I am feeling a bit pessimistic this morning. When I awoke the TV was tuned to a very conservative program that was spewing out the invented lies that the former president had concocted to explain his loss in 2020. His psychic makeup would not allow this narcissistic criminal to simply admit the truth that his governance style had been rejected by 8 million Americans. That is bad enough but to realize that an American leader was so weak that he could not accept this truth although 60 courts of law, many of his closest advisors, and countless election officials validated his loss. Then to whip up an insurrection that on January 6, 2021 stormed the capital seeking to kidnap and/or execute Congressional leaders and the Vice President; an insurrection that did result in the death of 5 people and injury to 140 Capitol policemen. This “Big Lie” became the mantle of numerous Republican Party law-makers, became the primary criteria for Republican selection to run for public office from local dog catcher to presidential candidates. This lie has divided school boards, churches, social organizations, and families. It is a lie secreted from hell and deceptively spread through diverse conservative social organizations such as the national Chamber of Commerce, evangelical church organizations, and Qanon. This lie is the basis for state GOPs, if elected, will determine which votes are valid and who will be sent to D.C. My pessimism is born out by the Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate who stated openly and directly that if he wins, no Democrat will ever be elected again in that great state. This seems to be the consensus of Republican leaders in many states.
My pessimism is also fed by the scores of local politicians in 40+ states who are election deniers and who have pledged to deny votes cast by groups of citizens if that group has historically voted for democrats in previous elections. These deniers are wiling to openly and proudly disregard our Constitution, 240 years of American tratition, and the security of millions of American seniors. Election denier is not just a descriptor of those who reject the results of the 2020 election, but the rejection of elections themselves. This is called fascism. It appears from most actions of the GOP, that they are willing to jettison democracy in order to win an election.
Winning elections is the total ball game for Republicans. It doesn’t seem to matter if their win is legal, moral, or ethical as long as they win. Among seasoned Republicans, winning future elections through traditional means of putting forth a platform of goals and intentions is becoming more and more doubtful. The battle for future elections has now fallen to individual states who have no qualms about gerrymandering districts to guarantee victory. Texas, New York, and Florida are great example of how this works. Voters who traditional vote democrat are all herded into fuzzy and illformed precincts guaranteeing Republican dominance of state-wide elections. Gerrymandering districts within states gives a great advantage to presidential candidates in the Electoral College, but denies voters a full measure of votes. Since 1992, we have celebrated 8 presidential elections with Republicans winning three (Bush 2, and Trump 1). Two of those three GOP wins were with a minority of popular votes. The only way that Republicans can win future presidential elections is to gerrymander state representative districts and limit minority votes. This is exactly what has happened in 16 states during the past 6 years. Republicans are fearful that they will never win another popular vote in future presidential elections.
I am pessimistic this voting morning because I’m afraid that the Democrats have not done as good a job as they could have explaining their great legislative accomplishments made during the past two years. Look at the following list of accomplishments during Biden´s administration:
GENERAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Unemployment rate has gone from 6.4% to 3.5% during Biden’s term, tied for a record low.
- Created 10 million jobs, with more Americans working today than at any point in U.S. history.
- Largest increase in manufacturing jobs in 70 years.
- Implemented a historic vaccination program that has gotten 220 million Americans fully vaccinated against COVID conveniently and for free, resulting in a 90 percent reduction in daily COVID deaths since he took office.
- Passed the largest investment in history to combat climate change.
- Cancelled $32 billion in student loans for defrauded students and $10,000 for every middle- to low-income student
- Ended the war in Afghanistan.
- Rallied the world to defend Ukraine against Russian invasion.
- Killed the leader of Al-Qaeda and mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
CHIPS and Science Act – signed into law on August 9, 2022
- Historic investment in American-made advanced technology
- Revitalizes America’s scientific research and technological leadership
- Strengthens our economic competitiveness versus China
PACT Act – signed into law on August 10, 2022
- Expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins
- Largest veteran health care expansion in 30 years
Safer Communities Act – signed into law on June 25, 2022
- Most substantial gun-safety legislation in more than two decades
- Prohibits domestic abusers from purchasing guns
- Expands background checks for gun purchasers under 21
- Funds mental health interventions, red flag laws, and school safety
Postal Service Reform Act – signed into law April 6, 2022
- After two decades of inaction, finally makes Postal Service financially stable and transparent
- Guarantees 6-day a week delivery
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – signed into law November 15, 2021
- Historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure
- Historic investment in clean water, removing dangerous lead from waterways
- Funds Electric Vehicle charging stations and clean public transportation
Juneteeth National Independence Day Act – signed into law June 17, 2021
- Established Juneteenth as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery
American Rescue Plan highlights – signed into law March 11, 2021
- Rescued the pandemic-stricken economy with:
- Direct $1,400/person payments to every American family making less than $150,000
- Expanded child tax credit that reduced child poverty
- Historic aid to state, local, and school board governments to continue critical services during the pandemic recession and prevent crippling layoffs
- This includes more than $4 million to the City of North Royalton, a portion of which went to improvements of Memorial Park (new pavilion, splash pad, and more).
- Rescued union pension plans after years of work
- Accelerated COVID vaccination program and testing to hasten our nation’s recovery
- Expanded access to health insurance by reducing the cost of ACA health care plans
These are not insignificant accomplishments, they will have lingering effects long after the conclusion of the Biden Administration. Without doubt, I herald most of the accomplishments, others not so much. Regardless of my reluctance to some of these events, they are worthy of acknowledgement. My pessimism is scaled-down as I consider the great efforts expended for the citizens of our great nation. The great benefit of this administration is that we still have our democracy.
CubieSphere 