In about three weeks, the country is going to vote for a President. When the election is over, 27% of the country will be “spiking the ball,” 25% of the country is going to be depressed, and the rest country will be thinking “WTF just happened in 2016?”
No matter who wins, here is what you need to know:
(1) Cops will walk beats, judges will hear cases, soldiers and marines will be deployed overseas, sailors will be keeping the sea lanes open, and airmen will keep the skies safe.
(2) Machinists will make things, carpenters will build things, mechanics will fix stuff, engineers and artists will create stuff, and plumbers will make sure the crap flushes away
(3) Teachers will teach your kids, doctors & nurses will patch you up, farmers will grow food, and trainers will help you lose weight.
(4) One or two of your neighbors will move and sell their home to a new neighbor. Your cousin will buy a car from a dealer or off of Craigslist. You will probably get a new smartphone which has more computing power than your computer had 15 years ago.
(5) Your town or neighborhood will get a new priest or rabbi. Your neighbor’s kid will reject or find God. Many teenagers will get a new tattoo.
America could be better by rediscovering the old way or embracing change, BUT it’s a pretty great place because of you…and me…and the cops, the farmers, the nurses, the mechanics, the programmers, the plumbers, the rabbis, the military service members and, dare I say….
…the real estate and mortgage brokers 😉
The new President is going to be awesome and horrible (depending upon your point of view) but, for the most part, you are probably pretty awesome regardless of your choice in President.
We don’t have to be enemies when we pursue our self interests.
Comments 27
Gotta disagree with you here.
I kinda liked the Constitution.
WC, Funny you would mention the Constitution. Conservative authoritarians have been thumbing their noses at it for over 200 years. They have done a good job of “legally” marginalizing those deemed not like them. No wonder they want more states rights. It wasn’t that long ago when I could not marry a negro. There are still states that sanction firing people for their sexual orientation. In the 60’s my friends parents were not able to join the PTA because they were not Mormon. The Constitution is the most LIBERAL ruling document in human history.
I agree with Brian in so far as we all tend to exaggerate the consequences of elections on our day to day lives.
It’s possible we would not be able to devine which party was in power if our access to information was limited. Our neighbors, friends, police, firefighters, teachers, businesses, etc. have a greater influence on our lives than the people we elect to federal offices.
However, the modern GOP is at a crossroads. This election will matter more to the party, than to any of us.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/7/25/12256510/republican-party-trump-avik-roy
Paul Therrio,
Yes, except for that pesky Bill of Rights which the Democrats have sworn to eradicate.
WC, Only in your mind.
WC,
I believe that it was Donald Trump who called for a change in Libel laws so that he could sue reporters who he didn’t agree with. It was also Donald Trump that said Saturday Night Live should be cancelled because they made fun of him. Finally, I also remember Donald Trump calling for protesters at his rallies to be beaten up.
The last time I checked, Donald Trump wasn’t a Democrat.
WC, Last time I checked you were a Ted Cruz guy, you know, the one who had at least two events sponsered by a preacher that openly advocates the rounding up and execution of homosexuals.
Don’t worry Paul. Trump won’t round up the gays. He’s the one that showed strong support for gays when the Muslim terrorist killed them in Orlando. Hillary is a big Muslim supporter. She’s the one you need to worry about.
Completely disagree that things will go on as normal. You forget that Mrs. Clinton is a hard-core Alinsky disciple. If elected, she will appoint activist Supreme Court Justices that will find a twisted way to eliminate or minimize the 1st Amendment and the 2nd Amendment as a start.
If that isn’t bad enough, she will continue federalizing local police forces and try to turn them into her own Brown Shirt force in my opinion. Mrs. Clinton will force globalization further on America and tremendously weaken the sovereignty of America. Kiss American control over the Internet goodbye. NAFTA will continue to devastate the middle class by sending factories and jobs to Mexico and Canada. Where is the new $4 Billion Ford small factory going to be built? How about Carrier Air Conditioning? This is her way of minimizing the influence of Red States by destroying them economically.
Mrs. Clinton loves Muslim refugees (and indirectly the ISIS terrorists that hide among them). She will unleash hundreds of thousands of them on the US. Expect much more Muslim terrorism in the US.
There will be no more borders. The tremendous numbers of visa overstays and illegal aliens will continue to flood the USA taking away much needed jobs from Blacks and Hispanics. Ever take a Lyft or Uber? A very high percentage of these drivers are visa overstays and illegals. They will continue to get free medical, Section 8 housing, and welfare that should go to Americans. Ever go to an emergency room? All illegals and visa overstays.
So the election makes a HUGE difference. Vote Trump for the future of America.
I completely disagree Brian. It will NOT go on as usual.
IMHO, the consequences of Mrs. Clinton’s election are:
-Mrs. Clinton is a disciple and true believer of Alinsky. She’s a true globalist and socialist and will weaken the sovereignty of America.
-Mrs. Clinton will appoint activist judges who will forever destroy the original intent of the 1st and 2nd Amendment. No more Bill of Rights.
-She’ll continue to weaken and marginalize local police forces by playing to Black Lives Matter. The cops and border patrol hate Mrs. Clinton.
-Clinton will try hard to go to single payer medical. Think Obamacare’s bad? Just wait.
-Expect floods of Muslim refugees (and the ISIS terrorists among them) and a tremendous upsurge in Muslim terrorism in the US. You will pay for them permanently.
-She’ll continue to push TPP and NAFTA as ways to weaken Red States economically. Middle class Americans will continue to be devastated as factories and jobs go to Mexico and Canada. Remember the $4 Billion Ford small car plant and Carrier Air Conditioning plant being built in Mexico?
-No more borders as visa overstays, HB1’s and 2’s, and illegal foreigners continue to pour into the US taking jobs and money from Blacks, Hispanics, and the average American. Ever take a Lyft or Uber? All visa overstays and illegals. They steal free medical, Section 8, welfare that should go to Americans. Ever been to an emergency room? All visa overstays and illegals.
-The military will continue to be weakened by focusing on political correct nonsense like surgery for transwhatevers instead of more men and weapons.
You like this scenario Brian? If not, vote Trump if you want a strong America for all Americans.
Daniel,
You forgot:
“Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes… The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!”
Daniel, Jeez, I thought Obama already took all yer guns, destroyed the economy, put Christians in re-education camps, and pretty much ended America. What more can Clinton do?
I’m so disappointed. I at least expected some analysis from you Hypocrisy and Paul.
You want to talk about other things? I bet you’re not laughing after the James O’Keefe videos of today showing Democrats bragging about rigging elections and inciting violence at Trump events.
Don’t want to address that? How about the Democrat Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy, Hillary’s aide, trying to get the FBI to declassify some of Mrs. Clinton’s emails before the hearings?
Hillary Clinton and Democrat corruption. But you want these people running the country. Hillary Clinton for Jail 2016.
Author
“The last time I checked, Donald Trump wasn’t a Democrat.”
Keep checking; that could change again.
“It will NOT go on as usual.”
I never said it would go on as usual, Dan. Civil society however, finds ways to thrive despite the interventions of the statists. If Clinton wins (likely), I expect more war, more regulations, higher taxes, and more corruption.
At this point, reforming government seems almost impossible. It’s time to supplant it.
Daniel, I thought all the Republicans were “free traders”. When did that change? I agree with Trump on that issue. In Pen. there is an honest to goodness actual case of mass voter fraud. There are adds that say you can vote for Clinton online and help direct you into thinking you have voted. James O’keefe ? Are you kidding me? This is a rotten election with poor choices.Politics have always been rotten. Either way the pres. has limited powers. Trump can’t build a wall, only congress can.
Author
“Either way the pres. has limited powers. Trump can’t build a wall, only congress can.”
Excellent observation. No matter who wins, I sincerely hope Congress asserts its authority and stands up to the Executive Branch
Paul: I’m glad you agree. Republicans are free traders when both sides benefit from a balanced trade deal. Canada and Mexico are benefiting greatly from NAFTA in my opinion but America is losing a lot of manufacturing and well-paying jobs.
When Ford and Carrier Air Conditioning build plants in Mexico I have to ask, how will the average American worker get a job to replace the one they just lost? Is anybody building a manufacturing plant in that area? I think their only alternative is to get a part time job at Wal Mart. This is devastating the middle class in America.
I had a Facebook war with an elitist woman attorney who claims she’s one of the 8 Americans that is on the NAFTA committee. She said the American workers can be retrained in good paying clean energy jobs. When I pointed out the Solyndra example, she had no answer.
I don’t know how we make it attractive for American companies to manufacture goods and products for the American market in American manufacturing plants. NAFTA and TPP are clearly not free and balanced trade and are not the answer.
Daniel,
It is hard to have a serious policy discussion with Chicken Little. You seem to think that we will turn into a some kind of Third World hellhole if Clinton is elected. It won’t, just as it didn’t when Obama was elected although I am sure you were spouting the same fears then.
And for the record, our country will also survive a President Trump should that come to pass. Our SYSTEM of government and our people (those born here and those who chose to be Americans) are simply stronger than you give us credit for.
Typical elitist answer Hypocrisy. Ridicule, not answer. Be brave and address the issues I raised point by point.
Dan, Solyndra? You site one failed company and broad brush what has become a major industry and employer. I also would bet that you supported NAFTA back in the day. It is easy to make America more competitive. Make our partners adhere to the same environmental standards as us.
Author
“Republicans are free traders when both sides benefit from a balanced trade deal”
Republicans are free traders when they think it means votes; conservatives and libertarians are actually REAL free traders. Trade restrictions Dan, are just another minimum wage law.
I understand the desire to defend Trump. He has brought up some good ideas but tariffs and trade wars are among those good ideas
Free trade is a good thing. More trade= less war
Author
“I don’t know how we make it attractive for American companies to manufacture goods and products for the American market in American manufacturing plants. ”
Stop killing them with taxes and regulations and do away with minimum wage legislation. Do that and Detroit will soar
Building a wall to keep Ford Motors here isn’t moral…and it won’t work
OK Daniel,
-Mrs. Clinton is a disciple and true believer of Alinsky. She’s a true globalist and socialist and will weaken the sovereignty of America.
Clinton did have conversations with Saul Alinsky. I believe the last one was in 1972 when she was 23 years old. Do you have the same world views on every issue that you had 44 years ago? By the way, George W. Bush was much more of a globalist that Clinton.
-Mrs. Clinton will appoint activist judges who will forever destroy the original intent of the 1st and 2nd Amendment. No more Bill of Rights.
Do you have any proof of this or that they will be any worse than the “activist” judges who overturned the Voting Rights Act or ordered the Florida 2000 election recount stopped?
-She’ll continue to weaken and marginalize local police forces by playing to Black Lives Matter. The cops and border patrol hate Mrs. Clinton.
Again, any proof of this?
-Clinton will try hard to go to single payer medical. Think Obamacare’s bad? Just wait.
Hate to be a broken record, but proof? And by the way, as one with a mother on Medicare, I can tell you the medical coverage is outstanding.
-Expect floods of Muslim refugees (and the ISIS terrorists among them) and a tremendous upsurge in Muslim terrorism in the US. You will pay for them permanently.
Again, that pesky proof thing. The few recent Islamic Terrorist attacks we have had have been perpetrated by people who have been in this country legally for many years. As have those that have been perpetrated by non-Islamists.
-She’ll continue to push TPP and NAFTA as ways to weaken Red States economically. Middle class Americans will continue to be devastated as factories and jobs go to Mexico and Canada. Remember the $4 Billion Ford small car plant and Carrier Air Conditioning plant being built in Mexico?
Most economists will tell you that NAFTA has been a net-positive for our economy. As for potential loss of manufacturing jobs, most manufacturing throughout our history has taken place in Blue States, not Red. as for Ford, they are also expanding in the United States.
-No more borders as visa overstays, HB1’s and 2’s, and illegal foreigners continue to pour into the US taking jobs and money from Blacks, Hispanics, and the average American. Ever take a Lyft or Uber? All visa overstays and illegals. They steal free medical, Section 8, welfare that should go to Americans.
Ever been to an emergency room? All visa overstays and illegals.
This is why I didn’t want to participate in this exercise because now you are just ranting. Again, economists will tell you that immigration is a net positive for our economy and that most of the jobs that first-generation immigrants “take” are jobs that native born Americans wouldn’t do at any price.
-The military will continue to be weakened by focusing on political correct nonsense like surgery for transwhatevers instead of more men and weapons.
We have by far the strongest military in the world and spend more than almost all other countries combined to keep it that way. As for your phobia against anyone different from you, remember that transgenders are Americans too.
I often have political discussions with my son and when he goes on a nonsensical rant based on some headline he read somewhere, I tell him that I refuse to have a fact-free discussion so I make him read the entire article and then another one from a different point of view. I suggest that you broaden your news sources beyond those that simply provide affirmation for your preconceptions.
“Stop killing them with taxes and regulations and do away with minimum wage legislation…”. Completely agree Brian.
When and if that happens, great. But why should we keep NAFTA as is knowing that the middle class is getting ravaged by NAFTA? People need to eat.
Author
“And by the way, as one with a mother on Medicare, I can tell you the medical coverage is outstanding”
Do you know what else was outstanding, HQ? The service at the Trump Taj Majal Casino in Atlantic City. They treated everyone like a high roller. Know what Medicare and The Trump Taj have in common? They were unsustainable business models. One is dead and the other is on life support.
“why should we keep NAFTA as is knowing that the middle class is getting ravaged by NAFTA?
Because they aren’t getting ravaged, Dan. Median per capita income jumped after NAFTA passed and leveled off in 2010. PURCHASING POWER has declined for the middle class but that has nothing to do with NAFTA…. it’s the Fed dude. The Fed.
Brian,
The median family income in the United States is $56,516. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/09/13/us-household-income-rises-2015/90302206/)
The average annual cost of family health insurance is $16,000. (http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-insurance-now-costs-16-000-average-family-6C10960584)
Put another way, health insurance costs 28.3% of the average family’s gross wages.
Put still another way, we can absolutely afford a “Taj Majal” health plan for significantly less than we are paying now if we went to Single-Payer.
Author
“we can absolutely afford a “Taj Majal” health plan for significantly less than we are paying now if we went to Single-Payer.”
Who will pay for it? I’m not kidding when I ask you this. If your answer is “only government can contain costs and drive premium prices down”, I’ll ask you to look at history.
Q-Why does nearly every teenager, living in families below the poverty level, have a smart phone?
A- It’s cheap because government never thought wireless would be a “thing”. Thank God for that.
I’ll take i-Care every day
Brian,
You are correct that the government doesn’t do many things efficiently or even well. However, there are some that they do, Medicare being one, so yes, I am advocating that the government be the “single payer” just as they are with Medicare. As I pointed out above, the average cost of health insurance, not including deductibles and co-pays, is 28.3% of gross income. Do you not think that, for significantly less than a 28.3% tax, we could get Medicare for all?