Decision Time

It’s finally here. Election day in the US.

I’ve been quiet here for the last few months. I got a bit overwhelmed with everything happening. I got myself caught in a trap of feeling like if I posted anything I would have to address everything happening and if I posted something not serious and relevant I was avoiding the shitstorm of events.

But on the plus side I did make some good book progress. I have five projects now at various states. Three are mostly done, just need some final polish. One is going through second draft stage and a fifth is just past the halfway mark on the first draft.

Now we’re finally at election day. On the positive side, there has been record early voting turnout. More people voted early here in Texas than voted in all of 2016. I look forward to seeing what the final numbers are across the country after today. No matter what the result, at least some people are turning up and not giving into apathy.

Will it make a difference? That depends on how messed up this country really is. The crazy Trump trains trying to run buses off the road, the wackos planning to kidnap governors, and the out in the open attempts to just throw out votes they don’t like suggests we’re in for a lot of trouble.

However, the extreme nature of these actions also suggests hope. These are the actions of people who know they’re in danger. Their selfish and hate filled view of the world isn’t shared by the majority. That’s why they’re fighting to so hard to preserve it.

Maybe we’ll be lucky and Trump is resoundingly defeated. That might not stop the crazies and it might push them to even further extremes. We might see violence spring up or a major Constitutional crisis emerge and a corrupted Supreme Court aid in the death of democracy. But, even if those things happen, they’ll happen BECAUSE the majority of this country doesn’t buy into Trump’s worldview. That’s something to hold on to.

With luck, this nonsense will prove to be nothing but worry.

Here’s my hopes for today’s results in priority order:

1. Trump is defeated
2. No violence at the polls
3. No shenanigans in determining a winner
4. Democrats take enough seats in state legislatures to ensure fair redistricting
5. McGrath defeats McConnell
6. Democrats retain the House
7. Democrats take the Senate
8. AOC et al are reelected
9. Hegar defeats Cornyn
10. Kulkarni defeats Nehls
11. Harrison defeats Graham
12. Buttar defeats Pelosi

For the future, regardless of who wins, I hope these are the new governments priorities:

1. Helping the people deal with the Coronavirus fallout
   1. Free vaccine when available
   2. Consistent plan for containing the spread
   3. Economic relief
   4. Healthcare reform along the lines of Medicare for All
2. Addressing Climate Change
   1. Expanding renewable energy sources
   2. Curbing fossil fuel use
   3. Preparing for negative effects it to late to change
3. Addressing systemic racism in America
   1. Including, but not limited to, police reform
   2. Education reform in how history is taught
4. Addressing economic inequality
   1. Minimum wage becomes living wage or something along the lines of basic income
   2. Fix tax loopholes on the wealthy
   3. Secure and expand social security
5. Election reform
   1. Ranked Choice Voting
   2. Removing Electoral College
   3. Campaign finance reform
6. Offering DC and Puerto Rico statehood if they want it
7. Scaling back the executive powers
8. Addressing the court packing by Republicans over the last term