Voting, Not a Privilege, A Curse.

As is normally the case, I filled out my ballot and mailed it in. Long lines filled with politically enthused people are a curse, and this election is probably going to be above average in rabid, politically charged clown attendance. I have to vote, because my wife makes me. I could turn my back on the whole process and walk away smiling, but for my wife.

As usual, I voted my beliefs, and my conscience, and what limited knowledge that can be gathered from the politically slanted news, magazines, newspapers, and television. And it was pretty easy, at the top, the candidates for most of the election were pretty clearly divided, and I could always find one that less odious than the other.

But, then came the judges. What do I know about judges? At the tender age of fifty seven it has been years since I have even seen a real judge (there was a young man who played on my son's basketball team, and his mother was a judge, very polite, and kind, so that was a vote that I was extremely comfortable casting). What gives me the right to choose who should have the power over such decisions. What if I choose the wrong person, what if I vote for the "hanging judge"? I can''t take that kind of pressure.

And coroner, what do I know about hiring a coroner? What if I elect the "hanging judge" and a sloth with a drinking problem for coroner? You never see commercials for coroner. Elect Bob for Coroner, he is not a lazy drunkard, like his opponent." No, you just have to fill in the little circle blindly, trusting to fate.

It won't take long for the streets to be lined with corpses waiting for disposition, piling up like sandbags before a flood, the stench will be unbearable. Not to mention it will be a real deterrent to the food trucks that are becoming so popular.
 And it will be my fault.

Oh, how I hate democracy.

Under the Big Top

Today we are dealing with our government and the ability to deal with a looming crisis. Zika virus is coming, everybody knows that. A disease that could damage thousands of lives, and Washington is locked in battle over the best way to ignore the potential disaster.

No, not really, Washington is more or less ignoring anything that would require any sort of action. In all fairness, though, they are dealing with an election cycle. For the casual observer this seems like a side show, a traveling circus that comes to town and snarls traffic, ties up news people and flies away, like a thief in the night.

But, in the capital this is the only show in town. People are lining up to get in pictures, and endorse candidates, raise money, and let everybody know they are doing their job, even while they are not doing anything.

So, they keep "working" and the virus keeps inching closer. The airwaves are filled with the ridiculous name calling and finger pointing of the most angry, repugnant group of presidential hopefuls imaginable. And real problems are being ignored. This is not a difficult problem and the solutions are obvious, testing, mosquito control programs and vaccinations are all reliable and only wait for funding. But, our elected officials are very busy not doing anything.

Remind me again why I should vote.