Archive for November, 2004

Politics and reality

Friday, November 5th, 2004

Many of you know I was hoping that Bush would not win re-election. However, he obviously will be president for the next 4.

Of course what this means to me: taking a broad view, not a whole lot either way. My immediate and primary concern is still my family and making sure we all have enough to eat and some left over for toys. And no matter who was in the presidential office my day to day life would be impacted very little.

Would Kerry have been significantly different than 4 more with Bush? In many aspects, no. Some of the policies they fought so bitterly over in the debates were nearly identical. My only political course of action at this time is to do what I always do, when I see things happening at the Federal level that I disagree with, then I will contact my representation and let them know. And if I see things that I want to happen, again make the reps do their job, even if that means willfully ignorning my input, but at least dealing with it in some way.

Anyway here are some general thoughtoids I have manufactured, and had thrust upon me recently.

  • Some of the Republican principles are very acceptable: minimal government, less taxes, responsibility. Hopefully the elected from that party can enbody and enact some of those principles.
  • If in four years things have changed for the percieved worse, the current administration will not have the excuses of an already declining economy and (hopefully) there will be no massive civilian loss of life on the homeland.
  • I like Bush’s Social Security plan. I hate watching that counter on my paycheck tick off without the ability to manage the investment of my money!. Even though I feel many will oppose me holding my funds back from the general social security coffers, I would really like this to become a reality. I will let my (All Republican) federal representation know about my thoughts. Heck even better, just cut me a check for everything I have contributed in my name (number rather) and I’ll roll it into an IRA.
  • I think the repubs are pushing federal tax free medical spending accounts too, like the kind all you people who work at big companies have access to. Well I will push for this too. Yeah, yeah the last two are the fabled promises and I know the fall of Rome came from the electorate voting for more Bread and Circuses, but I just want the bread I earned.
  • I have seen my current thoughts and feelings compared to how a more mature generation felt when Nixon was re-elected. Their advice: “Get over it.” If the current administration is as bad as many feel it is, they now have enough rope to hang themselves.
  • The media’s portrayal of the partisan standoff and bickering is a little over done. Maybe the pundits hate each other that much, but I don’t feel it accurately portrays what happens on CSPAN .

The Poor Voter on Election Day

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004

picture outside a polling place
The Poor Voter on Election Day
John Greenleaf Whittier

The proudest now is but my peer,
The highest not more high;
Today, of all the weary year,
A king of men am I.

Today, alike the great and small,
The nameless and the known;
My palace is the people’s hall,
The ballot-bow my throne!

Who serves today upon the list
Beside the served shall stand;
Alike the brown and wrinkled fist,
The gloved and dainty hand!
The rich is level with the poor,
The weak is strong today;
And sleekest broadcloth counts know more
The homespun frock of gray.

Today let pomp and vain pretense
My stubborn right abide;
I set a plain man’s common sense
Against the pendant’s pride.
Today shall simple manhood try
The strengthen of gold and land;
The wide world has not wealth to buy
The power in my right hand!

While there’s grief to set redress,
Or balance to adjust,
Where weighs our living manhood less
Than Mammon’s vilest dust-
While there’s a right to need my vote,
A wrong to sweep away,
Up! clouted knee and ragged coat!
A man’s a man today!

Early and Often

Monday, November 1st, 2004

I was finalizing some research for my vote tomorrow morning, and I noticed that the vote-smart site didn’t seem to have all the Pennsylvania races that are of interest to me. So I found that congress.org seems to have some more complete listings. So I am looking at PA attorney general, auditor general and state treasurer tonight.

I also found that the League of Women Voters has a nice 2 page PA statewide voters guide that gives a good summary of all the major races.