Regardless of what the politicians say, we don’t need to “preserve democracy,” or “take our country back.”
As of this writing we are less than a month away from the 2024 presidential election, and the rhetoric is getting deep.
Both sides are spouting that a vote for them will:
- Take our country back
- Preserve democracy
- Make America great again
- Safeguard our freedoms
- Keep America safe
- Lower taxes
- Secure (insert program here)
And so on and so on…
The truth is, this country is going on 250 years old, and we have survived 45 presidents (Cleveland was counted twice as he served two non-consecutive terms). Most of them were accused by their opponent of threatening to damage our nation in some way.
Let’s look at some of them:
- In 1800, Thomas Jefferson accused John Adams of wanting to turn the presidency into a kingship.
- And Adams said that Jefferson would promote “immorality and chaos” in America.
- In 1860, Lincoln was painted an abolitionist who would incite a race war.
- 1912 saw Franklin Roosevelt accused of wanting to be a “dictator” (sound familiar?).
- In 1928, Al Smith, who was running against Herbert Hoover, was going to be “controlled by the Pope” because he was Catholic.
- Harry Truman, in 1948, was accused of causing inflation (sound familiar?).
- In 1960, John Kennedy, like Smith, was going to be controlled by the Catholic Church.
- In 1964, Barry Goldwater was going to bring on nuclear war, according to Lyndon Johnson.
- In 1972, George McGovern was “too soft on crime” (sound familiar?).
- Jimmy Carter, in 1980 was the cause of “stagflation,” said Ronald Reagan.
- And Reagan was going to cut key government programs.
- In 1988 George Bush accused Michael Dukakas of supporting a prison furlough program that allowed convicted murderers to commit assault while on furlough.
- Bill Clinton, in 1992 said that under George Bush, the recession and high unemployment would continue.
- And according to Clinton, Bob Dole was too old in 1996 (he was 72).
How on earth did we survive all this?
Simple. The Constitution. One person in the Oval Office doesn’t have the power to single-handedly change the course of the nation, no matter what the rhetoric says.
The great Will Rogers once said:
“There is no less sickness, no less earthquakes, no less progress, no less inventions, no less morality, no less Christianity under one president than the other. America won’t be ruined no matter who is elected, so the politicians will have to wait four more years to tell us who will ruin us then.”
And that stands true today.
People, don’t buy into everything politicians claim—about themselves or their opponents. Instead, do your own research. Dig into the policies, look for credible sources, and be willing to critique the person you support.
And about those who “stand with” a certain candidate. To me that sounds like they will vote for that person no matter what. Especially those who will always vote for – or against – a particular party. Blind faith in any candidate or party is dangerous. Agree with what they did, what they do, or what they say they will do, but also be brave enough to condemn their policies and actions as well.
Correlation Not Causation
We have been through wartime and peacetime, high and low inflation, good economies and recessions. And each one was credited to, or blamed on, the current administration. But those accusing and praising their candidate of choice almost always fail to show what said candidate did to deserve the credit or blame.
If I turn on a lamp and it starts to rain, that doesn’t mean that the lamp caused the rain.
Likewise, because a president serves in good economic times doesn’t mean that it’s because of their policies. And the same goes for bad times.
Gas prices
High gas prices are always the fault of the President, according to their opponent. And if they are low, the President brags about their economic policies. Sure, keep on thinking that. By the way, I have ocean front property in Arizona that I’m willing to let go cheap.
Think about this. If presidents could control gas prices, wouldn’t they always keep them low to stay popular? And every time prices fall – especially during election season – opponents say it’s just for political gain.
And as far as food prices go, see this article about those.
Third Parties
“Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil” – George Carlin
According to a Gallup poll from October 2023, 63% of Americans support the idea of establishing a third major political party. But the reality is, they won’t vote for one because “they’re not going to win.” I liken that attitude to someone who likes a certain restaurant, but won’t go there because it’s not popular. Then complains because they closed.
Yeah, I know, Chase Oliver (Libertarian party), Cornel West, and Jill Stein (both of the Green party) aren’t going to win any states. Of course they’re not going to win. They’re not going to win because people won’t vote for them. And people won’t vote for them because they’re not going to win.
Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to me either.