Since I have a blog called Salem Political Snark, it's dawned on me that I should be making endorsements for both local and statewide races, plus Oregon ballot measures.
This doesn't mean anybody will pay attention to what I say, but us bloggers don't do what we do because we believe we're influential. We just can't help ourselves, being addicted to putting what's going on inside our head into words on a computer screen, then onto the Internet where others can eavesdrop on the state of our psyche.
So here's how I'm feeling two weeks before the midterm election on November 6.
Short version: Vote for every Democrat on the ballot. Plus, vote "yes" on Measure 102 and "no" on the other measures. Regarding other choices on the ballot, like judges, use your best, um, judgement.
Long version: So why am I being so incredibly tribalistic in urging people to vote for every Democrat over every Republican and third-party candidate?
Because this is no ordinary election. Donald Trump is no ordinary president. And the G.O.P. that Trump unquestionably has become the leader of is no ordinary political party.
We're living in dangerous times. Our country is on the brink of succumbing to authoritarianism. If you doubt this, read "How Democracies Die." Or at least my blog post about the book.
In that post I noted that the authors of How Democracies Die advised against engaging in hardball tactics against Trump, based on their familiarity with what has worked in other countries facing similar threats against democratic institutions. (Note the small "d.")
But voting for Democrats isn't at all a hardball tactic. It's simply the best way for the United States to begin digging its way out of the messy, smelly, unpleasant hole Trump and his Republican cronies have gotten us into.
Everybody has their own favorite description of the crap that lies in this hole.
Mine is lying, disrespect for the truth, trashing reality. To me this is the biggest danger Trumpism poses to the United States, and to the entire world. Without a core concern for shared facts, both societal and scientific, politics has no foundation for wise decision-making, bipartisan or otherwise.
Driving home today, I heard investigative journalist Carl Bernstein talk about Trump on CNN's Cuomo Prime Time. Bernstein said that all presidents lie. Nixon lied. Clinton lied. George W. Bush lied. Obama lied. Occasionally.
Trump, though, is an almost non-stop liar. Bernstein said this has been Trump's modus operandi throughout his business career, and he's stepped up his lying after becoming president. We've never had a president with such little regard for the truth.
Or a president so uncaring, so lacking in compassion, so egotistical. (At least in modern times.)
Few Republicans are willing to stand up against Trump's constant assaults on our shared reality. This is why it is so important to elect Democrats this November. No Republican can be counted on to serve as a counter-weight to Trump.
And for sure this includes Oregon's Republican candidate for Governor, Knute Buehler. So vote for Kate Brown. On health care, climate change, women's rights, and so much else, Brown will continue to be on the side of ordinary Oregonians, not special interests.
Every Republican running for office, both locally and statewide, had to be approved in a primary by members of their party who are avidly pro-Trump. Thus there's no way any Republican on the ballot can be trusted to do what's right for Oregonians, since they're committed to doing what Trump wants.
Today Senator Kamala Harris gave a talk in Iowa where she said, "This is the moment in time that is requiring us to fight for the best of who we are... We are better than this."
Yes, we are. We're way better than Donald Trump and his lying ways. So let's send a message in the form of a Big Blue Wave on November 6.
Thank you!
Posted by: Janelle | October 22, 2018 at 11:57 PM
The Democrat Party and Social Security Theft
Actually, Democrat President Kennedy and Sergeant Shriver were the first ones to misuse the Social Security account. They used Social Security funds to start the Peace Corps. Not the first or last time our money has been taken from American citizens and given to foreign nations.
Things every US citizen should know and remember about Social Security and changes made:
A History Lesson on Your Social Security Card . . . Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn't know this. It's easy to check out, if you don't believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican . . .
Facts are Facts
Social Security Cards up until the 1980's expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes. Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message, NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION, was removed.
Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary.
No longer Voluntary
2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program.
Now 7.65% on the first $90,000.
3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year.
No longer tax deductible
4.) That the money the participants put into the independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program.
Under Democrat President Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and Spent.
5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.
Under Democrats Clinton & Gore Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed.
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put away' -- you may be interested in the following:
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democrat Party .
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That's right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it! (Can you say Buying Votes?)
Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it
Posted by: Luke Barrans | October 26, 2018 at 05:55 PM