The first Tuesday in November, 2016, six a.m., a cup of steaming coffee from the all-night diner on my corner, waiting for my polling place to open. We were ecstatic, electing the first woman president. Yes, polls said a close election, we were giddy.
A day later, in despair, we elected a buffoon, little did we know the depth of his buffoonery.
Eight years later the most significant election of our lives, of the nation’s life. Our democracy is tottering on the edge, our buffoon has morphed into a vengeful autocrat, dividing up the world, a slice for each: to Trump, Putin, Xi and crumbs for Modi or a Saudi Sheik.
It seems like the plot of a Netflix feature.
Another scathing Maureen Dowd portrait of “our leader.”
In less than two weeks I’ll cast my ballot, actually bubble in my ballot. A few years ago, after years of trying, I convinced the Board of Elections to move my polling place from a school, to the community room in my building (it has a full kitchen).
I’ll vote for Hochul, unenthusiastically, her opponent is an ultra MAGA Trumper, and I’ll vote down the “Democrat” line, and vote “No” on propositions 1, 2 and 3, they bypass the City Council and hearings to expedite a wide range of decisions, the mayor doesn’t need more power, I’m disappointed by his abandonment of schools and his reversal from candidate to mayor on the para pay bump and mayoral control. Will his model for invigorating young voters travel across the nation? Is a D tsunami going to roll across the nation?
I live in a blue bubble, my circle abhors Trump, posting on Facebook may soothe your anger, contributions to candidates of your choice is a much better way to assuage your anti-Trump rage, just go to Act Blue to make your contribution. Yes, a pittance compared to Elon, tens of thousands of pittances matter!
I begin most days by reading three Substacks, Heather Joy Richardson, a historian, Paul Krugman, a CUNY Graduate Center Nobel Prize winning economist and Jared Bernstein, who ran the Obama Council of Economic Advisers, Krugman and Bernstein do get dense, my economic creds have faded since days teaching economics, keeping the neurons firing is said to be anti-aging.
I fear and expect the Orange Menace will try and influence/intervene/steal the election, the scenarios are chilling.
If the Dems do seize both houses what are their plans?
* Rescue Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid- their future is bleak. Read here
*Begin to repair our broken healthcare system- “Medicare for All,” or, incrementally reduce the age for Social Security eligibility.
* Dismantle the Citizens United SCOTUS decision.
* End political gerrymandering
* Plan for the 28 Presidential election- avoid bitter infighting among the Ds, create a truly inclusive candidate selection process
* Can the new left-leaning younger Dems and the older (sometimes much older) Dems “make nice” and prepare to pass the baton?
* I do not favor a third impeachment, unless, it’s a big unless, there’s a pathway to 67 votes in the Senate.
BTW, are you engaged in local politics? Your local political club, attend local board meetings, contact your local elected, as former Speaker Tip O’Neill, so prescient said, “All politics is local.”
Fingers crossed, chant your mantra, pray to your god(s), November 3rd may find us tumbling into the abyss or gazing at a rising sun, a new day.
