Did I Vote for That?

I find myself asking that question too often in recent years.

Oh, I know from experience that what I want our politicians to do is not always what the majority of voters may want. I can live with democracy.

But what I’m talking about when I raise the question is that I don’t recall a majority vote for some significant actions taken by the government. In other words, it seems to have come out of definitive, political minorities.

Let me try to list some actions that raise the “Did I/We Vote for That?” question – where the answer in my mind is “no” – you and I did not vote for this.

In February 2021 – the 2^nd time everyone got a check from the government because of COVID.
Shut down the Keystone pipeline from Canada in the middle of its construction.
Remove all future leases for oil and natural gas exploration and production on federal land – raising the price of electricity, gasoline/diesel, food and transportation costs.
#s 2 & 3 become catalysts for damaging inflation affecting everybody, especially the working class.
Passing huge spending bills adding to inflation pressures.
Plowing headfirst into a war between Russia and Ukraine – which should have, and easily could have, been avoided – granting over $100B in military equipment and cash to Ukraine so far – adding to our massive debt and inflationary fossil fuel costs – with no end in sight.
Paying climate change reparations to underdeveloped and developing countries.
Requiring all federal employees, including the military, and all airlines’ employees to get the COVID vaccination or be fired.
Adding an additional 87,000 employees to the IRS, doubling its size.
Incorporating ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ training for all federal employees, including the military, wherein all white workers must confess to racial bias.
Choosing federal appointments on the basis of skin color rather than merit. (Equity)
Incorporating Critical Race Theory into the curriculum of public K-12 schools.
Rewriting history to indicate this country was founded in 1619 on the backs of slaves.
Open our borders to allow over 2 million illegals per year into the country.
Expect our Department of Justice (DOJ), including the FBI, to arrest people on the basis of their opinions on issues.
That the DOJ could use its power for partisan political purposes.
Declare white supremacy the most important issue facing America.
Have the government establish ‘ministries of truth’ to determine whether individuals and organizations will be allowed to speak in public forums.
Expect our representatives in Congress to establish agencies, within and without departments, that are given the authority to set new regulations and requirements, ad infinitum, without oversight.
Expect our federal government to wildly spend and swell the nation’s debt beyond the country’s GDP.
Reinterpret Title IX to allow born males (transgenders) to compete with females in sports.
For the federal government to employ 9.1 million people – the largest workforce of any employer on earth.
# 21 also means we’re overwhelmed with rules and paperwork to make work for and feed the huge number of bureaucrats.
# 21 also results in good salaries, benefits and generous retirement packages for the largest workforce on earth. No wonder we’re in neck-deep debt.
Adding unassociated riders to the intent of a bill in mutually back-scratching scenarios.

I know this list could be made much longer.

Again, I’m not talking about voters holding minority positions on anything, feeling they aren’t being represented. I’m talking about issues and positions and policies and laws that are not on the list of reasons why our representatives won their respective elections.

Once elected, it seems many holding office quickly forget the “why” they’re there in the first place and take up political party exercises or just assuming they won’t be held that closely accountable. And based on the incumbent success in holding an office, maybe they’re right.

In any case, I’d like to see the list of “I didn’t vote for that” become much smaller.

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Have a great and prosperous week.

Hug somebody.

SPIDER Bites

Trivia question of the week: How many colors are there in a rainbow? (Last week’s answer: pink)

Researchers at the University of Illinois showed the standard Canada goose harassment efforts aren’t effective in relocating the birds. It solidifies our efforts at Lake Diamond to destroy spring nests and not allowing the Canada geese to get a foothold here. The research covered many metropolitan area efforts to try to get rid of the nuisance birds that collide with aircraft, intimidate unassuming joggers, and leaving lawns and sidewalks (and greens) spattered with prodigious piles of feces.

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano erupted for the first time in 38 years last week. Volcanoes emit large amounts of CO2, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen toxic acids. BTW, CO2 currently makes up 0.04% of the earth’s atmosphere – despite all the fossil fuel burning and human and animal exhaling.

As Elon Musk reveals Twitter internal documents showing the company was censoring information and canceling accounts at the behest of government and political leaders, maybe it will be the beginning of the end of squelching free speech in the country. Let’s hope that happens.

The newly reinstated Disney CEO, Bob Iger, made some conciliatory comments to the press aimed at Florida elected officials last week. Disney channels lost 2 million subscribers the last year.

China has been the focus of massive numbers protesting the continued lockdowns because of Covid 19. Little wonder. We’d expect the same here if lockdowns and other non-scientifically rooted restrictions were reinitiated.

Railroad company employees are represented by 12 different unions. A tentative agreement reached at September’s end was adopted by 8 of the unions, rejected by 4, primarily for additional paid time off. President Biden asked Congress to step in under the federal Railway Labor Act of 1926 and it responded by passing legislation enshrining the terms of the provisional September bargain and codifying that tentative agreement. A strike would cripple the transport of food, cars, trucks, grains, fertilizers, and other products, deepen a recession, and cost the economy an estimated $2B/day. The legislation creates a board that will have 65 days to resolve issues remaining in the dispute. If there is no agreement, the recommendations of the Presidential emergency board (mediation)will issue a report in January that will take effect.

This administration, starting November 16, deployed and continues to assign air marshals to border duty to help process the influx of illegal migrants. The bulk of the estimated 3,000 air marshals will not be flying with the public this holiday season. Some are refusing the border assignment. Like the military, the WH is finding itself lacking in applications and recruitment of border patrol agents who now act as desk jockeys.