Election Results Point to a Bleak Future

             In an earlier blog of mine, “Who is at Fault for a Stagnant Government”, I had made the case for the reason why nothing ever gets done in any level of government. The blame gets put right at the feet of the people, both those who vote and those who don’t.

            In the election last Tuesday, only one third of the eligible voters actually voted. Those who did made what could only be described as illogical and nonsensical decisions.

Let’s first take a quick review of the campaigning. The Republicans ran on what amounted to no platform at all. The Democrats, despite the accomplishments of President Obama during his six years in office, decided to distance themselves from him. They did not seem to have any firm platform either. Also, they did not campaign on what the Republicans negative stance had been for years on numerous topics.

The result was a tremendous win for the Republicans. Included in the winners were numerous incumbents. Many of the incumbents are those who hold beliefs and have acted contrary to the progress of this country. And the public have an 8% approval rating for Congress and they vote for the incumbents who create the stagnation? Where is the logic in this?

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback took his state from one with a tremendous surplus and turned it into a sinkhole of a deficit, because he ended corporate taxes. Yet the voters returned him to office because his opponent had a lap dance decades ago.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton who opposes everything scientific, refutes climate change and evolution, voted for higher loan rates on student loans, in favor of outsourcing, and many other things which move this country in the wrong direction, was also re-elected.

Michael Grimm from Staten Island, with a 20 count indictment for fraud, was re-elected.

In addition, many states had propositions which the voters approved. But they also elected officials who stances block those very propositions. Where’s the sense?

The Republicans now have a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Now think about those things that they have been trying to do for years – repeal the Affordable Care Act, substantially reduce social security benefits, make major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and food stamps, continue to go to war in the Iraq and Afghanistan, are against a woman’s right of choice, ignore the needs of the poor, are against unions, not repairing the infrastructure, etc. If they get even some of these things done, the poverty level could increase to well over half the country. This country might be considered as a third world country.

Keep in mind -- this was from only one third of eligible voters. What about the other two thirds? These are the people to blame even more.

With a populace this great, the election could easily have changed dramatically. They could have given the Republicans an even larger majority or given the majority to the Democrats. Even with the gerrymandering, you still vote for whom you want. Being a citizen, you have an obligation to vote. In my opinion, you don’t have the right to complain afterwards about Congress because you did not care who was put into office.

Bottom line, the people do have the power, but they do not know how to use it. A majority of the people is biased toward one party or the other, or prefers to leave people in office no matter how bad they are for whatever reason they care to offer. If I were to give an approval rating for the voters, it would be 2%, as they are the ones who ultimately cause the problems. For this reason I am not overly optimistic on the future.

Who’s at Fault for a Stagnant Government?

            A common complaint is that nothing gets done. Congress doesn’t act, and doesn’t want to work with the President.

            Congress’s approval rating down to 8%, the President’s rating down to 40%. Both continue to fall. Who is really to blame for this situation?

            It has to be no one else but the voters themselves!

            Think of it. Republicans continue to make ridiculous laws, want to cut social security, are against a woman’s right to choose, issue of immigration etc. The Democrats don’t seem to want to fight the Republicans to get things done. This is at every level of government. The only way to affect change is to change the politicians. BUT voters still keep them in office, even those who break the law.

            Why? Various reasons.

Many people vote down party lines. The other candidate is an unknown. TV, radio and print ads are the same every year, accusing each other of something heinous. This is nothing but mudslinging. Some are even racist. There is little or no information as to what they would do and the voters do no research about them. There are no term limits so politicians are not afraid of being voted out of office.

Basically, people fear change. And because they either fear change or don’t care, they become apathetic. Add up all those people who don’t vote, you realize that those vote could actually affect the outcome of the election.

If a better functioning government is desired, people must embrace change, and vote out those who do nothing. The worst possible thing to do is not vote.