This is Election Day. Long before you read this I wrote this
piece and then published early this morning before setting out for my assigned
polling place. I am an election judge and will work throughout the morning and
night to administer the election laws of our nation fairly and properly. This
activity will, for this small gathering of precincts, provide the legal voting
activity for the citizens willing to step forward and cast their votes. And
they will be dutifully and accurately counted to produce the final results of
this horrible election season.
It has been demoralizing to those of us who take this
seriously. So many people with vapid personalities and no understanding of
issues voting ‘their conscience’ on issues they decide on a whim or misguided
rhetoric. For them they are certain they have done their duty. For others they
are certain that a travesty has been foisted on the public yet again. And given
the tenor of this campaign, who can blame either side for their feelings of
despair?
The victorious will be branded crooked no matter what is
done, said or counted as victory. The defeated will snarl and spit their way
into yet another season of dismay followed by a campaign that goes awry as
well.
Must we continue this sham? Must we allow nonsense and
distortions to set the stage as fact for our elections? I think not. I think we
are capable of doing this better. But it doesn’t matter what I think. It
matters more what we all think and feel, and then act to change the system.
Period. The system is broken and needs replacement.
First, get big money out of campaigns.
Second, let public funds budget and fund each campaign
Third, let issues themselves drive the interest and
vote-getting. Let discussion of the issues demonstrate the intelligence of the
candidates and their forward approach to managing our republic.
If this doesn’t remove the personalities from the campaign I
don’t know what will. But I think we must try.
I wrote ‘it takes a village’ to save a town or
community. The same holds true for me regarding our nation. It takes all of us
working together – not believing the same things – but at least working
together to make our nation work well, achieve the great things it is capable
of, and to support quality of life for all of us. It is a big task. But it is
doable.
Life – Liberty
– And the pursuit of happiness. That is what America stands for. But it stands
with all of our legs and feet firmly involved in the tasks of making the
society work as well and seamlessly as we can make it. It is not automatic. It
does not require any of us to be selfish or self centered. If we watch out for
ourselves and each other at the same time the larger good will be served.
Towns and cities experiencing bone crushing recessions and
depressions failed themselves. They had all the elements present for past
success, current well-being, and a continuation of same well into the future.
But that well-being ceased, didn’t it. Why? Why didn’t they search for the answers
then, and prepare the way for repair and rejuvenation? They had all the smarts
they needed. They had the money. They had the institutions. They had the assets
from the past to use for investing in the future.
The fact they didn’t is the largest part of why they failed.
Absent leadership is another component of this failure. It doesn’t take an
Einstein to observe what is happening, or a guru to determine what to do to fix
it. It just takes us to remain plugged into our communities and see for
ourselves. And then step forward to help, speak, offer ideas.
Too many communities have not done this in the past. The
landscape of our nation is littered with towns, ghost towns and underdeveloped
regions that have failed themselves. As one industry peters out, replace it
with another that is in demand by the nation. Look for the big picture. Seek other
nuances of the future. It is calling us. It calls each of us personally, too.
Have you heard it? Have you tingled to its message? Are you
reacting yet? Do you have an interest in what happens next?
Then what will you do about it? And why are you just sitting
there reading this?
Act. Now. Before it is too late.
November 8, 2016
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