Vote

Election, democracy, republic

This post came to mind because as I drive around town I am inundated with political lawn signs. Who in their entire existence every changed their mind on whom to vote for because of a political sign. So why is that sign there? Is it there because they want to virtue signal, or tell others this home is for so-and-so, and if you don’t agree with me, stay away? Really? Really? My neighbor who just started a business has a political lawn sign. Do they not want the business of persons who disagree with them? Maybe they don’t. Not really a smart business plan though.

So, I am going to wade into the mire and the muck. This post is going to discuss our society, and the lack of human kindness. The lack of appropriate dignity and the lack of respect. No I am not going to say who I am voting for. It’s really nobody’s business. It’s also nobody’s business if I choose neither candidate. If you want to unsubscribe because of that so be it.

What I have had is enough of the catastrophizing of what will happen if so and so wins.

No the country is not going to go full commie if the dems win the White House. There may be policies that some of the country do not like, but there is the ballot box to fix it on so many lower levels. Everything does not flow out of the White House, Congress or the courts. Your local school board has more of a direct bearing on your day to day life than anything those twats in DC do. Elections are local. Be concerned about the mayor of your town, something you can control. Heck you cant even control what your state legislature does never mind what happens in the Oval Office. (All politics is local.)

Same if the republicans win. No matter what someone tells you about projects or vitriolic hyperbole, the Constitution cannot be changed without the say so of 2/3 of the states and the Congress. Presidents cannot do whatever the fuck they like. And no the Supreme Court is not going to rubber stamp whatever the man-child wants them to rubber stamp. If you happen to actually analyze what they write in their opinions, they go by the letter of the constitution. They are originalists, which means they not only curtail the power of the courts, they curtail the actions of the president.

(Oh and for all of you screaming that they gave Trump the right to try to overturn the election. No they did not. They parsed out exactly what needed parsing. Where the president cannot be brought up on charges for things stemming from his position as POTUS. Think of it this way. Do you want Obama charged with murder for droning Al Waleki since he was an American citizen? Some on the right did and still do. And if SCOTUS had decided any other way, Obama could now be in the dock. By the way, all they did was enunciate a policy that had been long standing in law and politics. Presidents have never been held to account for decisions made in pursuance of their duties in office. Reality does have a way of embedding itself the fevered dreams of derangement syndromes.)

So stop all of you just stop.

I have had enough of the stupidity of this political season. I think everyone needs to get a grip. Take a step back and review the reality of your life. What is it that you need? What do you need to get it done? What steps do you need to take and how are you going to manifest that reality? Do you need more education? Do you need to get off the couch and start exercising and eating right? Do you need to take responsibility for how your life has turned our and what can you do to change it?

Here’s a secret. Nobody running for office can do this for you. No vote can do this for you. No politician actually gives a shit. You know why? Because they cannot manifest minuscule realities. National figures have big pictures and larger concerns. Your day to day does not figure into their calculations.

Only you care about your reality. Only you can change your reality.

So vote, don’t vote, but please stop acting like the world is coming to an end. It is not. There will be no civil war. There will be no revolution There will be no reactionary contretemps and there will be no round up of persons by the military. (Don’t forget the military is also obligated to refuse an illegal order by anyone including the President of the United States - read the military code of conduct.)

I have to tell you what I don’t like though, it is the lies and the hectoring and telling me what I see in front of my eyes isn’t really there. Stop with the joy joy bullshit, but also stop making me afraid of everything. I am not afraid, I am pissed off and it’s the politicians I am pissed off at.

Let’s talk reality.

Are there things Americans disagree about? Yes. It’s really not like all of the founding fathers agreed on everything back in 1776 or 1787. Maybe better tell me when did Americans ever all agree on anything other than defending the country in WW1 and WW2 (even then there were dissenters).

Are there people living with economic issues and financial burdens- are the prices too damn high? Yes. (And no the President doesn’t really control what happens in the economy.)

Are we going through a societal change reminiscent of the industrial revolution? Yes. Are there people being left behind? Yes. (Now this the government should do something about.)

Are we dealing with a unique period in human history where we have a lot of information but we do not have the maturity to handle it? Yes.

Are there cultural issues that we do not agree upon and ways of viewing society that contradict each other? Yes. So discuss it without calling each other names. If you can’t argue with facts then your position has no merit.

Is our society so spoiled and so well off that we can argue about cultural issues because the vast overwhelming majority of us do not need to live in survival mode? Yes.

Are millions upon millions risking life and limb to get to the US because it offers the last best hope of life on Earth? Yes.

Be appreciative of where you are and the golden universal ticket that got punched when you were born in the USA.

And by the way, I have family and friends from all over the political spectrum. They have their reasons for how they vote and for whom they want to win. Guess what, I don’t care. We don’t talk about it because it’s not important to our relationship.

You know what I do care about, I care that we are supposed to have a country of kindness that we don’t demonize half of the country. I don’t know what it is that people need to hate on each other in order to feel they are making the correct choice. But that is infantile and not worthy of a great nation. I don’t know if we have forgotten how to function as adults in general, but the average person seems to have lost the plot. Seriously, America, WTH?

It’s like the mommy bloggers who have to convince everyone to follow their type of parenting in order for them to feel they made the right choices for their child. I find that simply ridiculous and kind of pathetic. (You make choices in life for your children when they are young. The choices either work out or they don’t. If they don’t work, suck it up and change direction.)

In truth, I even experienced that nonsensical mommy-blogger attitude once with a psychiatrist for my boys actually. He told me that he didn’t believe in ADHD medicine for anyone over the age of 12 so he took his kid off of meds and then told me he didn’t care that his son hadn’t become a lawyer (I guess because my husband and I are lawyers). He refused to give my son a prescription for the medicine he needed. Apart from the fact that they have proven that those with ADHD will self-medicate with drugs and alcohol if not properly helped, this poor excuse for a doctor wanted to ruin my son’s future because he had ruined his son’s future. (And no my son didn’t become a lawyer, but with the help of his ADHD meds he went on to receive 2 masters degree in different STEM fields. And yes we went out and found a competent psychiatrist right away. Where did I find this dope of a “doctor”? I was directed to him by the “government.”)

Anyway, the reality is that people need to pull back and review what is truly important in their lives and simply stop allowing themselves to be manipulated not simply by algorithms but by the cynical Machiavellian political machines that run our country. Divide and conquer is also a way to win an election. Bread and circuses is the trick the Roman empire used too. No I don’t believe in the duopoly, but I believe that politicians just want to get elected, and will do whatever they can in order to reach that goal.

Stop thinking the talking heads, pols, or those in the public eye are smarter than you. They really are not. They aren’t wiser and they aren’t your betters.

Maybe it’s because I have reached the cranky old lady stage of life, but I have no patience for bullshit anymore.

I do have one suggestion, if you think the world is coming to an end because a particular candidate will win or not, take yourself to the pediatric oncology wing of your local hospital. Then count your fucking blessings.

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Note: I have not activated paid subscriptions. I do see other authors use a tip jar or ask to buy them a coffee. I am not going to do that. If you feel that I have reached you in some way, please give to your local food bank.