By Stan Gudmundson
Peterson, MN
A recent study concluded that almost half of U.S. voters don’t vote on the issues or principles. Out of party loyalty, they vote for the party’s candidate/s or many say they vote for the individual running for office. Those reasons are more important apparently, than what candidates stand for, believe in, and vote for. It’s no wonder that so many people vote for people who don’t even remotely represent what individual voters stand for.
In discussions with them, it amazes me that so many who say they are on the left, agree with so many of the things I believe in but they still vote for Democrats. Is it party loyalty, hatred for Republicans or something else? Or maybe that some don’t like or even hate America. I don’t know but I do know that their voting has nothing to do with principles or in being well-informed.
That the success or failure of our country is based on an informed citizenry, not on loyalty to a particular party or individual, goes without saying. But some states, and maybe our whole country now, are racing to the bottom anyway. I don’t know who is ahead at this point but both Minnesota and California appear to be leading this downward spiral.This last Minnesota legislative session was a doozy. Much of what was passed was stupid and silly. Even worse were those that are just plain evil and/or pushing its boundaries.Evil? How else could one possibly describe the 1) repeal of protection for babies who survived abortion attempts? Add to that the legislature 2) passed protections for women traveling to Minnesota for abortions, 3) took funding away from pregnancy resource centers, 4) provided for taxpayer-funded abortion, 5) gutted abortion facility reporting requirements, and 6) canned the abortion informed-consent law.
Just a note regarding abortion. The important question isn’t about the viability of a fetus, not that it matters in Minnesota anymore, but is a live fetus being interfered with for some reason other than to save the life of the mother. If the answer to that question is affirmative, then destroying the baby is killing. Why that is not considered murder I do not understand.
More? Sure, for children wanting to “change” their sex, 7) Minnesota is now a refuge, whatever that means, and 8) the legislature made “conversion therapy” illegal.
The litany continues. 9) Violent felons on probation are now eligible to vote (30,000+ new Democrat voters), 10) illegal aliens will have access to health care and 11) can have driver’s licenses. 12) Voter registration will now be automatic and 13) pre-registration was provided for 16-17 year-olds. 14) K-12 spending was increased by 10.2%, 15) Indian school mascots will be prohibited, and 16) every student is now entitled to a free breakfast and lunch.
Other dandies include 17) establishing a commission to create a new state flag, 18) substituting an Indigenous People’s Day for Columbus Day, 19) and establishing a holiday for Juneteenth. The legislature also mandated 20) a 100% carbon-free electricity grid requirement for 2040, 21) two gun control bills, 22) eliminated no-knock warrants, and 23) legalized “recreational” marijuana. There is much more too but one shouldn’t be surprised to learn that 24) the Minnesota state budget was increased by upwards of 40%.
Particularly disgusting were Republican legislators whose votes could have prevented much of this. But they didn’t want to risk being voted out of office. A good reason why they should be voted out.
Years back there was much to do about what was described as a “new morality.” At the time, most Christian clergy characterized this as nothing more than the old immorality without unifying and civilized principles and standards. Now there is talk of two standards of morality, the Christian/Jewish view and the worldview. And our country being post-Christian.
How is this working out? In his encyclical, Centesimus Annus, Pope John Paul II “predicted that ‘a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.’” As we also divide ourselves into competing gender, racial, and political tribes, we are abandoning the old and critical values, unifying faith, loyalty, confidence, and love for our country.
It ain’t looking good.
Steve Ellis says
Keep shouting at the sky, boys. The world will continue to change in spite of you. Things are not the same as they used to be in some imagined “golden age” when the rule of old white men was unchallenged.
As Bob Dylan said long ago, “Your old road is rapidly fading – get out of the new one if you can’t lend a hand.”
Anonymous says
Them old white men were genius. The Golden age you speak of, by that you mean when you could leave the keys in your car with the windows down and coins on the dash on Main Street and people would respect your property. Bob Dylan was just a pothead.
Rock/Cow per Walz says
Gee Steve:
You forgot to call us “white colonizers” to go along with all of the other categories that you likely put people in that you do not agree with. Just remember that history has shown that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. How has all of the idiotic laws the DFLer’s passed in 2023 made MN a better place to live? I think the new state song should be “California Here I come”. How is putting America 1st such a bad thing. If you do not like living in the USA, just move. This country is not perfect, but there is a reason that through our history, people have come to the US. The DEI logo should stand for “Don’t Expect Integrity”.
Gerald J. Boyum says
Stan,
You’ve got that right- dismal heading toward disastrous! If our country was an aircraft, we’d be hearing stall alarms and seeing flashing red lights everywhere!
You are also right on about how all too many people vote. They get very little help from mainstream media which should be acting as a “referee” between the party platforms and candidate proposals, and their track records in accomplishing what they’ve promised. The primary function of media and education system in the democratic process is a well-informed public who will select candidates who will work for America and Americans first and foremost. In other words, elect Americans for public office like JFK, Reagan and Trump who worked for America’s benefit as their primary objectives. ! How many times have I heard “I’ve always voted Democrat” Never mind that this party is not the party of your youth or that of your parents, i.e., they are not the party of Truman or JFK who were staunch anti-communists. Then we had the “..five days from fundamentally transforming America: president” which was not defined, and not challenged by conservatives with the exception of Rush Limbaugh according to what was published in the mainstream media!
When we vote for the president, we are hiring the Chief Executive of the United States, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, and leader of the Western World. The President and other electees to public office solemnly swear to faithfully execute their office responsibilities.to the best of their abilities and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath means exactly what is states, and office holders, especially presidents, governors, and mayors do not get to choose which responsibilities that they will enforce.
The Founding Fathers wisely outlined the objectives of the Constitution.in its Preamble that lists the main elements of what the Constitution should accomplish. It explains why the Constitution was developed, and has three central concepts, the source of power to enact the Constitution, the ends to which the Constitution is established, and the intent for the Constitution to be a legal instrument (Supreme Law of the Land) of lasting Posterity: (Importance of Preamble, no author given; and Preamble):
1. Form a more perfect Union.
2. Establish Justice. Laws are applied equally to all citizens.
3. Insure domestic Tranquility. If people are not safe in their homes or in public areas, they are not free!
4. Provide for the Common Defense. This also means “borders”.
5. Promote the General Welfare. Programs that benefit all people, such as defense, roads, parks, etc.
6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
It’s rather amazing with all the discussion about “Making America Great Again”, there has been ;little or no discussion about what made America great and unique in the first place:: (Independence Day 2020″ by Jarett Stepman, July 2, 2020)
1. Culture of Self- Government. The colonies established institutions of self-government starting with the Mayflower Compact.
2. Constitution and Rule of Law. The principles of self-government were codified and upheld.
3. Individual Liberty, a God-given Right. As such, these rights are unalienable; they cannot be taken or given away.
4. Limited Government. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, given the flawed nature of man.
5. American Dream. Our unique government that protects private property ownership has allowed growth of an expansive middle-class, both of the items have been listed by communists which must be eliminated.
6. Belief in a Supreme Being and the Divine Origin of Man. The first principle of Conservatism, but for some reason, it is omitted from many discussions about conservatism. “All belief systems have a starting point or foundation which must be accepted by faith.” Author unknown, but it should be “common sense”. It is not humans who had nothing to do with the creation of the universe or their unique characteristics that differentiates us from animals: high-order intelligence, moral values, conscientiousness, etc.