We're 84 days away from the end of all things good and holy, some thoughts.
- No matter who wins, we all lose. At this point we're just splitting hairs over which of the two candidates, The Anointed One, or the Bronzed Ego, is going to make a worse President. The reality is they are both going to be awful and neither has the apparent chops to improve or, in the case of the Ego, "pivot" to anything approaching respectability.
- At this point, I don't think it's necessary to fully recap why Donald J. Trump would be a disaster, but it still seems that some people are holding out hope that Hillary Rodham Clinton will somehow be not that bad. They're wrong of course, because a Hillary Presidency will be just as big, if nor more of, a disaster.
Not a disaster of the "OMG! we're all going to DIE!" type or even one that puts the very fabric of the country in danger but a disaster in the continued dearth of leadership vein that most cities, some states and the country has seen over the last several years.
To be clear. I'm not as gloom and doom as most. In fact, when bad leaders are in charge there is typically opportunity for some, and I imagine they will take advantage of it, creating wealth, and hoarding it (wisely) as they have always.
What is certain to suffer is America's "position in the world" if you feel that type of thing is important (I do, but not in a manner that you might thing) and the government's ability to function in a manner that is subject to the rule of law.
- A bigger concern, to most, should be that the cities, towns and states are starting to show real signs of wear and tear, as groups such as Black Lives Matter and ineffectual, progressive, politicians find new and creative ways to continue receiving loyalty from the very groups that they are exploiting the most.
In fact, monolithic blocs of voters skewing heavily towards one party or another is probably a bigger concern than the fact that there are still a lot of people who believe, heartily, that their vote matters. The same pundits who cheered the black votes 90+ percent loyalty to candidates with (D) following their names are suddenly shedding crocodile tears over only 11% of white in one state voting against candidates with (R) following it. Repeat after me: lock-step voting is bad. No matter the demographic slicer that's being applied.
- The good news: Football season is starting soon which means: A distraction.
The Olympics have been OK but there's nothing that can distract from the depressing reality that out of 300 Million people the best we could find was a habitual liar and live-action baboon to run for office is startling. But, "Gary Johnson!" you holler, to which I say: "Meh."
Even the Libertarians couldn't sort it out and nominate someone who was, to put this indelicately, Libertarian. At least the Greens have nominated another communist carnival barker I guess? Some things never change.
- Then there's the sad case of Evan McMullin, an apparently decent man who's been caught up in the hissy-fit of rejection from some of the more Reagan-underwear wearing fellows over on the Right. "Back to the 80's!" is not a winning campaign slogan.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't have thought "Back to the 50's!" would have been either but here we are, in 2016 listening to the two nominees for the two major parties in a diminishing world power yearn fondly for the heady, early days of the Cold War.
Happiness is rarely found in the past, but rarely expected in the future, at least where politics is concerned.
