Fraud or Incompetence?

When I read the media reports about the most recent election, and the seemingly difficult task that Election Supervisors are having counting the ballots, I must ask; is it Fraud or just Incompetence? 

Look!  The problem isn’t the Russians or any other outside influence.  The problem is the Supervisors and Party operatives who believe that the American Voter is incapable of understanding the issues or that the voting process is simple and has little latitude to become this controversial.

Problem: You have two candidates for an election.  There are X number of people voting.  Candidate #1 receives Y number of votes and Candidate #2 receives Z number of votes.   How do you determine the winner of the election? 

Answer:  Count the damn ballots!  The ballots will tell you which candidate to credit the number of votes.  If you can’t count, which seems to be the problem, stack the ballots in two piles.  Place each ballot in the appropriate pile – that means if the ballot is marked for candidate #1, put it in candidate #1’s pile.  If the ballot is marked for candidate #2, put it in candidate #2’s pile.  The one with the bigger pile wins!

There are no reasons to find boxes of ballots in the back of a returned rental car, or in a teacher’s classroom!  Do you honestly believe that the voters believe that either of these events are accidental?    

Here’s another suggestion:  In each election there are Election Supervisors (sometimes with different titles).  Before letting anyone oversee an election, give them a Civics and Math test, to be certain they understand the process and can count – at least to 100. (ballots can be stacked in multiples of 100…no wait - that’s too difficult, maybe make sure they can count to 10).

There is no reason that elections can’t be settled by a simple count of legitimate ballots…it’s not Rocket Science.

Fraud or incompetence? YES!

Forced Patriotism

Well today the President rescinded his invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Super Bowl champs, to come to the White House – and the Champs said, “we didn’t want to come anyhow”. 

Frankly, I don’t care who goes or does not go to the White House!  Either action will not keep me awake tonight. 

However, I truly wonder if this ‘forced patriotism’ is really what we want?

You must stand and salute the flag; you must stand at attention for the National Anthem; you must march in a straight line; you must honor the leader; you must …well you get my point.  I see ‘forced patriotism in North Korea, Iran, China and the now defunct Soviet Union – and frankly when I see it, it creeps me out!

I personally, will always stand for the National Anthem with my hand over my heart or saluting if I’m covered.  I will always honor the flag, for what it stands for and I will always look for ways to make this Country better; but forcing patriotism and threatening those who don’t do what I do, is not my way and in fact is not the way of the United States Constitution.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (first amendment of the US Constitution)

What does that say?  It says that that Congress is not allowed to establish a religion or to interfere with anyone’s ability to practice theirs.  It also says, that Congress can not interfere with our speech or our right to peaceably assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances – which means our right to protest in any way we choose, as long as it is peaceful, and we don’t break any other laws or statutes, our protest is protected by law.

I hear so many people saying, “it they don’t honor the flag they should get out”!  But there is no mandate to honor flag, song or person, in the Constitution.  We are not, in the United States of America, put in prison, death or kicked out of the Country if we don’t honor flag, song or person.  To do that would be ‘forced patriotism’.  It may be the way of other countries, but it is not our way.

On the matter of football pre-game ceremonies, I’d rather not see the political protests as I just want to watch the game.  But if some of the players choose to take a knee during the National Anthem, I hope they are saying a prayer instead of just making a statement.

When I played football back in the ‘good old days’, we took a knee to listen to the coach – and we’d better keep our mouths shut and not try to make a statement.  Then we stood and faced the flag for the National Anthem.  Not because we were forced to, but because we wanted to.

No, I don't think we really want 'forced patriotism'.  So, let's embrace the Constitution as it is; and change it where it needs changing.  But let's stop calling each other names, even though it is permitted by the Constitution; Mom and God said it was wrong, so I believe it is wrong!  Who am I to argue with those two people?

I HATE YOU!

I hate you....well I hate you!  Why?  Because....you're different than I am.

I have remained pretty silent as I watch the eradication of a society, which once was proud of it's ability to compromise, problem solve, bind together against a common enemy and find a manageable coexistence.  But I'm afraid we are long past QRN (radiotelegraphy signal for point of no return).

I spent 8 years watching and listening to the hatred spewed against Mr. Obama, while he was President; with no recognizable change because of the hatred.  Then there was the hatred for Mrs. Clinton as she ran for the Presidency, and on the other side a hatred for Mr. Trump who was in the same race, and now as Mr. Trump serves as President.

I have to admit that none of the three aforementioned are in my top ten favorite people, but 'hate them'?  no, I don't hate them.  And furthermore, I have to ask; what has your hate done to improve one thing?  Well, I'll answer that for you - nothing has improved because of your hatred for these or any other person.

What your hatred has done, is to divide this Country into shattered pieces, some of which may never be rejoined.  What a great opportunity for another government to take over!

Never before in our history have we fallen so far.  Never before in our history have we been so fractured that no real strong defense against evil can be mustered.  Never before in history has this Nation been so vulnerable to destruction.  and it's all because of hatred!

I am not strong enough or loud enough to change what I see is a 'flat spin' to utter dissolving of a Nation that I love and cherish.  But I, for one, refuse to hate!  I may not like your politics or those of the ones who govern us, but I refuse to hate you or them.  You may shout me down, but I still will not hate you. 

In this Nation, we are allowed to speak our mind.  We can be patriotic or we can not be patriotic, that is a right given to us by our Constitution.  We can be religious or we can not be religious; another right given to us. 

Hating me because I don't agree with you is wrong.  Hating me because I don't worship the way you do is wrong.  Hating me because I don't look like you or live like you is also wrong. 

Forced patriotism can be seen in other countries around the world, where lines and lines of soldiers and lines and lines of little children are forced to parade on special days; march or be punished! Other countries have forced religion.  Convert or die! And finally, other countries will put you to death for opposing leadership - you don't even have to express hatred!  Is this what you really want?

Well, that's it.  Hatred has become the 'way of the day'.  I don't like it and don't intend to be part of it, even if I'm a minority of one. 

Who’s Next?

Well, the Presidential election is over, most of the dust has settled and the Country is still quite divided.  But, regardless of which candidate won, and regardless of how upset/happy you are….and regardless of the fact that we’ve done this 44 times before; the die has been cast and there is a President in office.

Impeach him!  Declare him incompetent! Sign a petition to get rid of him!  Those are some of the mild protests against Mr. Trump.  There are many more that are not printable but we’ll leave them for now.

But what will happen if Mr. Trump is impeached, declared incompetent or 60 million people sign a petition to “throw the bum out”, to use a baseball phrase. 

Frankly I think too many of the folks who did not support Mr. Trump believe that if he is removed from office, Mrs. Clinton would take his place.

No, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s not how it works.  If Mr. Trump is removed from office, or quits as some believe he will (he’s never quit anything in his past), Mr. Pence, the current Vice President, would become President, and a new Vice President would be chosen by then President Pence, and confirmed by the Senate.  Who would Mr. Pence pick?  I doubt it would be a liberal thinking person….in fact it would probably be someone of like mind and character with him.

Who would then President Pence pick to serve on the Supreme Court to fill the obvious positions that will certainly become vacant soon?  Not more liberal judges that’s for sure!  The Court will take on a conservative bent, for years to come!

Think about it; Mr. Trump is not a solid conservative, as he sees things through a different political looking glass than many conservatives.  He might even have some liberal tendencies.  Mr. Pence certainly does not!

To those who are trying to bring down President Trump, I give you two pieces of advise:  1) Take a Civics Class, so you know how the system works; 2) Be careful when wishing, you may get what you wish for.

What’s the Point of Clandestineness?

What is the point?  We, as a country, spend millions of dollars each year on the FBI, CIA, NSA and every other configuration of 3 letter agencies, to operate and protect the military, national defense, congressional activates and even the original formula for Coke and the Colonel’s chicken, yet the other agency BMFM (Big Mouth for Money), also known as the ‘media’, reveals the secrets, almost before the ink is dry on the original report.

Guglielmo Marconi said; “The coming of the wireless era will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous”.  Maybe he was right!  If the ‘leaks for money’ mob, on one side, continue to leak secrets to the other side, why would we need to fight…. or more to the point – how could we fight and expect a successful conclusion to any battle. 

Recently the results of a very high level security briefing for the POTUS and POTUS elect, was leaked to the media, two hours – TWO HOURS – after the top-secret briefing! (yelling intended).  The Spook Agencies might as well have held a press conference!

Enough is enough; we have two choices.  Lower the ‘cone of silence’ (not everyone knows what that is) or open it totally up so that we and our potential enemies know what we know.  How could it mess us up any more than it is now?

Open it up so we know exactly which government officials are having affairs with which interns…. who is bribing who, what weapons do we have and what do they have, why did we fake the moon landing and why are their alien scientists working in Area 51?

Didn’t we learn from the toy company Mattel that military secrets went away a long time ago? 

Pogo was correct: “we have met the enemy and he is us”.

OK, I Get It!

OK, I get it!  Those of you who voted for Mrs. Clinton are upset, so you think the only way to express your disappointment is to protest, destroy property, extend the middle finger to buildings with the Trump name on them and call all Trump supporters racists, homophones, xenophobes and every filthy name you can find.

OK, I get it!  Those of you who voted for Mr. Trump are upset at those on the other side, so you think the only way to express your feelings is to act arrogant, look down your noses at liberals, produce memes and writings that are designed (but don't) to initiate humor, use filthy language to describe people of different persuasions and forward stories on Facebook, that have ‘shocking headlines’ that have absolutely nothing to do with the article which they are attached or out-and-out lies!

Oh, I agree you both have a first amendment right to say or write anything you choose, and I support that right; but do you think you are doing anything positive?  “oh yes, we are bringing attention to the problem” is the common response – which is nothing more than a mantra that says ‘if they don’t agree with me they’re wrong’, at which point you both begin calling the other side names.

Prior to the election, the Conservative side complained about the Electoral College, and ‘how fixed’ it was, and the Liberal side it was fine with it, because Mr. Trump might get the ‘popular’ vote but Mrs. Clinton would receive most the Electoral vote. (because that’s what the news media said)

Wait a minute!  So soon we forget?

In all honesty, I don’t know if the Electoral College is the correct way to choose a President.  It is, however, what has been in place for a very long time; and I can’t remember any riots in the past, when the popular vote result was different than the Electoral vote result.  I don’t have any suggestion for a replacement – but it isn’t the popular vote! (it seems odd to call it a popular vote, when those who voted were split by a small percentage and only a little over 57 percent of eligible voters voted).

   Frankly, I find those statistics shameful!  There are Countries who would give their lives to get a chance to vote; and those that have, see a much larger turnout – even when their lives are threatened.

Let’s change it!  OK, let’s change the way we choose a President: The United States Electoral College is established by Article Two of the United States Constitution to select the President of the United States and Vice President.

So, it’s in our Constitution; the only way to change it is via an Amendment.

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

It seems to me that the current election cycle has shifted power in the Congress in such a way that getting 2/3 majority to begin the change, probably isn’t practical.

 

How about a Constitutional Convention?  Well we have 50 States, which means at least 34 States must call for the Convention.  But that’s not all!  Should the Convention decide to propose an Amendment, ¾ of the States (38) are needed to approve the proposed Amendment and make it law.

You tell me; is it quicker to protest, burn, call names and hate each other until the law is changed, or to look across the divide and realize that there may be a majority (if you combine forces) to at least begin dialogue on the matter.

Webster says a bigot is: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc.

Kind of puts a different slant on things, doesn’t it?

WAKE UP FOLKS!  YOU AREN’T HELPING A THING, YOU’RE JUST CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS.

To Vote or Not To Vote - That is The Question (Sorry Mr. Shakespeare)

To be truthful, I don’t know who to vote for in the upcoming election!  Actually the truth of the matter is - it is doubtful that I will vote for any of the 4 people trying to achieve the office of President of the United States.  I believe so strongly in the precious right, and privilege of the vote, which we are given by our Constitution, and am feeling quite guilty that I might waste the privilege by not exercising it.

I listen to the rhetoric back and forth – not just from the candidates, but from all the Facebook and other social ‘would be and fractional media’ posts, the misrepresentations and lies of the ‘talk show gurus’ and the very bad reporting of the so called ‘professional newscasters’ and I think “who in the world would want to be President?  Certainly no sane person!

President Harry Truman was a foul mouthed son-of-a-gun.  He had no concerns about his swearing and rough talk; but then he had a short lived presidency which had major impacts on the future of the world.  What was his strength?  Well it might be summed up in the following quote:

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ― Harry Truman

Mr. Truman was concerned for the country and the lives of the people who called themselves Americans. (by the way, they were people of all backgrounds and all racial colors and were fighting in a very widespread war) But what is Mr. Truman most noted for?  The atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Why?  Because that’s what the news media wanted you to know about!

What was Mr. Eisenhower known for?  Playing golf for 8 years; Mr. Nixon?  Leaving the Office of the Presidency in shame; Mr. Kennedy?  His assassination.  Mr. Ford?  Stumbling and falling down; Mr. Carter?  Iran hostages.  And so it goes, on and on to the current President Mr. Obama.  (let’s not forget that Mr. Bush the second, who caused New York City to be attacked by terrorists and caused Hurricane Katrina)

Has no President done any good in America?  If they had, I can’t imagine it ever being reported in a good light.

What about our current candidates:  Mrs. Clinton seems to be known for her emails, Bengasi and the lack of trustworthiness.  Mr. Trump for his blurting out of senseless verbal lines of attack and now his treatment of women in the past. (don’t forget his taxes)  Mr. Johnson, well that’s easy, his smoking pot.  Ms. Stein, well, I’m not sure what she is known for but it can’t be anything good.

So there you have it.  According to one-side-or-another of the media, nobody has done anything good!

I can’t believe that either of the two major candidates are truly all bad.  I can’t believe that they have never done anything good in their lives.  But if we take our information from the media at large (that includes Facebook and other unfettered social media), we will never know the complete and true makeup of the candidates.

One other group of folks I’d like to chastise; the Moderators for the debates!  Are you kidding me?  Do you really think I believe that you are a moderator?

 (Moderator…. Mod-er-a-tor:  an arbitrator or mediator.  2. One who moderates) Wait a minute!  (Moderate…. Mod-er-ate: one who holds moderate views, especially in politics).  To use a political expression – BS.  (Truman would not have abbreviated) 

Attention Moderators and Candidates!  We are not interested in your personal views on each other and we are not interested in how much dirt you dredge up on each other.  What we are interested in is your plans to put this Country (The United States of America, not your personal lives, in case you were not listening) back on a path to peace and prosperity.  If you can’t give us what we want, the GET THE HELL OUT OF THE RACE, so we can find someone that will work on our behalf.