Thirty Days

It is one month exactly from Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.

There is no doubt where I stand.  I make that declaration at the right on this screen every time I’ve published since March, 2009.

I am a Democrat, and I always vote, well informed, on all races from local to national.

I have been voting age for over 60 years, and this is the first year, ever, in my opinion, when there has been such a huge difference between the approaches of the respective parties leadership.  At this time in history, there is only one party that gives a damn about the country – all of us, together – as a community, and that is the Democratic Party.

No, my ‘side’ is not perfect – no family is – but there has now been six years of experience, including near two years including Jan. 6, 2021, to learn from experience some life lessons of today’s “T” party infatuation  with authoritarianism.

(Of course, there is “Republican” on the ballot this year, not “T”; but there is no longer a Republican Party as it used to be.  There used to be some attention to that quaint notion called “truth”.   No more.  Consolidation of Power is all that matters.  Traditional Republicans do not support the current version of their party.)

Having said that, I am only one vote, in one community.  As are you.  As is anyone in this endangered democracy called the United States of America.

At the minimum, Vote Nov. 8.

*

I have been watching the ‘game’ in my town of 70,000 all summer.  I’m in Minnesota SD 47.  (The link is the Democrat website.)

There is the usual array of candidates.  My focus is on Mn Senate and House of Representatives candidates.

My party, the Democrats, have two women running; there are two men listed on the Republican sample ballot.

None of the four have ever actually held elective office.  I know my two candidates.  They will well represent this district.

What I have found exceedingly odd this time around is that the so-called Republican candidates campaign lawn signs and literature basically hardly reveal any party endorsement, or even the Republican ‘colors’ (red), and the one mailer thus far received had nothing of substance.  To get on the ballot, each person had to have official party endorsement, but in the R case, this apparently is not viewed as a positive.  At the same time, if elected these folks will not be free agents.  This is not how politics works.

POSTNOTES:

Information for a Minnesota voter can be seen here (our early voting began on Sep 23).  National information here.  NBC has a Plan Your Vote site as well.

January 6 Select Committee hearing will broadcast on October 13.  Information here.

COMMENTS (note others at end)

from Annelee:  (Annelee is a long-time friend who grew up in Nazi Germany from age 7 to 21.  She knows of what she speaks.)

Dear friend,
The most important action in our life is coming up next month , you and I  need to vote!!! I am not asking what party has your loyalties, I am not asking what church you belong to, whether you are atheist or agnostic if you are a citizen, you need to use your right — and vote.
The media is getting wealthy—the party, the candidate with the most money to spend gets the most exposure to fill our minds with how he-she will change for the better what his/her party opponent neglected to do for you. We need a change, voting for him or her.  really?
It is really not that hard to make a decision.
Look what has given this candidate the right to ask you to be your representative or your president?
look at his/her life actions.?
Did that candidate follow the laws , respect women, took care of their children , taught them right from wrong, and was an example of caring and citizenship. You can expect that from someone who wants the power to make laws and effect  the way you will have to live.
When I look at some of the candidates who want your votes, I am deeply troubled and scared. Remember, you voting for your and your children’s future.
It is your responsibility to check what promises have they kept?  Has he/she sold their honesty for power when their families or friends were lied about. No administration in history  has been without fault, but who has tried to better your life and worked for the future and safety of our country. I am sure you have your own concerns, just think before you vote!
Dick, these are my concern, maybe not stated correctly. but when I hear someone say I voted for him because I liked his name better, I get  scared.  How can anyone listen to Trump or Herschel, yet they are doing well? I hoped I could visit with you, but it hasn’t worked out through no one’s fault.
2 replies
    • dickbernard
      dickbernard says:

      I understand your position, I think. What I’ve observed for years is that the essential tension is that this country is progressive-socialist-conservative (contradiction intended). Any party to succeed has to appear to ‘sell-out’ the purists on both ends of the spectrum. Just my opinion – note I call myself ‘pragmatic’, which flows from a career when I had no choice to deal with all sides of all kinds of petty and profound issues to try to reach some kind of consensus that people could live with. Wasn’t easy…. Thanks for the comment, by the way.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.