Fini. I give up.
But thanks for checking in.
November 04, 2004
I think I've recovered from election-induced depression, although the confusion is still making my head hurt. My state went with Dubya but chose a Democrat for the Senate (and a freshman at that), while choosing evenly among Representatives. Moreover, the voters rejected a state constitutional amendment* that would have subjected contractors to liability but then approved an amendment to raise cigarette taxes for a (so we're told) state health care fund. Basically, the voters approved one group escaping payment for its mistakes while penalizing another for an activity of personal choice and risk that doesn't drain any more resources than drunk drivers.
The deed, however, is done. Moving forward will require an equal or greater intensity than that which went into this election, and even greater scrutiny of world and domestic affairs. I hope that Bush -- with the help of Congress -- will indeed make his primary goal that of peacekeeping and unity rather than perpetuating the divide-and-conquer, slash-and-burn imperialism of his first term.
*It still isn't quite clear to me why these issues were proposed as constitutional amendments rather than considered as legislative matters to be written into municipal or state statutes. Shouldn't constitutions be amended only when doing so benefits an overwhelming majority of the citizenry?
The deed, however, is done. Moving forward will require an equal or greater intensity than that which went into this election, and even greater scrutiny of world and domestic affairs. I hope that Bush -- with the help of Congress -- will indeed make his primary goal that of peacekeeping and unity rather than perpetuating the divide-and-conquer, slash-and-burn imperialism of his first term.
*It still isn't quite clear to me why these issues were proposed as constitutional amendments rather than considered as legislative matters to be written into municipal or state statutes. Shouldn't constitutions be amended only when doing so benefits an overwhelming majority of the citizenry?
November 02, 2004
After spending the better part of the day working the campaign and canvassing neighborhoods to get out the vote, there's nothing more to do than sit back and watch the returns. I'm a bit puzzled why the networks are televising coverage at 7:55pm Mountain Standard Time when the polls in California don't close for another five minutes, and Hawaii's don't close for another three hours and five minutes?
The woman I was partnered with tonight wondered aloud whether our efforts made a difference. The only sure answer to that question is this: we'll never know whether we made a difference, but I'm happy to have done SOMETHING. My objective was to help get people to the polls if it meant driving them myself, but the best impression we could have made was simply being involved, to be out there working the neighborhoods and knocking on one door after another for hours on end.
I only hope that, should the race be as close as in 2000, the Supreme Court will not step in to decide. Unfortunately, the Court not only set a dangerous precedent by deciding that election but did so wholly inappropriately. As a judicial entity, the Court's purpose is to decide only matters of judicial or legislative import -- it is not within the Court's province to answer questions of a political nature.
Still, I will be terribly disappointed if Bush wins a second term. A Kerry victory won't repeal the Patriot Acts, make possible a clean exit from Iraq, or reduce the power of big business... but it may again rightfully separate organized religion from government, restore assistance to those of greatest need, and encourage a more favorable global perception of the US (starting with rejoining the Kyoto Accord).
If nothing else, a Kerry victory will most likely ensure a Supreme Court that will leave untouched a decision (Roe v. Wade) that has nothing to do with God and everything to do with freedom of choice.
The woman I was partnered with tonight wondered aloud whether our efforts made a difference. The only sure answer to that question is this: we'll never know whether we made a difference, but I'm happy to have done SOMETHING. My objective was to help get people to the polls if it meant driving them myself, but the best impression we could have made was simply being involved, to be out there working the neighborhoods and knocking on one door after another for hours on end.
I only hope that, should the race be as close as in 2000, the Supreme Court will not step in to decide. Unfortunately, the Court not only set a dangerous precedent by deciding that election but did so wholly inappropriately. As a judicial entity, the Court's purpose is to decide only matters of judicial or legislative import -- it is not within the Court's province to answer questions of a political nature.
Still, I will be terribly disappointed if Bush wins a second term. A Kerry victory won't repeal the Patriot Acts, make possible a clean exit from Iraq, or reduce the power of big business... but it may again rightfully separate organized religion from government, restore assistance to those of greatest need, and encourage a more favorable global perception of the US (starting with rejoining the Kyoto Accord).
If nothing else, a Kerry victory will most likely ensure a Supreme Court that will leave untouched a decision (Roe v. Wade) that has nothing to do with God and everything to do with freedom of choice.
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