voters

How to Fix The American Political System Part 1

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The Citizens United Case in 2010 reversed centuries-old regulations and norms governing electoral financing mechanisms. Since then, money has become the American Electoral Currency, and spawned a non-productive system of consultants, advisors, think tanks, pod-casters, and big-mouth know-it-alls. None of whom do any real work but make a lot of money. Here are some ideas to sort the mess out. And, no, none of them will ever be considered, but what if…

  1. In any election, the Candidate with the most money automatically loses. Saves time voting and counting ballots. ALL unused money from every campaign goes to a charity of the winner’s choice.
  2. Mandate no legislator can vote for his party over 80 per cent of the time on “consequential” legislation. Naming Post Offices does not count.
  3. No Majority and Minority Whips. They sound cruel, anyway.
  4. Outlaw consultants and advisors. Use reports from Bi-Partisan appointed committees of legislators or independent personnel, for guidance on bills. Committees would be made of equal bias and report both sides of a bill or issue for both sides to read. Perfect use of inexpensive, existing Artificial Intelligence.
  5. Mandate “result’s oriented” committee investigations. Any committee investigation not culminating in a previously defined result, loses one member from the instigating party on the committee. Scoring political points does not count unless specifically noted. For example, Hillary Clinton and Benghazi multiple investigation’s purpose? Among many others from both sides.
  6. Set Term Limits with “laddered” terms so the same number of seats come up for election each year. Phase in necessary?
  7. Any candidate who does not complete their term is replaced by a candidate appointed by the opposing party to complete the term. Death or serious illness are exceptions. Keep in mind if we do Number 4, most politicians will have nowhere to go to do nothing and get paid for it, so they may stay to term.
  8. Every legislator files “open and on time” tax returns for every year in office. A separate tax preparation firm can be employed if used by ALL legislators.
  9. IRS sets specific guidelines for auditing legislators. Everyone gets audited at least once during their term. Yes, a second audit could be done for good cause.

I’ve run out of space, but the point is, governing for the entire country should not be bound and gagged by monetary demands. If implementing these steps means only poor, ethical people can run for office, is that so bad? We could use all the new ICE agents to help enforce the new rules, too,

A lot of these ideas are terrible but one thing to remember: when most politicians get into office, these days, the only thing they are worried about—and work hard for–is getting re-elected.

How does that help make our country ok, again?

What? Really. What??

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On the agenda of the TS Fitness Group meeting this Sunday morning was driving. Only two members were present but we both agreed we will never know when we will lose our ability to drive safely and will continue to believe we are the best drivers in the world. The two members combined age is 157 years, and their combined experience should remove all doubt of their commitment to safety.

The meeting veered (without the use of turn signals) into a general concern about when overall cognitive decline would be noticed. Both members admitted the ability to recognize decline in others but allowed that accurate self-examination might be troublesome in the future. Much time was then wasted lamenting the modern era’s lack of adequate road markings, along with a bi-partisan denouncement of modern reflective material, due to the material’s superior nighttime eye-piercing quality. As for the Activities Of Daily Living (ADL), attending members agreed neither was currently concerned about any ADL, but anxious about future needs and costs. A moment of silence was followed by the tabling of further discussions on cognitive decline.

In closing the meeting, this declaration is hereby approved by unanimous consent for inclusion in today’s record: “We, the members of this meeting do demand all future changes to our lives be requested in writing by whatever organization, society, or bodily organ is endeavoring to change, and said entities await the members approval before affecting (effecting?) said change.”

There. No more surprises for us, two old guys.

On the way home a pickup zoomed by with a large window sticker: “F%%$ BIDEN”. It generated all sorts of questions. 1. Is the driver truly entertaining the thought? 2. Is the driver an angry, ex-lover of Joe’s? 3. How much did the driver pay for the sticker? 4. What sex is the driver? (He/She/Them/It was so high up and went by so fast.) 5. Does Joe know there is an offer being made in upstate NY?

Let’s forget the questions and make a statement: Unless you can truthfully, answer any of the questions, you are an idiot for displaying such a sticker. And there are a lot of them in upstate NY. No “F%%& TRUMP” or Bush or Clinton has been witnessed by me but if you happen to be displaying one, you are an idiot, too. No explanation simply: you are an idiot, especially if you need an explanation. No “F%%&ing” any presidents.

A May colonoscopy result had been causing me all sorts of trouble and stress. Since the issue was settled yesterday, it reminds me of the one solution to every problem: good communication. Keep in mind NOT making a problem is still the best way to do things, but poor communication makes everything worse. No advice or lessons here, except learn how to communicate clearly. Oh, one piece of advice: think before you speak. Really, really think. Another piece of advice: Don’t be stupid and not ask questions if you don’t understand. We seem to act the other way around as if asking questions makes us sound stupid. For instance, why would anyone put a “F%%$ The President” sign on their bumper or window? It makes you look like a @$$.

And don’t get me started on pronouns with no preceding proper noun.

It’s interesting the “clawback” recission process our Republican Government just accomplished. To summarize, money was approved and allocated for certain programs by past votes in the Senate and House of Representatives. All members who voted for or against the programs were elected officials of their parties and no gun was held to their head. Nationwide, agencies, schools, organizations, and communities made plans for the money and implemented those plans. Then in 2025, a different Senate and House of Representatives votes to rescind certain monies, and “clawback” the dollars. If this bothers you, so what? If you elected Joe Smith who voted for the money in 2023, and then Bill Smith won Joe’s seat in 2025, is it okay for Bill to vote to take away the money Joe approved in 2023? It’s not right but google the “Impoundment Control Act (ICA)” of 1974 and its history. And voters: beware and be educated.

And, no, the ICA has nothing to do with pronouns…

Truther(sic) Words Were Never Spoken

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Mark Twain is a personal idol and national treasure. He was born November 30, 1835, raised in the 19th Century and died in the early 20th, on April 21, 1910, but his observations are timeless. They defy the centuries. He recognized enduring human traits which were humorous on the surface, often dangerous to society, and funny. If you have the long view of life and believe living a good life will get you to a Good Place, Mark Twain is your prophet/guide. His life is one of triumph and tragedy as he lost 3 children to the illnesses of the times, and suffered some, himself, but his reported last words as he lay dying of a heart attack (which happened to people in those days) were “Give me my glasses.” He had more to write in the afterlife.

Most of us know Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, even though forcing a student to read something is not the best way to introduce authors and their works. Ai says the books are still being taught in “some Schools” but the subject matter can be “controversial”. Since talking about race is always controversial, Twain would be happy we are just discussing it, these days. Of course, he would point out we shouldn’t need to, anymore.

Unfortunately, our modern societal and political conversations are not about facts and truth. Pick any issue in America and you’ll find arguments, facts, and opinions to support either side, with both sides thinking the other is—at best—uninformed. My personal opinion is one side of the national debate is intent on obscuring facts and making opinion the determining factor for truth or fiction. But the opposing side doesn’t seem interested in sticking to the facts, either. Having truth be so “fluid” brings to mind this Twain Quote: “Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

I’ve written about the rhetorical skirmishes from my local paper’s opinion section, how writers pronounce themselves as know-it-alls, and lack humility. (Knowing and talking about humility, by the way, does not sound humble, does it. If there was any other way…) In speaking (figuratively) with these writers, this Twain quote often comes to mind: “The truth is no defense against a fool determined to believe a lie.” Please note in repartees with local writers I never profess 2 plus 2 equals anything, just that 2 plus 2 does not equal 5. So many political party supporters are intent on believing anything the party says. See my post about “Tribe over Truth”. An additional point is to reveal, slyly, not everybody you disagree with is wrong all the time. You agree?

But, alas, it is the fate of a semi-professional Devil’s Advocate and self-appointed Fact Watcher to learn there will always be a part of society unfazed by brilliant and cohesive skewering of a particular viewpoint. ((I honor myself un-humbly(sic), with the previous statement and arbitrarily assign myself the role of Twain in 2025. Just for this day, I promise.)) These “skewerings” are not meant to denigrate anyone or any viewpoint, but professional political statements from professional politicians are getting comical, as each one tries to satisfy what they think their tribe/party needs to hear the professional politicians say. (Hope you get the sublte, sophisticated, elitist sarcasm in the repetition of a phrase.)

This “adherence” to party dogma and debate (alliteration) leads to this post’s final Twain quote:

“It’s easier to fool people than convince them they are being fooled.”

Final declaration: Professional Politicians (Again?) have always tried to fool the voting public. Most of them do it on the fly, reacting to polling, upcoming elections, or current events. But some do it on purpose with carefully designed and artfully thought-out schemes, often involving years of planning and manipulation.

Which type did YOU vote for?

Quanda what?

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Quandary: “a state of perplexity, or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation, a dilemma.” So says the Oxford Dictionary.

Ever been in a quandary? Near one? Seen one from afar? Picture a mime trying to get out of a real box.

We all probably know what a quandary is, just never knew what to call it. If it helps, picture our modern world: one, big quandary. Dilemma. Perplexity.

Our country mired in a quandary is not new. The Civil War, Viet Nam. Nixon. September 11, 2001. The Spanish Flu. WWI. WWII. The Great Depression. The last, final, episode of “Friends”. To prevent depression, I’ll stop.

Quandary. The Oxford people say it comes from the late 16th century Latin word “quando”, which means “when”. So “when” became “quandary”? Thanks, Oxford, for a new perplexity. They do add an interesting chart showing how popular “quandary” has become over the centuries, with a plateau of usage in 2000. What did educated people use before quandary came along? Mess? Dilemma? Pile of crap? And why plateau at year 2000? Has the quantity of qualified quandaries declined in the last 20 years?

That fact proves there isn’t as much “perplexity” now as there used to be. Early days were probably nothing but quandaries. Imagine the first sunset? Did early man/woman know the sun would be back in a few hours or was he/she in a quandary, wondering where it went? What about when he/she had their first bowel movement? Did they think their insides were falling out? Talk about a dilemma. “Should we push it back in?”

Perfect segue into Donald Trump. He is a Master Quandary Maker. How perplexed must Republican voters and politicians have been to support him in the first election, let alone the second. Did any 2016 voters face the “dilemma” of voting for the felonious Trump in 2024? Were they perplexed? Dilemmed(sic)? Quandrasized(sic)? Uncertain?

It doesn’t appear they were. In fact, a feature of Trump support is the CERTAIN, unwavering, unperplexed knowledge that Trump is…something. What? What is Trump outside of politics? Is he a fabulously wealthy man, born with a silver spoon, who has never worked an honest day in his life? The Second Coming? A taller, hairier Napolean? A spray-tanned Mussolini? Putin’s long-lost brother?

Let’s go back to the original: he is quandary. Unperplexed American voters have ceded so much power to Trump, why is he not using it to remove all quandaries from our lives? Or at least his voters lives? Why isn’t he un-perplexing our perplexities? Why is he doing what he is doing? Does he need more money? Power? Maybe he just wants a good pizza. Or is it Melania, the new Nancy Reagan?

I surrender. It’s usually years before we can accurately assess the damage/benefit an American President effects over his/her (Sarcasm.) term in office.  It appears Trump is trying to write that assessment, now, after one month. Or at least keep anyone else from writing it, ever.

It’s hard to know what to make of it all. It’s a quandary. For those of us without any power over rich, selfish people, it’s more than a quandary: it is a disaster.

Happily, yes, happily, I’m old, almost out of it all, another benefit of old age.

Hallelujah.

Voting Conspiracies and Numbers

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As with all presidential elections, there are lots of “stories” floating around.

From available data, subject to MINOR changes as votes are still being counted, here are some numbers:

In 2016 there were 157,596,000 registered voters. 136,787,187 voted. 20,808,813 registered voters DID NOT VOTE.

In 2020 there were 168,308,000 registered voters. 158,487.688 voted. 9,826,312 registered voters DID NOT VOTE. Factoid: the total number of votes cast in 2020 nearly equals the entire registered voter population in 2016. Conspiracy?

In 2024 there were 186,500.000 registered voters as of 9/2024 per USA FACTS. 140,980,281 voted. A staggering 45,519,719 registered voters DID NOT VOTE.

A deeper research to federal election sites will show where all 2016 and 2020 these numbers come from and keep in mind 2024 numbers are still incomplete, but close enough for this discussion.

One conspiracy story says there were 20 million extra votes in 2020, proof of fraud. Numbers prove that conspiracy is wrong.

Both Trump and Harris (Biden) lost votes from their 2020 numbers…so far. And that should be the big story. Over 40 million registered voters did not vote. Why did they register? Or was it older voters who did not vote? Or was it aliens?

The numbers show registration efforts by both parties were successful between 2020 and 2024. But getting the new registrants to vote, not so much. Why?

It’s interesting to note Harris and Clinton got nearly the same number of votes, 8 years apart. And Trump got fewer votes in his 2024 victory than his record haul in 2020, when he lost.

Deeper research will be conducted by smarter people smarter than me but my opinion is since Harris in 2024 and Clinton in 2016 got the same number of votes, and Biden, got 13 million more in his 2020 election, there is a gender gap in the American voting system. Trump’s support was basically consistent with increased voter registration and his small 2024 loss, may be made up by late counting, making his vote totals understandable.

Numbers will never explain why over 62 million people voted for Trump not once, not twice, but probably three times. One of these days there will have to be a discussion on what may or may not disqualify a candidate from elected office. 2024 proved there is nothing, now.

Of note, Trump’s election sent the stock market soaring as corporations expect less regulation, lower taxes, and larger profits from the Trump years. For fun, google how much money billionaires made IN ONE DAY, from that market increase. Musk made the most, IN ONE DAY! Google it.

Contentment…again…

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There was a debate this past week. A big, momentous, ballyhooed debate.

“Balleyooed”. Say it three times really fast and it will make as much sense as both candidates did in the debate. There is probably a drinking game where you take a shot after every “talking point” (TP) a candidate uses. Their faces scrunch up in reply to questions, searching for an opening for the TP(Toilet Paper?).

Question from moderator: “Is the sky blue?”

First Candidate: “It will be in my administration, as we ban all dark clouds due to our climate and environmental initiatives, including banning all methane activity and inventing cars that run on rhetoric.”

Second candidate: “Never again should this administration be allowed to leave our borders open, and put the lives of innocent dogs and cats at risk.”

There is a good chance someone reading this might think those were actual answers. They are not. But our political system (here he goes, again) is not built to get the best possible candidate. Stupid people from one party make sure their stupidest candidate is selected. Then the other party outdoes them with a stupider candidate. Then the nation votes. After that, excellent, un-selected candidates from both parties work tirelessly in the Senate and House to clean up the mess. Actually, it never gets cleaned up, just swept under the rug of the future. (Research Immigration, a subject never fully addressed since our founding.)

The cynic in me has to admit the candidates might not be stupid. They simply understand the game: get people to vote for me. It doesn’t take a genius to see the winner of a popularity contest (Prom King or Queen?) is not going to solve the world’s problems. But just once it would be nice to hear a candidate say: “I don’t know, but we’ll work on it”, which is really what they mean with every answer.

Over the years I’ve beaten this subject to death but the statement needs repeating: it is the VOTER’S fault. We need to DEMAND better so we can’t complain too much when the crown is placed on the other parties candidate