MEGA – Make Elections Great Again

Do we have that much time on our hands that we have to devise hacks, design creative systems, develop new technology, or spend more taxpayer money in order to make everything easier? To what end? So we end up with more time on our hands? Simpler, faster, more convenience and efficiency are all worthy goals but should it apply to absolutely everything in our society? Maybe, but not for everything in life. Voting happens to be one of those things that I believe should not be made ‘easy’.

Human nature teaches us that when something becomes increasingly easier over time, we tend to not pay it the importance it deserves or a certain diligence required to attend to it.

Fifty states make their own rules designating dates and deadlines for their documented citizens to register and vote. In my view, it’s a minor downside of Federalism. For most elections this happens on the first Tuesday in November. Okay so far. Special absentee voting rules are made to accommodate voters who know in advance that they will not be present to vote at their designated voting station. Becoming a little more complex but still good because one doesn’t have to know the rules of all 50 states, just the ones applicable to where they are registered.

It’s here where we started to go off the rails in terms of ease and efficiency as the introduction of expanded registration deadlines and methods, ever changing election day protocols, and voting methods have muddied the water for voters of every demographic. Add in Ranked Choice voting and your voice doesn’t mean much anymore. Interestingly enough, most of the complication of a straight forward process rose out of making it easier and more inclusive.

It’s ironic we hear phrases that connote ‘voter suppression’ and the need for more inclusion used more often these days in the era of easy voting. While we could also throw in the health safety excuse for changes in voting protocol it is presumed Covid will soon be a page in history – but don’t expect the changes made under this guise to be as transitory.

The obvious question to ask for people like me with a basic intelligence is; If we continue to go to great lengths to assure everyone has easier access to exercise their right to vote, who exactly in 2021 is being suppressed at the ballot box? Is it a basic voter intelligence issue, an elementary understanding of the rules that apply, or possibly a communication deficit? Is this an inner-city problem or a rural America conundrum? Either way it denigrates the exact persons it tries to address.

The 13th Federal Holiday?

The persistent use of the term ‘voter suppression’ leading up to the 2020 election followed by Georgia’s special election in January 2021 has become a fashionable trigger. The way media outlets played it left one assuming that there is still be a nationwide racial issue as if we still lived in the 1960’s. I, for one think this does an incredible disservice to every non-white person who is eligible to vote as it assumes they aren’t smart enough to access the system because it still remains way too complicated after all the efforts to make it … easy. I reject this, totally. Pandering is a kind way to describe this tactic.

So how does one make the system any easier so as to be effective? By making it more difficult. In doing so it shifts the message from ‘ease and convenience’ to ‘important enough to make the effort’.

1.  Limit the length of early voting. Currently there are provisions in many states to cast a ballot up to 45 days early. Alabama tops that figure at 55 days.

2. Eliminate unsolicited mass mail-in voting. Currently, there are five states that mail ballots to ‘a listed address’ for every registered voter on the voter rolls (dead or alive, in-residence or relocated). This elimination of mail-in voting does not apply to absentee ballot provisions where a formal request is delivered to the local election official by the published deadline.

3. Eliminate unmonitored, unsecured public ballot drop boxes.

4. In person voting limited to one 24-hour period across all 50 states, District of Columbia, and US Territories. This would require more voting stations, better technology, and additional protocols to provide adequate and equal access throughout the 24-hour period. Some districts may require up to 36 hours.

5. To accommodate #3. requires election day to be a Federal Holiday, 1^st Tuesday in November. Schools, banks, businesses, bars, Federal services, etc. only open and operating for a short period, e.g. 9-12 a.m. Emergency services only. Add it to the list of Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s that important. One day a year the focus should be on exercising your right to vote; not retail.

6. A voter arriving to accept a ballot on which to cast a vote must show a government issued photo ID that is crosschecked with the official voter registration listing. Think about the technology used to get through the airport TSA security checkpoint. If the crosscheck does not produce a confirmed eligibility the voter is given a ‘provisional ballot’ to cast. Determination of eligibility is accomplished within 24 hours so as to be accepted or rejected as per state rules. Government ID’s will be available free of charge up to seven days prior to 1^st Tuesday in November at any state government outlet (DMV, VA, Social Services, etc.) for those needing one.

These ideas are not meant to be punitive, restrictive, or otherwise to be seen with any motive toward suppressing one’s voting rights. Rather, it is meant to draw more focus on what is the most important part of participating in a Republic; choosing who will be our leaders and presumably work in our best interests. Enacting a Federal Holiday, standardizing registration dates and deadlines across all 50 states, DC and territories, restricting the time to cast a ballot to a single 24-hour period, and requiring a photo ID puts all the responsibility on the voter and a direct emphasis on the importance of the act itself. 

Much of this theory comes into conflict with the Founders ideas of Federalism and how states determine how they will conduct their own elections. I admit to grappling with this conflict while pondering this issue. It remains unresolved to an extent.

The overriding thought is that as we continue to make life (voting) easier we tend to not pay appropriate attention to important responsibilities we have as citizens.     

Sports; The Homeopathic Anti-Depressant

                                                                                                                                                                                    

"Using a sick day"

Yesterday my wife jokingly (I think) asked if I had upped my anti-depressant dosage to industrial strength. Remarking that I had been in an unusually good mood of late, I responded that I hadn’t watched the news or read the paper since 7:30 a.m. on June 12th. Lest you live in a cave you will recognize this as kick-off time across South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. And on top of that we’re neck deep in a fantastic Laker-Celtic NBA Finals. Ah sports, the salve for the beleaguered soul.

Recognizing a Drowning Victim

We’re only in first quarter but one has to wonder if the home team has the players to keep it close enough for a comeback later in the game. There are first round draft picks that were told not to even dress for the game, some all stars aren’t performing to their potential, and the coach is sending in a whole new playbook that is a mystery to everyone, even his assistant coaches. It’s no wonder the loyal fans are getting  antsy.

The Root of All Evil; Taxes and Lobbyists

Change We Can Believe In

….Herein lies the root of the problem. Did these people read all 7500 pages of rules and intentionally cheat or is the entire code a ridiculous mess that has the potential to take even Billy Graham down. A good rule of thumb is to always stick with Billy Graham. If Barack would devote as much energy to rewriting the tax code as he is to bailing out irresponsible home buyers and incompetent business’, life would be far better for all Americans and we would make the joke a reality and find a spot for him at Mt. Rushmore.

Barack’s Annoying Domestic Problem

Forget the War on Terror, the festering economic quagmire with a collapsed housing market and auto industry, or even mounting tensions in the Middle East. President Obama has an annoyingly persistent problem much closer to home; namely the man he chose to be his #2, Joe Biden. Presumably he was picked to be the V.P. for the dignity and experience he would bring to the job. Certainly this was a key contrast made between him and Gov. Sarah Palin. After 36 years on the job in DC one thought he would have brought a better handle on world events and a more disciplined tongue to the administration. It would appear that, in spite of Tina Fay’s dullard portrayal of Mrs. Palin on SNL, she is the one that has displayed a better grasp of issues and personal control of the thoroughfare between the brain and the mouth. 

Is There More To Sarah Palin?

Deep down inside I was praying for a Margaret Thatcher mind to come out of the Palin body. Who knows, maybe its still there looking for a way to get out but I doubt we’ll ever get a chance to hear it. The media has succeeded in destroying her national political future by dumbing her down to the level of a small town hick. This process has been nothing short of repugnant, sadistic, and patently unfair not only to her, but to democracy in general.

Whatever Happened to Civics?

…”What was discouraging was that none of the young people had any desire or intention to vote for any presidential candidate because they felt totally betrayed by the entire political ‘system’. These weren’t a group of disenfranchised youth but educated and talented young people.

Save Your Watch

save your watch

When the B.S. gets deep, adopt the universal signal to express your recognition of pap and nonsense. Raise your hand above your head and mutter, “save your watch”. Resort to this behavior whenever you detect a politician is sprinting toward a camera and a microphone. Last week’s $850bn bailout provided just such an opportunity….

I Didn’t Sign Up For This

 Where’s Jack Bauer when you need him? The rugged all-American hero from the TV show ‘24’ wouldn’t put up with this stuff.

 

We’ve got two guys vying to be the next U.S. CEO that come from that lowly regarded cabal of hot air called Congress, a monetary system in ruins with politicians pointing fingers at everyone except themselves, corporate executives coming to earth albeit under their multi million dollar golden parachutes, illegals broaching the Rio Grande, multiple foreign madmen with evil intent, a media that can’t pick up enough rocks to throw, and 300 million people who just want some love. And a little leadership, common sense, ethics, and some spine would also be nice.