Shortening Fuses

I had so much to write this past week, but I deferred since it was mostly election related and I was smoking hot about that.  Nothing I voted for was passed, and so many of the candidates elected I just don't believe said anything honestly, but, I suspected, just to be elected.

The biggest gripe I had, however, was the lack of absentee ballot for The Girl.  I had submitted her paperwork applying for that easily 6 weeks ago and had the submission confirmed by the lieutenant governor's office at least a month before the election.  I was told by them that the county would send the ballot to our address.  I assumed--and that is were I made the blunder, as this is all election related, and therefore assumptions are immediately WRONG-- that I'd get the mail in ballot in time to send it to her and she could send it directly in from Illinois.  Nope.  We got nothing.

Finally a week before the election, knowing now the hope to send it to her and have her mail it in was passed, I had hoped to fill it out and drop it for her in time.  I called the county and was told that the final batch of ballots had already been mailed and that it should be there any time.  I gave the county office the benefit of the doubt, again, this was wishful thinking on my part.

Nothing on Saturday before election day.  Nothing Monday before elections day--and the ballot had to be postmarked by midnight that night. When I called Monday again to report that nothing had shown up, their answer was that my daughter could just show up at the polls and would not be turned away even with an absentee ballot request.  Isn't that the reason we asked for an absentee ballot?!? Because she COULDN'T just show up to vote?!?!

I was HIGHLY disappointed in our system.  Now there was no recourse and in our city bond vote, it failed with only about 700 votes separation.  If NO one else in town go their requested absentee ballots either, we might have had the win for the bond.  I felt very disenfranchised for her.

I know this is the greatest country in the world, but this past week I was questioning our society's roll in that country and her government.  I'm still not calmed down by the events that elapsed.  Give me another week or so on that.

Day After: Election Mourning

Sometimes things just don't go your way.  Well, not exactly MY way, but you know what I mean.  The municipal elections were Tuesday.  We ended up with only 29% of the register voters participating...that is problem number 1!

The other discouraging part was that only 1 out of the four folks/propositions I voted for actually won.  I think the people that did come out and vote--and I thought this after the 2012 presidential election too--are the disgruntled.  Those that just don't like what is going on so they vote for anyone/everyone that is different.  I would like to say that they are doing their homework on this issues and judging for themselves how best to proceed, but I think they just don't like what is going on a that moment and vote for anything else.

I gave myself all day yesterday to mourn the civic vision I had hoped for that will never come true.  And today I put on a happy face and hope for better days.  Sometimes, hope is the only sure thing you have.

Municiple Elections

The city election for mayor and city council, as well as a local proposition to build new a emergency responders' building is TODAY.

I actually voted a week ago last Friday--we had an option for early voting and I took it.  But when the Primary was back in June and the general election is in November, it sure seems like we have been at this for a LONG time.

Oh nothing like the presidential elections anymore, but you know what I mean.  Let's just elect these guys already!

Last night on a trip to the grocery store, I discovered the Genius golfer disagrees about the proposition on the ballot.  He needn't have the same opinion as me, but on this he is wrong.  And I told him.  It just made my blood boil when I thought about his reaction.  And then I worried other people looked at it the same way he did. 

This is why I will NEVER run for office.  PTA leadership was enough for me.  There are too many factions of the populace that make me crazy.  Let's hope the winners today see all of this.

The Day After: Time to Get to Work

The US elections are over.  And only one of the candidates I voted for won.  Maybe I am a jinx for these elections.  Regardless of my personal preferences, I think we need to examine the fact that America is a pretty great place. 

I have received a few messages since yesterday's results that I completely agree with:

From Dear Friend Jan: "Ok , no matter how this all turns out. I just watched my husband (who is a Republican and I'm pretty sure voted for Romney) kneel and pray for President Obama. The hatred has got to stop. What kind of Christians are we when we are consumed with despair and hatred? We now need to have faith in our form of government which, I believe, is inspired. And we need to work to change our country for the better. Whining accomplishes nothing."

From a former neighborhood YW:  " I was talking to a rather disappointed customer about the election last night. The only thing I could manage to say was that 'it could be worse. I haven't found an acceptable alternative, but it could be worse.' She looked at me and said, 'ya, we could live somewhere where we don't have a say in our national government.' She's right, we do have a say in some of the things that go on here. If you don't like the things going on at the capital, write your congressmen. They are there to listen and speak for you. All you have to do is tell them what you want. There are ways to make the next four years relatively painless for yourselves, speak up to someone that can do something about it. Being all worried and pissed on FB isn't going to get anybody anywhere. Besides, if the group of you that I know have an immense trust in God truly do trust in him the way you say you do, then you know that he has a plan for all of this. We may not know what it is, but it obviously wasn't to make Romney president. If you truly believe God has a plan for all of us, then you must have faith that even though you think Obama will destroy us God will help us all. If you don't like a policy let someone in government know, make use of the system that the founders provided to you. Don't just post to the internet that you are mad Obama won. If he tries to pass something else you don't like write, call, or send a telepathic message to your local representatives. They are supposed to be there to help. Make the do their jobs and then go home and trust that God will make it all work out for the best."




And from Dear Friend Micheale, a good reminder: "'The future is as bright as your faith.' -Thomas S. Monson"





 If we have done all we could, then we need to get past the disappointments and get to work.  What can we do in our community to improve the situation?  Can you volunteer at a school?  Can you run for city council?  Can you work with a non-profit group to affect the changes you were hoping to see in this election?

Don't let the disappointment from one election stop YOU from making a difference.  We are each still responsible for doing our best to make the world a little better and that is true regardless of which candidate won the election.

So friends, I'm off to the high school again today to do my best to make a positive difference.  What are you willing to do?

About Last Night

Our high school and junior high school PTSAs hosted a Meet the Candidates night last night.  One of our terrific US History teachers at the junior high moderated the event for us.  We ended up with about 75 people there to watch and listen.  All six city council candidates participated.

You know there are a lot of reasons to not enjoy campaign season--especially when it is a big national election year.  But this year is a local, municipal election, and there really should be a higher interest in the local stuff than the federal level, in my opinion.

The issues our city council decides affect our families, our schools, our children, our safety and our well-being locally.  We feel the effect of the state and national decisions too, but not to the same extent as the local ones.

Our city is a very nice place to live.  But we have struggled drawing a broad base of business to town, and keeping those that are already here.  We struggle with the growth of young families, the influx of multi-family housing and green space balance.  We struggle with providing adequate safety coverage--fire and police and clean water and sewage systems--for a city of our size, and age.  We struggle with the demands of wanted amenities for residents, and the need to do financial things responsibly.

There is no quick fix to the problem and challenges our city faces.  But I am please that six qualified, willing, enthusiastic candidates are willing to put themselves out there and run for the three council positions that are open this year. 

Now if the residents will just go out and make their informed choices on Tuesday.  We've done what we can to help them make the best choices we can.

Today It Finally Ends

Yes, it is election day.  It is about dang time.  I haven't listened to the preprogrammed day time talk radio guy for a couple of weeks because it has been so politically charged.  I have turned off theTV more than a few times when the negative ads come on and make me want to scream.  And my mail has been especially overloaded with mailers encouraging me to vote for candidate A over candidate B for whatever their reasons.

I just want it over.

The campaign season ought to be a set, defined limited time only kind of offer.  Like, three weeks prior to election day for state and local elections.  Maybe six weeks for national elections.  It feels like I have been hearing about these candidates for months!  I know several locals around here were in the Strawberry Days parade, and that was in June, so it has been months! No wonder I am so weary of it all.

This is not to say I dread elections themselves.  It is, in fact, one of the greatest rights we have been given as Americans.  And I am headed out here in a minute to vote at our junior high school.  But campaigns are a totally other feeling for me.

Let's just hope people show up to vote.  For all the campaigning these candidates do, I'm always discouraged--and a little embarrassed--at the pathetically low voter turnout that is reported after the elections.  That is even more disheartening than the negative smear ads I hear on the TV and radio.

Primary Day...No, Not THAT Kind

Today is our municipal primary elections. Didn't know that, did you?

I doubt many people will make the effort, frankly. There is a good chance of rain today--that will keep people home. It is September, not November--that will keep others home. There is no national race on the ballot today--that will keep people home.

Yesterday, as I was out walking, I walked past one of the candidates for our city council. She was adjusting or replacing a peg on one of her campaign signs near her front yard. I wished her well in today's contest. She looked totally surprised.

How did I recognize this good woman, a willing participant in the democratic process?

She posted information with the state's election web site. I have done my homework.

She rode with her grandchildren in the Strawberry Days parade. I paid attention.

She has been active in city issues near our neighborhood. I read the paper.

She was available at the meet the candidates night. I listened to opinions.

I, for one, would never in a million years want to run for office myself. (I did in 6th grade for student body secretary and I misspelled 'secretary' on all my posters...it was humiliating when I realized the mistake. )

I admire those who do, especially locally. They are looking to really make a difference. Sadly, the ones who have the most voter support--meaning they will get out on a rainy, September, non-National primary election day and vote for their favorites. I wish them well. And I hope their idealism and optimism will outlast the negatives that come in any city election.

Better them, than me.

Can't Wait for Wednesday!

I can't wait for Tuesday to be over. The constant bickering on the radio, TV and even online about the election is driving me nuts.

I tried to vote early on Thursday, but the lines were over an hour long at both places I tried, and I hadn't allowed myself that kind of time. I will go on Tuesday and vote at my regular polling location.

I do care what happens on Tuesday, but I am less and less interested. If the decisions made in the privacy of a voting booth didn't affect all of us--and will continue to affect us for a long time afterwards--it would be easy to shrug it off. But I know that is not the case.

What happens Tuesday does matter. Sadly, there are many that will vote without any long range thought behind their choice.

Have you heard that "on the street" interview that was aired on Howard Stern's radio show that is going around in an email lately? The interviewer was asking people on the street who they will vote for and every one of them said Obama. Then the interviewer asked if it was the positions and policies that they were voting for--except instead of telling the actual Obama policies, the interviewer substituted McCain's policies and credited them to Obama. In every case, the people interviewed agreed with the policy or position and stated that was why they were voting with Obama.

Now, everyone is entitled to their choice--but I wish people would do it fully knowing what their candidate represents. Vote your conscience, not your prejudice.

The same thing is happening with issues on the ballot almost everywhere. It takes some effort to find out the pros and cons of any thing or anyone on the ballot. It isn't as cut and dried as I'd like it to be. We must be informed and intelligent voters. We must do the work behind the choices. We must vote our conscience, and that means the person, not the party.

It is a privilege to get to vote. It is the only way our democratic republic will endure. If you doubt that, do a little research. Check out the history. Investigate people like Dora Lewis, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns--see what voting was worth to those ladies.

If we don't study the issues and make informed decisions in that voting booth on Tuesday, we will be held accountable, to ourselves and our neighbors, and to the American Ideal. Our votes do matter, and it matters that we vote. Be smart out there. Good luck, one and all.

Leadership

"Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality." --Warren G. Bennis

Mr. Bennis is a scholar, organizational consultant, and pioneer in the field of leadership studies. He is a Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and founding chairman of The Leadership Foundation at USC.

Have you seen any of this kind of leadership yet in the election? I have heard about their visions, but I haven't seen anything translated yet into a reality I can understand. Frankly, the visions they speak of are all sounding a lot alike right about now. It is hard to tell them apart.

I don't let my kids fight with each other as much as the opposing campaigns. We have to deal with this for another 31 days?! "Calgon, take me away!"

Mauritania, we are NOT!

As I'm watching the Parade of Nations last night, the announcers tell me that next up is Mauritania (with it's 3 or 4 athletes participating in the Games), who--by the way--had a political coup this week and their nation's government was overthrown, after these athletes had arrived in Beijing. Holy Cow!

We don't really have any idea what political upheaval is, do we? The worse thing we have to worry about is our Presidential election isn't until November and we have to keep hearing about the candidates and their personal slams against each other for another few months. We will have to keep seeing them on the news and in ads with celebrities endorsing them for various reasons that mean nothing to me.

I just finished watching the miniseries HBO produced on John Adams. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney star as John and Abigail Adams. It was fantastic. A lot harder to watch than the book was to read. Those founding fathers were not politicians, they were statesmen. Their emphasis was not on becoming president, but in leading the nation. I'm not sure we have had a candidate like that, with higher motives, for a very long time.

After a brief discussion with Genius Golfer on this topic last night, he asked me about Ronald Reagan. Maybe Reagan was the last statesman, but since then Reagan has become a touch point for other Republicans--all claiming to be his political descendants. They can't all be what they tell us.

Regardless of which side of the political fence, you sit, we needn't worry that we will experience the kind of changes that Mauritania did this week. We have never had violent exchanges of power. In fact, the worse thing that seems to happen, is three times the outgoing president did not attend the inauguration for the new in-coming president. (John Adams was the first when Jefferson beat him to be the third President of the United States.) But comparatively, that is nothing more than a snub.

We are so blessed to live in this land. To have the opportunity to participate in our elections, in our politics, and even choose to run, if we wish. We really have no idea.

I wish the Mauritanians luck in the Olympics, but I wish them more than luck when they return home. They are going to need it.