that define our elections…because so much of it goes to buy TV ads. Do they really think that slick ads are the reason people make their decisions and donate money? Donations and preferences follow the outrage, not the other way around.
A Record of Achievement – The failures of this administration are breath-taking. The pandemic response, the economic collapse, the racism and promotion of domestic terrorism, the corruption, self-dealing and sheer incompetence are epic in scale. But none of this should be surprising given who we elected.
I love the irony of voting for people who hate government to run government. What’s wrong with expecting your government to be effective and competent? Instead of making government work, this GOP gang prefers to alter the federal judiciary, erase rules that keep you safe and healthy, prevent certain people from voting and, this is the cherry on top, let their friends and backers raid the Treasury. Is this a great country or what?
“We the People” Are Failing - In one of James Madison’s Federalist Papers, he explained that the new democratic republic they were creating would have some challenges in a world where our species is so prone to corruption and abuse of power. If the power to choose leaders is vested in the voters, then the voters have a responsibility to be informed, understand the important issues and do their job at the polls. Damn. I knew there was a catch.
By Nick Anderson, Laid off by the Houston Chronicle in 2017
It seems in this Great, Exceptional, Ordained-by-God-Himself, U.S. of A., our citizen-electorate can be placed into a few categories:
1. A big percentage of people are registered but don’t bother to vote. In 2016, our population had over 214 million registered voters yet only 140 million votes were cast.
2. Given there were almost 250 million who were of voting age last time around, that means another 36 million didn’t even bother to register.
3. With regard to voter knowledge, there is a sizable segment I perceive who don’t care to be informed. They have their priorities and to understand what’s going on is not one of them.
4. There’s another big lump of voters (sadly, they do vote) who believe they are informed but it’s nonsense, conspiracy theories and fake news. They prefer their own prejudices over facts and truth.
5. Unless you can think of another group, that leaves those who try to be informed, pay attention to real news and try to know something about issues that matter. Now I see why some might get depressed wondering if there are enough citizens left who respect this great freedom and take their responsibility seriously.
Be informed. Facts and truth matter.
Make your choices for the right reasons.
Make the time to cast your ballot.
Be proud that you live in a country that takes this process seriously…so far.
posted by Ted Ringger @ 5:28 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Well, I have already voted via absentee ballot. I used the USPS to send my ballot back and verified that it was accepted via the internet. Now we all just have to wait for the s.storm that's a comin.'
Have voted absentee and turned it into the election office. Have verified it has been accepted. Distancing and giving out Democratic blue ballots at a polling place. Looks pretty bood so far. young people and black and brown people take the blue ballots. white people with no masks take the sample ballots from the other side. I am sometimes pigeon holing people. Too bad.
Thank you for your comments especially when they so mirror mine. Never have Obama’s buzzwords been so important. HOPE and CHANGE
Voted already here in a vote by mail state Utah.
Thank you all for weighing in confirming that your votes have already been cast. I always say that 'When I am King' all will be REQUIRED to vote but I'll never say WHO should get your vote. Since I'm not King [yet], and you all are in RED states, I'm hoping you contribute to a resounding outcome that shows the nation has had enough of the current situation.
GREAT COMMENTARY TED!! I love your blogs, photos, Historical commentary, & RANTS as well! You are SO RIGHT ON with this latest commentary. It is a disgraceful fact that so many AMERICANS who have the right & privilege to VOTE, but don't bother doing so. THEY should live in a country WITHOUT ELECTIONS & VOTES! It's a blessing, a right, a privilege, & an honor to be a part of a system that permits its' citizens to actually be a part of the Political Process. Yes, our politics is flawed in many ways, but it's still FAR BETTER than the systems that don't allow for free elections at all.
You GO, Joe! Thanks for visiting...and appreciating what a great country this is...if only more of our citi8zesns would realize it.
Hope you all feel the same after the next two rants go up.
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