November 04, 2008
Election Day: Blues & Celebration?
As early as 8PM this evening, we may have clear indications as to who our next president may be. Be that as it may, there are an enormous number of other important races and candidates to be determined from the Eastern most point of Maine to the Western most tip of Hawaii. For 10’s of millions of Americans today, a case of the blues will try to settle in because their horse didn’t cross the finish line in first place. But, this election is as much about process as results. And the process, though in desperate need of reform, continues to work.
The primary purpose of elections is to stay off revolutions and civil wars. This election cycle, though riling the passions of many and frustrating the hopes of more, will nonetheless, represent a peaceful and orderly transition of power from certain leaders to other leaders, and a reelection of too many others.
America continues, however, to be the example of democratic process. While it is a disgrace that America forces its workers to lose, in far too many cases, an entire day of productivity waiting in lines to vote, and a disgrace that 1/3 of all votes will have no verification due to electronic voting machines, our peaceful transition and handing off the roles of power remain the example for the rest of the world to emulate. And this remains a just cause for celebration.
It continues to amaze me that election day every two years is not a national holiday, or, that our election day is not scheduled for an entire weekend, instead of during the middle of a work week. I entreat readers to visit and consider supporting Why Tuesday. America's voting system can and should be vastly improved. It is long overdue that American citizens get behind the effort to force their representatives, local and federal, to address these disgraces in our otherwise, commendable democratic elections.
Celebrate our democracy this evening, or this weekend coming. It is worthy of celebration. And make a resolution tonight to write a letter, make a phone call, or, join an organization to make our democratic process even more responsible, available, and worthy of emulation by the rest of the world. It is up to us to make it so. Our politicians, without our ultimatum, will continue to try to game the system and twist it to meet their needs, not ours. It is up to us.
Whether or not you voted for challengers, in order to vote out irresponsible, corrupt, or ineffective politicians who have brought an economic malaise upon our nation and our society, we would all do well to give some serious consideration to the Vote Out Incumbents Democracy caution.
From the beginning of history, those in power, used power to keep power. The vote is the one and only power the people of the world have to secure for themselves, to counter and remove those in power who would use it for their own purposes, instead of the purposes of the people and their nation.
When government disappoints, there is only one rational response in the voting booth, and that is to vote out those responsible in power, and vote for challengers, issuing them the mandate, that they NOT follow the steps of the politician they just replaced.
The election of 2006 and this current one, according to the latest polling, reflect a growing awareness by American voters of the central theme founding Vote Out Incumbents Democracy. Anti-incumbent sentiment that remains home on election day, rejects the power of the vote secured for Americans by so many who have suffered and died to extend and defend it. Any action by any person, which seeks to interfere with, make more difficult, alter, or block American's votes, is an act of dishonor and contempt toward those brave Americans who, for more than 2 centuries, have given their lives to extend and defend our right to vote.
If you found the process difficult or cumbersome or unaccountable, it is your responsibility to act to change those circumstances, and give your part to extend and defend our right to vote, as so many have before us.
If you voted, celebrate!
David,
Although I have kept my promise I do agree with your article. For why I am still wiating for someone to tell me how to build a Politically Unaliebable Correct World, having grown up holding an Unbreakable Politically Correct Argument does give me Hope in the Cardinal Knowledge and Wisdom of the Founding Fathers of America and the Ancient Ones of Songs.
So weary from the long battle of the election let me ask you and the rest of the bloggers how does a person, a group, a community go about developing a Comperhensive Economic, Energy, and Environmental Plan before the new President and Congress takes office.
And why I realize that the needed resources for such a task may not be able to be done in that timely manner, I do believe that “We the Consumers” do need to use the Power of Federal Government to adress the issues that have kept America and Humanity limited to the Sky. For why I realize that my personal point of view is seen as to radical for Government and Societal consideration, having grown up challenging the Political and Societal Thinking of My Elders and Peers Ideology of a Better World. All I can say is that this election belongs to “We the People” so folks go out and vote.
For tomorrow, regardless of who is President or in Congress it is time that “We the People” stand up and tell Washington and the World why the Game has changed from a Trickle Down Economic Theory to a Trickle Up Economy in an all out race to build a Civilized World in the 21st Century.
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at November 4, 2008 08:47 AMHenry wrote: For why I am still wiating for someone to tell me how to build a Politically Unaliebable Correct World, having grown up holding an Unbreakable Politically Correct Argument does give me Hope in the Cardinal Knowledge and Wisdom of the Founding Fathers of America and the Ancient Ones of Songs.ANSWER:
- The 1st step is: Don’t repeatedly reward irrepsonsible, corrupt, FOR-SALE, and/or incompetent incumbent politicians with 85%-to-90% re-election rates (One-Simple-Idea.com/CongressMakeUp_1855_2008.htm).
- The 2nd step is: Education.
- The 3rd step is: Transparency.
- The 4th step is: Accountability.
- Responsibility = Power + Virtue + Education + Transparency + Accountability
- Corruption = Power - Virtue - Education - Transparency - Accountability
Transparency will reveal corruption, in order to know who to hold Accountable. Transparency should lead to simplification of systems that have been intentionally over-complicated (by design) for nefarious purposes.
Without sufficient levels of Education, Transparency, and Accountability, Power Corrupts, and absolute power Corrupts absolutely.
Insufficient amounts of those fundamental components above leads to pain and misery.
Perhaps enough voters will be less apathetic, complacent, blindly partisan, etc., when enough of the voters are hopelessly deep in debt , jobless , homeless , and hungry? (i.e. after getting their Education).
Henry wrote: For tomorrow, regardless of who is President or in Congress it is time that “We the People” stand up and tell Washington and the World why the Game has changed from a Trickle Down Economic Theory to a Trickle Up Economy in an all out race to build a Civilized World in the 21st Century.Why? Because more voters, as their pain increases, are becoming more Educated about the many ways that they have been gettin’ crapped on for several years (and decades). Unfortunately, it appears too many voters are getting their Education the hard way again, because we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of numerous deteriorating economic conditions that will last for many years.
David wrote: And make a resolution tonight to write a letter, make a phone call, or, join an organization to make our democratic process even more responsible, available, and worthy of emulation by the rest of the world. It is up to us to make it so. Our politicians, without our ultimatum, will continue to try to game the system and twist it to meet their needs, not ours. It is up to us.No doubt about it. Rest assured that the corruption will continue. The new IN-PARTY, as usual, will abuse their power. And why not, when incumbent politicians are repeatedly rewarded for being corrupt with 85%-to-90% re-election rates?
In a voting nation, an Educated electorate is paramount.
The problem our nation faces is not IF the majority of the electorate will get their Education.
The problem our nation faces is WHEN the majority of the electorate will get their Education.
The sooner, the better, because the longer it takes, the more painful it will get.
At any rate, the voters have the government that the voters elect (and re-elect, and re-elect, and re-elect , … , at least until that finally becomes too painful).
Posted by: d.a.n at November 4, 2008 03:27 PMWooHoo! Wasn’t bad at all for me, not that my vote means much in a sea of Texas Republican Red. Feels kinda like swimming in Galveston Bay during Ike.
Posted by: googlumpugus at November 4, 2008 03:34 PMDavid -
“Any action by any person, which seeks to interfere with, make more difficult, alter, or block American’s votes, is an act of dishonor and contempt toward those brave Americans who, for more than 2 centuries, have given their lives to extend and defend our right to vote.”
HEAR, HEAR!
Your article is full of patriotism, David, and it seems to cheapen things a bit to use your words in a partisan attack against another party…but I do so wish that any American that knowingly and purposefully disenfranchises an eligible voter would not only go to jail, would publicly be stripped of his right to vote - possibly forever.
Posted by: Glenn Contrarian at November 4, 2008 03:39 PMTROY DAVIS,PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AMERICA IS NOT THE
OLD SOUTH ~ AFRICA !!
A $TATE ECONOMIC BOYCOTT OF GEORGIA INTERNATIONALLY WILL OBVIOU$LY BE THE END RE$ULT OF GEORGIA DECIDING TO MURDER A PO$$IBLE INNOCENT TROY DAVI$ WITHOUT A NEW AND FAIR TRIAL ?
*** US CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO LAWYERS BY TRADE, CONTINUE TO DENY poorer AMERICAN’S PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION !!!
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BEGIN A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THESE US CONGRESSIONAL CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BEING INFLICTED ON poorer AMERICAN’S LIKE MR.TROY DAVIS OF GEORGIA !!!
HAVING BEEN DENIED APPEAL LAWYERS FOR THREE YEARS ON DEATH ROW IN GEORGIA MR. TROY DAVIS IS NOW BEING EXECUTED FOR A CRIME HE MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN INVOLVED WITH !!!
SENATOR OBAMA PLEASE LET THIS COUNTRIES VOTERS KNOW YOUR FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT A NEEDED FUTURE REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF OUR BROKEN JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE EXECUTION’S OF EVEN POSSIBLE INNOCENT AMERICAN’S LIKE TROY DAVIS OF GEORGIA ?????
BEING THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SENATOR OBAMA, DON’T WE NEED AS THE LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD TO BEGIN ONCE AGAIN TO RE-INVEST THE PROPER MONIE$ IN OUR OWN US JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ASSURING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THEIR RIGHTS TO FAIR TRIALS WITH PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION ???
DOES GOD NEED TO LOBBY OUR US CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD ON BEHALF OF OUR poorer american’s SENATOR OBAMA,OR ARE YOU WATCHING OUT FOR THEM ??
***OUR US CONGRESS CONTINUES TO DENY MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION EVEN THOUGH WRONGFUL EXECUTIONS & FALSE INCARCERATIONS CONTINUE ALL ACROSS AMERICA ???
*** 700 BILLION $$$ AVAILABLE FOR US BAILOUT, & NO $$$ FOR ALL POORER AMERICANS PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION ? SENATOR OBAMA, THIS JUDICIAL INJUSTICE HAS BECOME AN AMERICAN ART FORM, AND NO LONGER CAN BE KEPT HIDDEN OR SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EVEN IF CERTAIN (501c3) U$ RELIGIOU$ LEADER$ HAVE BEEN $ILENCED ??
LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA’S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ????
WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL INJUSTICE CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK & LATINO AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ??????
*** WHEN GOD’S FACE BECAME VERY RED *** THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????
**** INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS ! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.
****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY **** The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
***WHERE ARE AMERICA’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS ??????? Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.
This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.
This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges!!
Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus with our US FEDERAL COURTS and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice!
For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.
It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayers $$.
This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World! ***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY !
A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO 2) GOOGLE
(MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM.)
** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !
***Someone please tell our US Congress that the GED degree that Manny Gonzales acquired in prison is not a LAW DEGREE!
lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com (424-247-2013)
Posted by: DOUGLAS FIELD at November 4, 2008 09:12 PMLooks like Obama will be our president. The popular vote will be fairly close, but the Electoral College will be decisive. This is how the system is supposed to work.
I wish the new president good luck and will do my best, in my small way, to make his policies a success for our country. Every new president represents a new beginning. I hope that our new leader will be able to help Americans build a better future. What is good for America is more important than what is good for any party.
Obama was not my choice; I voted for McCain and so did all the adult members of my family, but I have faith in the wisdom of my fellow Americans and the choice the majority of them made. I would like to congratulate my Democratic friends.
The only piece of schadenfreude I will allow myself is to remind you that it is usually easier and more fun to oppose than to actually run things. What will you do when you don’t have George Bush to kick around anymore? It won’t do to blame Republicans in 2010 and beyond. And remember what Washington said to John Adams, “I am fairly out and you are fairly in! See which of us will be the happiest.”
Jack, that must have been on of Washington’s weaker moments. I commend your comments, but not the words of G. Washington, whose words allude to competitors on a field of battle.
With the passing of GW Bush out of office, and his many ardent supporters, also passes, I hope, this notion of a divided America fighting still a kind of civil war war on a field of ideology.
America faces challenges in the coming years no less daunting than the Civil War, the Civil Right’s movement, or the Great Depression. This is a time for America to unite behind its common goals of a more peaceful, freer, and more prosperous nation for ALL, not just some. When all of Americans improve their lot and position, the nation is improved and made greater and stronger for it.
I have no love of political parties, they serve only god of power. But, despite political parties worship of power, Americans have met daunting challenges before and surpassed them stronger, and resilient. This is the time for Americans to unite in holding their leaders accountable for their actions, and each other responsible for keeping the ‘Yes, We Can’ spirit, alive and strong.
It will unite us and move us past our challenges if only we will remain united in pursuit of our common American goals laid down our founding documents, freedom to choose, the general welfare assured, and peace amongst ourselves and other peace loving peoples.
Posted by: David R. Remer at November 5, 2008 01:44 AMDavid
I think the context was that Washington understood the difficulty of governing after his eight years of hard work. Washington could have won a third term, but he limited himself.
Obama is inspiring. I wish him well and hope he can succeed. However, I doubt the efficacy of government in many areas of our life. Our nation is much more than its current government. Like Washington, I hope our current government remembers that. The piece of wisdom will help them succeed.
Posted by: Jack at November 5, 2008 07:43 AMJack,
Washington didn’t limit himself in office out of deference to the needs of the nation. The nation sought to keep him in office. He left office for personal reasons, not least of which, was his age, health, and wanting the little time left to enjoy for himself. And who could blame him?
As I said, it is not up to Obama alone to succeed or fail. He is giving us the inspiration, it is up to all of us to provide the sacrifice and perspiration to get the tough jobs done.
I am all for getting government out of our bedrooms, out of Dr. - Patient office visits, out of any supervisory role over what we ingest or do with our persons, out of public lands save to preserve them for the public’s enjoyment as patches of the natural America we inherited, out of our churches, and our churches out of our government.
But, there are many, many challenges that we can only meet and surpass as a united nation, such as raising educational standards, diversifying our energy sources, controlling our borders and population growth to enhance our future, not weaken it, rebuild our military strength without bankrupting the treasury and future, rebuilding our infrastructure and jobs base with Americans employed in the production and service of Americas future, and overseeing and regulating unbridled greed which is the foundation and driving motive of capitalism.
If we make these issues stronger and make shape them to enhance the opportunities and freedoms of generations to come, then the American dream will be preserved and defended for all to strive for.
The 2006 and 2008 elections were anti-incumbent elections, and this 50 ton whale in the living room will not go unnoticed by the Democrats nor Republicans. We can see the best of government going forward, but we as voters, must remain vocal with our representatives reminding them that our anti-incumbent sentiment has not, and will never again, be put back in the closet.
If we the voters maintain that reelection is to be earned, not taken freely preserved, we can yet look forward to the best that government and public servants can provide, instead of the worst.
Posted by: David R. Remer at November 5, 2008 09:02 AMThe must ridiculous thing about our elections is that they are endless. I guess that it would make too much sense for the people who are elected to actually attempt to accomplish something before running for reelection, starting the fundraising bribery nonsense over again.
I’m surprised to see Jack back using his own name. I guess he can’t say anything about the recent Russian government chess moves using that i.d., but I hope we get a topic on it soon.
Posted by: ohrealy at November 6, 2008 05:14 PMHTML Formatting Tips:
<strong>bold text</strong>
<em>italicize text</em>
<u>underline text</u>
<strike>strike text</strike>
<a href="http://domain.com/link">link text</a>
<blockquote>quote text</blockquote>
By clicking the "Post" button you agree to abide by the Rules For Participation.
