The Midterms Are Here: Time for a Political Rant!
I once ascended the public lectern in Bern, Switzerland (as did Lenin back in 1915) and preached to the massive crowd (my wife and six close friends). As I did then, I do once again. Here’s a rant on my “rules for politics”
My 25 “Rules for Politics”
1). If you pay no federal income tax, you have no right to demand that the top 2% of earners (i.e., the “billionaires”) pay more in federal taxes.
2). If you are not registered to vote, you forfeit any right to complain or pontificate about anything which goes on in local or national politics.
3). If you choose not to vote in any given election, then please remain silent about politics and those elected until the next election rolls around (if you do vote).
4). Every registered voter should take at least one course, or read at least one book on the US Constitution–its history, and/or the debates surrounding its composition and ratification. Listening to partisan tribal podcasts, political prognosticators, or lapping up partisan social media does not count.
5). Do not vote for any political candidate until you have actually read their political (or professional) resume, carefully reviewed their legislative/administrative accomplishments, and considered any scandals and controversies they have generated or of which they have been a part.
6). Those who run “on their past record” and have not done anything they promised to do, or those who promise “to fix things on day one” which lies beyond the capacity of the office they are seeking, will not get my vote.
7). If you choose a candidate merely because they are telegenic, a polished speaker, witty, or capable of a good sound bite or AI video, you are part of the problem.
8). Our current political “live candidate debates” have more in common with the Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show, than they do with real “debate.”
9). If any politician wants to reach deeper into my wallet, they better have a very good reason and an established reputation for finding government fraud and waste and cutting government spending.
10). If any political candidate thinks he or she can manage my life and my family better than I can, they will never get my vote.
11). Cutting the rate of increase in spending is not a budget cut!
12). Do not robo-call me or send me mailers telling me that your opponent is a terrible human being.
13). Professing Christians of the left and the right are often embarrassingly ill-informed (dare I say “clueless”) about the history and consequences of the political ideologies they espouse.
14). Instead of serving as the “world’s greatest deliberative body” the US Senate has become the epitome of partisan politics. If these people spent half of their time back in the legislatures of their home states (as the founding fathers intended), they would do far less damage to the country. Repeal the seventeenth amendment! Send them home for six months every year—the vacation from the nation’s capital will benefit them and us.
(15). Neither the US Senate nor the White House are a care home or rehab facility for the non compos mentis. Those too old and frail to serve need to retire. Their staffs, backers, and families who encourage them to stay in office are committing elder abuse.
(16). We already have term limits—elections. Vote people out what do not do their jobs or who betray the trust of their constituents.
(17). The better presidents in our history have had the rare ability to do what was best for the nation without any sacrifice of their personal governing principles. At the same time, they were usually willing, when necessary, to depart from their political party’s “sacred” platform.
18). As defined constitutionally, the office of the Presidency of the United States is that of holding “executive power” and is therefore to lead all Americans–not just those of their own political party. Worth considering before voting.
19). I don’t want to hear (although I know I will) another clueless celebrity or politician blame mass shootings and acts of terrorism solely upon the 2nd Amendment (yes, these events are tragic and occur for complicated reasons), especially when these same people often utilize hired (and armed) security to protect them from their adoring fans or critics.
20). There is something terribly wrong with a society which humanizes pets and dehumanizes the unborn human fetus. I vote pro-life.
21). You may think your pet has rights and is a “member” of your family, but if your dog bites me, I’m suing you, not your dog, and I’ll win.
22). There are far more important things in life than sexual gratification or living in a cannabis fog. Yet this society seems incapable of figuring this out. Shouldn’t personal freedom have some limits?
23). Why is it that many reasonably paid professionals run for office, but leave that office as gazillionaires? Something is seriously wrong somewhere.
24). Vote for candidates who will work to balance the budget of your state as well as the federal government. We are not only facing a tsunami of mounting debt, we are running up a bill our children and grandchildren will be saddled with. There’s no way they will live as well as my generation has. Vote accordingly.
25). I will not vote for any California politician who thinks a 120 billion dollar high-speed rail system which connects Bakersfield with Merced is somehow an essential public works project.