Showing posts with label Election Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election Day. Show all posts

Friday, November 11, 2022

We Have a Republic, Ya'll

U.S. Capitol Building at sunrise (Shutterstock photo)

In the political world, it looks like we're stuck with each other. If you grew up with siblings like I did, there were probably those times when your mama said, "Yall are just going to have to work it out – don’t keep running to me!"

The day after Election Day, even as votes were still being counted, it was clear that there was no “red wave,” just as there was no “blue wave” in 2020. No party is going to sweep the board and make things right, nor will they burn the place down. At least for now, we see that public sentiment is not to have things go to either extreme. I was surprised to hear one of my work colleagues say, "I just voted for every Libertarian I saw on the ballot – I'm fed up with all those folks!"

The voters appear to be saying, "Ya'll are just gonna to have to work things out and get some things done for the country."

Most of the extreme Trumper candidates lost on election night, which gives me hope that Trump might start to fade away without the political turmoil of an indictment or a second Jan 6. Democrats will likely lose the house, but not by much. There was no clean sweep on anyone's part.

As distasteful as it may seem, we’re just gonna have to work together, ya'll. The bigger picture may be that we are living in a pivotal time and trying to make life work using outmoded systems, but for now, we can only do the best we can.

Rest well, Democrats, you held the course on an even keel. Be glad, Republicans, you live in a democracy where every voice counts. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, we have a republic – if we can keep it.


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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Choosing America


I went to the polls yesterday and saw the polling place far busier than usual with the high voter turn out. As the results have come in, it is clear that about half the country voted one way, and half voted the other. We are proud to live in a country where we are free to choose as each election day rolls around. May we continue with each day that passes to choose America and all that Lady Liberty in New York Harbor reminds us of. 

But how do we go forward, with the the country so divided? We can do this because we are America. We still carry the hopes and dreams that we carried yesterday. We still have the flaws and dangers that we had yesterday, but we will continue to make this grand experiment work. Last night I came up with a formula for going forward that works for me:
  • Jesus said to love your neighbor.
  • St. Paul said to take a little wine for the stomach's sake.
  • The only thing I would add is, eat your vegetables, get some sunshine, and we will make it through this together.



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(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)


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