Depending on how this goes, this post could be the first of several. Or it could be a one-off. Mostly it depends on what happens Tuesday.
I remember growing up hearing that ‘the youth of today’ were the worst, the times were worse than at any other time in history, the country was sliding straight to Hell, the world had more dangerous things happening that ever, that the Left or the Right or the Middle would be the ruination of us all, that the world was coming to an end, blah, blah, blah. With a little age and perspective I realized that every generation had said that about their times. Hey, you mention it enough, sooner or later someone will look like they know what they’re talking about.
And then there’s this year.
The ones getting the press are the fire-breathers on both sides, the talking heads, the true believers and the tea-partiers. Whatever happened to being rational? Moderation? Forget about it. You’re either drinking the Kool-Aid on one side or the other. You’re either part of the problem or you don’t count.
Now for the sake of disclosure, I tend to be fairly conservative when it comes to governing. I believe the Federal government needs to protect our borders from assault by a foreign power, but not from lawful immigration. They need to do the big things, like underwrite the space program. They need to help protect our resources from destruction by whoever is bent on destroying them. They need to protect parks, national monuments and the environment. They need to deliver the mail. They should ensure that corporations behave responsibly. There are more uses for the Federal government, but not many.
The states should have the right and the duty to provide reasonable aid to those who can’t provide for themselves. Reasonable in that here’s a hand and some help getting you back on your own two feet. States should have the ability to have fair elections, without gerrymandering. Again, there are many other things the States should be responsible for.
But here’s the deal: A lot of the stuff that Washington is doing should be left to the States. A lot of stuff the States and the Feds are doing shouldn’t be done at all. Basically, get out of the citizen’s lives unless they NEED the help. Government has started abridging our rights and freedoms under the guise of protecting us. Yes, we may be more protected if we continue giving up rights and freedoms. After all, China, North Korea, Iran Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya and Cuba don’t seem to have too many terroristic issues. But would you want to live like them?
We’re in a Catch-22. Not too many like where we’re going or where we’ve been. Yet people are convinced that they can’t change anything, they can’t do anything about it. So they don’t vote. And things don’t change. And when they do vote, chances are better than even that they’re not sure why they’re voting for a candidate, the the candidate isn’t as repugnant as the other. To paraphrase: Nobody likes the weather but nobody does anything about it.
So why would a candidate run for office? Most candidates would say it’s because they want to contribute to society, they have something to offer, all the altruistic things. And some candidates probably even believe that, or used to. But the never-ending cynic says that it’s about the power. And money. One tends to lead to the other. Otherwise, why would you have a candidate for Governor in California (hint: she’s a woman) spending $140 million of her own money to win a job that pays, what, $174,000 a year? I’m not picking on Meg Whitman – I don’t know her from Eve. I know she’s running behind Jerry Brown, old Moonbeam himself. And why is he running? He was Governor for two terms (a few years after his dad was booted from office). After Jerry left he became Mayor in Oakland. He’s been a politician since birth and it’s doubtful he’s ever had a job not in politics.
Mario, er, Andrew Cuomo is all but elected in New York. Why? Probably because it’s his birthright. Oh, yeah, then there’s the fact that there are some little people running against him, who together won’t pull the votes Andy does. And he’s raised some $37MM to run his campaign. Why does he get that much? Well, Unions, Corporations and Wealthy People want something, obviously. They’re not stupid. They’re betting on a sure thing. Why? Access.
So if you live in Merced, California or Batavia, New York and you earn $35,000 a year and have a mortgage that hasn’t been foreclosed and a car or two that still runs, what does this matter? What will Jerry or Andrew or Meg or Carl or any of the other candidates do for you?
Not a stinkin’ thing.
Sorry to be blunt, but think about it. If you’ve gotten a call from Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barack Obama, George Bush, George Pataki, Pat Boone, Michael Steele or any other used-to-be-heavyweight/never-quite-a-heavyweight, do you think for a moment that they know who you are, or what you want? Forget about it. Although it was pretty creepy when I got a call from Pat Boone yesterday, who said, “Hello, Richard”. Yeah, I think the implant must have beamed to the satellite.
No, you’re the token. Or the prize. Or the pawn. You’re the one they want to vote for them and their Grand Plan to save us from the evils out there from the other party. Or else, if they’re really thinking (or they’re the incumbent) they don’t want you to vote at all. Why? Because if people stay away from polls the incumbent almost always wins.
So who are getting the ‘messages’ out? PACS. Special Interest groups. They’re the ones raising the cash and doling it out. They’re the ones responsible for the deluge of robo-calls, not explaining what their candidate will do but why the others are beyond reprehensible. They’ll drive you crazy, sort of like what happened to Laurence Harvey (or Liev Schreiber for you young whippersnappers) in The Manchurian Candidate. You’ll be confused by the claims, counter-claims, deceptions, statistics and promises. You’ll be so disgusted you probably won’t vote. This year, as mad as people are about how the Republicans or the Democrats or the Independents or the Federalists or the Whigs have screwed things up, it’ll be a surprise if there’s a 40% turnout nationwide.
Why should you vote? Your vote doesn’t mean anything. It won’t change anything. Things will still get better or get worse or stay the same. Politicians will still lie, cheat and steal. The winners will put their contributors and supporters and friends into a job or in line for a government deal. Or they’ll steer contracts. After all, isn’t having access the most important thing?
Well, maybe that’s right. Maybe your vote won’t do anything. Well, to steal a line from the Lottery, you gotta be in it to win it. Basically it comes down to this. If you don’t get off your kiester and vote, you have no right to complain. After all, you didn’t take the time to try to change it.
Now does that mean to vote just to vote? Please, no, don’t do that. We have some responsibilities in this country. Think of it as the price to pay for what freedoms we still have left. One of those responsibilities is to be educated enough to make an intelligent vote. Yeah, sometimes you’ll have to hold your nose to vote for one over another. But trust me, if you don’t, the other side always wins.
Better yet, think about running for an office yourself. If you get involved for altruistic reasons, like you really do want to contribute or to make a difference, you might be a great candidate. Start with something small, like your school board. Learn what you can and use that knowledge to make the changes you believe in.
But when you succeed and your ego gets in the way it’s time to retire.
This year, I figure if you’re the incumbent and I don’t like where you’re party is leading us, you are not getting my vote. As Yogi might say, “Trow da bums out!”
Yeah, there’ll be more later. I’m just getting warmed up.
No comments:
Post a Comment