© 2016 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. Four years ago I wrote, “The
election this year has felt like going to the dentist and having the same tooth
filled every day for a whole year.” It is even more so this time around. This election
has brought out the worst in Americans rather than the best.
What is either forgotten or never
learned by most Americans and the media is that the system of presidential
election is designed to sustain the party bosses and no one else. The media is not
telling the truth to the American public.
What is the truth? Our founding
leaders did not trust average citizens to select the president so we have rules
allowing party bosses almost unlimited power to select who they want. Hilary
Clinton will be the Democrat Nominee regardless of the votes garnered by Sanders
because of Super Delegates. Likewise, Republicans who think they have any
control over the party bosses are mistaken.
I like Ted Cruz but realize that he
and Donald Trump have little chance to win regardless of how I vote. The party
bosses pull the levers at the convention. Occasionally the people’s choice wins
but not often.
Why did the founding leaders and the
subsequent members of Congress make a system where the citizen on the street
has little to say as to who will be running for president in the general
election? They did not trust citizens to use good judgement. Hence, the Electoral
College where influence has been used to steal elections.
Remember, only a quarter of American
colonists were for Revolution. A quarter of the colonists opposed them. And the
remaining half of the colonists didn’t care either way, they were too busy with
their teenagers and making a living to care or take part.
Today the same is true. Half of all
Americans either are not registered to vote or do not vote. America votes more
for Dancing With The Stars than for
President. Perhaps our citizens are not fit to select the winner.
Several years ago on election day I
was in a store. One person said that they voted for president. Another asked, “Who
is running.” That was after millions was spent on ads and television was 24/7
about the election.
Four years ago I wrote, “We, the
people, have concentrated on the personal trivia of candidates and the untrue
about them. We have not had an authentic dialog about our country’s needs.”
Still true. Lately people have been
talking about how to get young people to vote. That’s a population who can name
every song from a Rap artist but can’t tell you when the War of 1812 happened.
How do you get young people to vote?
By selling them on their own interest. I am always surprised that young men
will register for Selective Service without the awareness they’re in line for
war if we need soldiers.
They look so surprised when I mention
this to them and say, “Naw, can’t happen to me.” Well, of course it can happen.
It has before and will again. I got a letter from President Nixon greeting me
and sending me to an induction center on December 28, 1972. As luck would have
it President Truman died two days earlier and they did not take me into the
Army because it was a National Day of Mourning for Truman. I spent two years in
ROTC in college for which I’m glad.
We should not spend our time trying
to get young people or for that matter anyone registered and to the polls. We
should spend our time getting these people to care. If they care, they will
register and vote. Caring, not voting, makes the democracy.
What do I hope for this election? I
hope people of character and integrity win, regardless of party affiliation. I
hope the will of the people triumphs over voter fraud, regardless of who wins.
I hope leaders tackle the war on terror, social security, taxes, health care
and education with an understanding that political solutions only work for
political problems. Never use political solutions for anything else.
Vote if you care. If you do not
care, please stay home and watch the stars dance.
Email: drswickard@comcast.net - Swickard’s new
novel about New Mexico, Hideaway Hills,is now available at Amazon.com
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