Ok this is the last weekend before the election here are my thoughts.
1. America hates these candidates and we are fed up with our system. Sooner or later this will blow up into some form of extreme outcome. At best it could end in the demise of the two party hegemony.
2. The constituencies seems to be realigning. America might be on the way to being racially divided in voting blocks. The Democrats seem to be losing the white working class and the Republicans are losing ethnic voters.
3. Republicans are relegated to a minority party. I predict the numbers will elect Hillary. I have believed that since the beginning.
4. Republicans are naive about abortion and vote uncritically thinking that it is the only life and death issue. They are also naive about the power of the ballot box to affect the issue.
5. Populism obviously is rising. Historically populism seems to have violent potentials.
6. The polarization of us and them is entrenched. Civility is gone. Our politicians no longer inspire they incite.
7. The free press has been replaced by the free market press.
8. Issues pertaining to our long term fiscal security have been overwhelmed by individual personal advantage. We have no intention of acting prudently with regard to economy. We simply absorb more and more responsibility into the public sphere. When candidates bring the grocery list to their speeches in the form of the promise of government entitlements the outcome is sure.
9. Christians have to understand that we live in a liberal society and our arguments are convincing no one. Furthermore, our missteps are the only thing that gets public notice. Evangelicals are headed into exile. It will be more pronounced than we imagine and the tipping point has already been reached.
10. Somehow the kingdom of God will prevail. That we cannot make it so might drive us to the only action that cannot fail. “Thy kingdom come.”
1.When faced with two horrid choices, Christians tried to baptize one instead of turning honestly to God.
Leaders like Franklin Graham betrayed both the faith and the voters who listened to them.
2.We’ve been racially divided forever…this year we’re just being honest about it.
3.It’s a 50-50 race..Trump will win by a huge margin in my area.
4.Your #4 is the whole truth and will get you stoned.
5.Populism is historically dangerous…but if you burn down the house you can rebuild if the foundation is sound.
6.Quit blaming the polarization on anybody other than ourselves…we incite each other and then let our preferred media pour gas on it. Hate is a delicious feeling.
7. We have taken to heart the proverb that “reading rots the mind”…
8. This election ain’t about money,it’s about being pissed…
9. Christians have always been in exile according to Peter…
10. Amen.
BD, your number 4 has been one of my bigger take aways from this election. The abortion issue seems like it is the ring in the nose that is going to allow a lot of well meaning people to be led to some places they have no interest in going.
“Civility is gone. Our politicians no longer inspire they incite.”
– this is the main reason I have lost interest in politics, quite some time ago. I still vote, but just can’t bring myself to engage in discussion about it anymore. It never gets anywhere.
historically, ambitious men (generic) have been the bane of our Republic and maybe its backbone, also… not sure how it all shakes out…
from what i’ve seen (sick of the whole thing) this election has, more than any other in my lifetime, definitely made race and class the dividing line … isn’t it interesting that the whole dust up of police killings and police killers came to a head during this run? almost as if the devil, himself, was orchestrating the play
“ask not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.” seems to have phased into “ask what your country is going to do TO you” … sigh
There are so many ironies in the election. It seems that the odd man out of the whole deal is the GOP and the National Chamber of Commerce. Look at some of the reversals:
Clinton is viewed as the national security hawk compared to Trump who is viewed as the isolationist.
Clinton is viewed as the free trader compared to Trump is viewed as protectionist.
Clinton is viewed as the fiscal conservative compared to Trump who is viewed as blowing up the national debt.
Neither candidate is running on (1) reducing entitlement spending or (2) reducing the national debt.
Aside from the abortion issue, it’s hard to find any commonality between Trump and the conservative wing of the GOP. The Chamber of Commerce is very concerned about Trump.
My observation for anyone with a 401(k) or IRA invested in the stock market is that you talk to your financial adviser before Tuesday evening. If Trump wins, the financial markets will be thrown into chaos I predict. Most Fortune 500 companies do a significant amount of business oversees, through either sales and/or procurement.
i am amazed, perhaps flummoxed even, by the assertions that continue to be made as factual in this campaign… it will be blissful if we can observe the Sabbath tomorrow 🙂
i think i’ll run in 2020 on the Do-Away-with-Daylight-Savings ticket – if it takes too long for the sun to show up in December, well… start your day an hour later
3. Republicans will always be a minority party unless they can find a way to wean themselves from screaming right-wing radio jocks and Faux News. Even if that were to occur, it’s too late.
Obama Derangement Syndrome, meet Clinton Derangement Syndrome. Same damn thing.
Actually, Repubs, IMHO, have been living on life support since Reagan left office. I believe there’s a direct relationship between conservative Christians hitching their star to the Repub. wagon back in the 1980s and the fact that 25-35% of millennials don’t go to church. They’ve been turned off by the alliance and the refusal of this group to acknowledge that the other side (Dems, etc.) might actually have some worthwhile views.
Most Americans are smarter, thankfully.
Late, but I want to say it… It’s not just Evangelicals who will find themselves marginalized post-election (no matter who wins) it will also be the mainline denominations, the Roman Catholic Church and all the rest. Desiring power in the public square, we have sold our inheritance for a “pot of lentils”… As a result, we will have neither power nor even the promised pot of lentils. Instead, we will get what we deserve, i.e. to be placed at the margins of the society we desire to influence with little or no influence whatsoever. It will take a generation to recover from this debacle, if we recover at all, at least if we maintain ourselves in our current state…
Lets be honest about America’s political leadership in Washington.They could care less about the little people who are barely making it.The Wikileaks scandal made that very clear. Our nation needs prayer.
“Lets be honest about America’s political leadership in Washington. They could care less about the little people who are barely making it.”
I agree entirely with you. Let’s look at the causes:
(1) Big money donations to politicians corrupt the system. Little people don’t make the large donations that are required for access. Solution: Make elections publicly financed and ban private donations. That may require a Constitutional Amendment, but so be it.
(2) Politicians have no term limits. Therefore, the serve to survive and become wealthy off their public service. Solution: Institute term limits.That may require a Constitutional Amendment, but so be it.
Term limits is such a cop out. I always ask the proponent of term limits – “why do you need a law to keep you from continually voting for the scoundrel?”
Term limits is you telling me who I can and cannot vote for.
We have term limits here in CA – not a single politician has voluntarily left office – they just switch with each other.
Follow my policy – in the primaries – I never vote for the incumbent.
My suggestion on a federal level is go back to part time government. Have Congress in session for 4months per year – let them do the damage they can and send them home for 8 months to their REGULAR job.
No it’s not, because the system is rigged in favor of the incumbent. The incumbent has a tax payer financed mailing budget, can travel on the people’s dime, and can shake down special interests for campaign donations. You are incredibly naïve if you think challengers have a level playing field.
So, when you get the tax payer paid postcard that says ‘Vote for Bob’ – you automatically do this?
But when you impose term limits, you tell me I cannot ‘Vote for Bob’ if his term has run out even though I think he is the best solution for the problems that affect my local community.
Do you really want us guys in CA telling you guys in IA who you can vote for locally? Talk about naive thinking. 😉
Jean – then you and your buddies should stop voting for them.
Did you vote for any incumbents this cycle?
Here in CA we have had Feinstein and Boxer coming up now on 25 yrs. I was not happy that they were our senators, but they did an honorable job – for a couple of communists (ooops! I meant Democrats.) But are you really going to tell my mother that she is not allowed to voted for them (and I can tell you she did every single time) because you cannot control your voting pattern?
I tell you, my idea for a part time government would weed them out faster.
4 months of government work (and pay’d accordingly?) – sounds good
term limits probably isn’t the best idea – there’s always a replacement at the ready… who said something about once the voters realize that they can vote themselves “free” goodies our Republic is done for?
making it illegal for any elected official to lobby or take a government funded (military industrial complex) job on leaving office would help a bit perhaps…
we have 2 candidates running for congress in our state who want to take out the dams to protect the salmon to protect the whales – never mind that the salmon eaten by the whales migrate up the streams and rivers that feed into Puget Sound – they don’t even go up the – ahem – dammed rivers
one of the 2 candidates wants to take every single dam on the Snake and the Columbia (she’ll probably get elected) thus eliminating every hydro-electric, clean energy facility (Grand Coulee) serving the entire NW and probably further with the present power grid system
One thing about dams is that after a few decades, the reservoirs fill up with silt, become useless, and dredging is very difficult and expensive. Sometimes dams have to be removed for this reason. I don’t know about the dams in your location, but this is often the case as it was in the case of the dam on the Carmel River, which was recently removed.
#22 – yes, silt build-up would occur when a dam is constructed to provide a reservoir of water… we used to see them periodically open the gates on the big power generating dams, perhaps they still do, i assume that was for the purpose of flushing – quite a site to see
either way, rather than tear down the dam, wouldn’t it seem sensible to use them, let them run their lifespan out, while perfecting solar collectors and such (the wind turbines are ugly and kill birds i understand)? … i can’t let go of the idea that the tidal fluctuations should be a wonderful source of turbine generated power even tho i’ve been told that it’s not practical…
we’ll always cause a degree of pollution by our presence on the planet… even the cows seem to do that 🙂
nice to think about something besides politics and doctrinal conflicts tonight
It’s all yours today…
No comments?
Ok this is the last weekend before the election here are my thoughts.
1. America hates these candidates and we are fed up with our system. Sooner or later this will blow up into some form of extreme outcome. At best it could end in the demise of the two party hegemony.
2. The constituencies seems to be realigning. America might be on the way to being racially divided in voting blocks. The Democrats seem to be losing the white working class and the Republicans are losing ethnic voters.
3. Republicans are relegated to a minority party. I predict the numbers will elect Hillary. I have believed that since the beginning.
4. Republicans are naive about abortion and vote uncritically thinking that it is the only life and death issue. They are also naive about the power of the ballot box to affect the issue.
5. Populism obviously is rising. Historically populism seems to have violent potentials.
6. The polarization of us and them is entrenched. Civility is gone. Our politicians no longer inspire they incite.
7. The free press has been replaced by the free market press.
8. Issues pertaining to our long term fiscal security have been overwhelmed by individual personal advantage. We have no intention of acting prudently with regard to economy. We simply absorb more and more responsibility into the public sphere. When candidates bring the grocery list to their speeches in the form of the promise of government entitlements the outcome is sure.
9. Christians have to understand that we live in a liberal society and our arguments are convincing no one. Furthermore, our missteps are the only thing that gets public notice. Evangelicals are headed into exile. It will be more pronounced than we imagine and the tipping point has already been reached.
10. Somehow the kingdom of God will prevail. That we cannot make it so might drive us to the only action that cannot fail. “Thy kingdom come.”
BD,
1.When faced with two horrid choices, Christians tried to baptize one instead of turning honestly to God.
Leaders like Franklin Graham betrayed both the faith and the voters who listened to them.
2.We’ve been racially divided forever…this year we’re just being honest about it.
3.It’s a 50-50 race..Trump will win by a huge margin in my area.
4.Your #4 is the whole truth and will get you stoned.
5.Populism is historically dangerous…but if you burn down the house you can rebuild if the foundation is sound.
6.Quit blaming the polarization on anybody other than ourselves…we incite each other and then let our preferred media pour gas on it. Hate is a delicious feeling.
7. We have taken to heart the proverb that “reading rots the mind”…
8. This election ain’t about money,it’s about being pissed…
9. Christians have always been in exile according to Peter…
10. Amen.
BD, your number 4 has been one of my bigger take aways from this election. The abortion issue seems like it is the ring in the nose that is going to allow a lot of well meaning people to be led to some places they have no interest in going.
“Civility is gone. Our politicians no longer inspire they incite.”
– this is the main reason I have lost interest in politics, quite some time ago. I still vote, but just can’t bring myself to engage in discussion about it anymore. It never gets anywhere.
historically, ambitious men (generic) have been the bane of our Republic and maybe its backbone, also… not sure how it all shakes out…
from what i’ve seen (sick of the whole thing) this election has, more than any other in my lifetime, definitely made race and class the dividing line … isn’t it interesting that the whole dust up of police killings and police killers came to a head during this run? almost as if the devil, himself, was orchestrating the play
“ask not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.” seems to have phased into “ask what your country is going to do TO you” … sigh
There are so many ironies in the election. It seems that the odd man out of the whole deal is the GOP and the National Chamber of Commerce. Look at some of the reversals:
Clinton is viewed as the national security hawk compared to Trump who is viewed as the isolationist.
Clinton is viewed as the free trader compared to Trump is viewed as protectionist.
Clinton is viewed as the fiscal conservative compared to Trump who is viewed as blowing up the national debt.
Neither candidate is running on (1) reducing entitlement spending or (2) reducing the national debt.
Aside from the abortion issue, it’s hard to find any commonality between Trump and the conservative wing of the GOP. The Chamber of Commerce is very concerned about Trump.
My observation for anyone with a 401(k) or IRA invested in the stock market is that you talk to your financial adviser before Tuesday evening. If Trump wins, the financial markets will be thrown into chaos I predict. Most Fortune 500 companies do a significant amount of business oversees, through either sales and/or procurement.
Bd’s #7: The free church has been replaced with the free market church. 🙁
i am amazed, perhaps flummoxed even, by the assertions that continue to be made as factual in this campaign… it will be blissful if we can observe the Sabbath tomorrow 🙂
i think i’ll run in 2020 on the Do-Away-with-Daylight-Savings ticket – if it takes too long for the sun to show up in December, well… start your day an hour later
3. Republicans will always be a minority party unless they can find a way to wean themselves from screaming right-wing radio jocks and Faux News. Even if that were to occur, it’s too late.
Obama Derangement Syndrome, meet Clinton Derangement Syndrome. Same damn thing.
Actually, Repubs, IMHO, have been living on life support since Reagan left office. I believe there’s a direct relationship between conservative Christians hitching their star to the Repub. wagon back in the 1980s and the fact that 25-35% of millennials don’t go to church. They’ve been turned off by the alliance and the refusal of this group to acknowledge that the other side (Dems, etc.) might actually have some worthwhile views.
Most Americans are smarter, thankfully.
Late, but I want to say it… It’s not just Evangelicals who will find themselves marginalized post-election (no matter who wins) it will also be the mainline denominations, the Roman Catholic Church and all the rest. Desiring power in the public square, we have sold our inheritance for a “pot of lentils”… As a result, we will have neither power nor even the promised pot of lentils. Instead, we will get what we deserve, i.e. to be placed at the margins of the society we desire to influence with little or no influence whatsoever. It will take a generation to recover from this debacle, if we recover at all, at least if we maintain ourselves in our current state…
Lets be honest about America’s political leadership in Washington.They could care less about the little people who are barely making it.The Wikileaks scandal made that very clear. Our nation needs prayer.
The Dude wrote:
“Lets be honest about America’s political leadership in Washington. They could care less about the little people who are barely making it.”
I agree entirely with you. Let’s look at the causes:
(1) Big money donations to politicians corrupt the system. Little people don’t make the large donations that are required for access. Solution: Make elections publicly financed and ban private donations. That may require a Constitutional Amendment, but so be it.
(2) Politicians have no term limits. Therefore, the serve to survive and become wealthy off their public service. Solution: Institute term limits.That may require a Constitutional Amendment, but so be it.
Term limits is such a cop out. I always ask the proponent of term limits – “why do you need a law to keep you from continually voting for the scoundrel?”
Term limits is you telling me who I can and cannot vote for.
We have term limits here in CA – not a single politician has voluntarily left office – they just switch with each other.
Follow my policy – in the primaries – I never vote for the incumbent.
My suggestion on a federal level is go back to part time government. Have Congress in session for 4months per year – let them do the damage they can and send them home for 8 months to their REGULAR job.
“Term limits is such a cop out.”
No it’s not, because the system is rigged in favor of the incumbent. The incumbent has a tax payer financed mailing budget, can travel on the people’s dime, and can shake down special interests for campaign donations. You are incredibly naïve if you think challengers have a level playing field.
So, when you get the tax payer paid postcard that says ‘Vote for Bob’ – you automatically do this?
But when you impose term limits, you tell me I cannot ‘Vote for Bob’ if his term has run out even though I think he is the best solution for the problems that affect my local community.
Do you really want us guys in CA telling you guys in IA who you can vote for locally? Talk about naive thinking. 😉
“Do you really want us guys in CA telling you guys in IA who you can vote for locally? Talk about naive thinking. ?”
I want out with career politicians. Period. They won’t self regulate, so f**k um and their supporters. Term limit Yo!
Jean, oh my 😳
Jean – then you and your buddies should stop voting for them.
Did you vote for any incumbents this cycle?
Here in CA we have had Feinstein and Boxer coming up now on 25 yrs. I was not happy that they were our senators, but they did an honorable job – for a couple of communists (ooops! I meant Democrats.) But are you really going to tell my mother that she is not allowed to voted for them (and I can tell you she did every single time) because you cannot control your voting pattern?
I tell you, my idea for a part time government would weed them out faster.
If you are so concerned, consider this – Trump is a non career politician – does that make you feel better? 😉
4 months of government work (and pay’d accordingly?) – sounds good
term limits probably isn’t the best idea – there’s always a replacement at the ready… who said something about once the voters realize that they can vote themselves “free” goodies our Republic is done for?
making it illegal for any elected official to lobby or take a government funded (military industrial complex) job on leaving office would help a bit perhaps…
we have 2 candidates running for congress in our state who want to take out the dams to protect the salmon to protect the whales – never mind that the salmon eaten by the whales migrate up the streams and rivers that feed into Puget Sound – they don’t even go up the – ahem – dammed rivers
one of the 2 candidates wants to take every single dam on the Snake and the Columbia (she’ll probably get elected) thus eliminating every hydro-electric, clean energy facility (Grand Coulee) serving the entire NW and probably further with the present power grid system
One thing about dams is that after a few decades, the reservoirs fill up with silt, become useless, and dredging is very difficult and expensive. Sometimes dams have to be removed for this reason. I don’t know about the dams in your location, but this is often the case as it was in the case of the dam on the Carmel River, which was recently removed.
#22 – yes, silt build-up would occur when a dam is constructed to provide a reservoir of water… we used to see them periodically open the gates on the big power generating dams, perhaps they still do, i assume that was for the purpose of flushing – quite a site to see
either way, rather than tear down the dam, wouldn’t it seem sensible to use them, let them run their lifespan out, while perfecting solar collectors and such (the wind turbines are ugly and kill birds i understand)? … i can’t let go of the idea that the tidal fluctuations should be a wonderful source of turbine generated power even tho i’ve been told that it’s not practical…
we’ll always cause a degree of pollution by our presence on the planet… even the cows seem to do that 🙂
nice to think about something besides politics and doctrinal conflicts tonight