By Stan Gudmundson
Peterson, MN
Who do you vote for and why? Are there any principles you firmly believe in that determine which candidate to vote for? Are they key or does your loyalty to a particular party take precedence? Or is it merely family tradition? Are you a single issue only voter? What are the consequences of a political party’s policies?
These are some questions people ought to ask themselves. This is especially important now since Democrats and Republicans have moved so far apart from each other. On an ill-defined scale, the left has moved three or four clicks leftward. And the Republicans have moved further right by about one click.
Long ago I stopped paying attention to most of what political parties say. Much of what we are told is slanted, over- the top, and often inaccurate. I don’t watch much of what passes for “news” either.
I am also very nervous about ‘good-intention” schemes since many hardly ever provide the expected results and are often produce unintended consequences that are very counter-productive. Worse, many policies, demonstrably bad and even destructive, never go away once a bureaucracy has been established to run/dictate a new endeavor.
There is a saying that “all politics are local.” I don’t entirely agree. A vote for a state or local politician will have little influence on a national scale. National implications may be tiny, but they are cumulative and important overall. Therefore, one should consider the total effects of a party’s policies when voting. Look at the big picture.
The simplest way to evaluate any Democrat candidate is to think of them as mini-Hillaries, Pelosis, or Bidens and go from there. And Republicans to be a mini-Trump or DeSantis.
But, again, considering a party’s policy results is most important. As Democrats said about Clinton (and his immoral behavior), it’s not about the man, it’s about the issues.
The issues? We were once energy independent and fuel prices were about half of what they are now. Being dependent on other countries for our energy when we don’t have to be, is nuts. Moreover, higher fuel prices are regressive, harm the economy, and hurt our poorer citizens most.
Inflation? It is a guaranteed consequence of out-of-control government spending more than the taxes it takes from us. Another result is higher interest rates. People who could once qualify for a $350,000 loan at a 3.2% interest rate now only qualify for a $239,500 loan at a rate of 6.5%. This is political theft.
Education? The Chinese are teaching grade-school children how to use calculus. While our children’s test scores continue to decline. But we must ensure everyone accepts immature sexual proclivities and even questionable behavior.
The southern “border”? Some northern cities are beginning to find out what illegal immigration means. On a very small scale anyway. That millions of illegals are being welcomed here through a virtually non-existent border is absolute insanity. Along with them being given more money than many social security recipients. Our national sovereignty? Non-existent. This is so perverse.
Crime has also increased. In states where the attorney general is a Soros sponsored/funded Democrat, it has risen dramatically. Some even refer to Minneapolis as Murderapolis. New Orleans is now the murder capital of the country.
“Emanations” wafting up from “penumbras.” That’s the “logic” the US Supreme Court once used to manufacture abortion “rights,” rights not found anywhere in the constitution. Or anywhere near it. The issue now must be decided at the state level, where it always belonged.
If this election is to be a referendum based on their track record, Democrats should be soundly thrashed. But people aren’t logical and rationale. Remarkably, too many still support Democrat candidates whose political positions and ideas are just plain abysmal. You would think that, sooner or later, they would be embarrassed and draw some rational and logical conclusions about reality and stop voting for people who habitually screw things up. But some minds just won’t be changed by anything resembling reason. Party first, country last? Or something even weirder and/or scarier?
Don’t vote for people who continually make things worse.
Finally, 87,000 more IRS agents? To help you and me? And our country too? Really? How?
Donna Hasleiet Halvorsen says
jASON: WHY DOES THIS NEED MODERATION? IT’S A TRUE STORY. IT ISN’T FILLED WITH VITRIOL. IT DOESN’T CALL PEOPLE NAMES. AS THE PUBLISHER OF THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN FILLMORE COUNTY, YOU HOLD THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN YOUR HANDS EVERY DAY. PUBLISH THIS OR TELL ME WHY YOU WON’T. (BELOW IS REVISED FROM THE ORIGINAL)
Once upon a time in Peterson, Barb Mattson and I put a JFK banner above the lockers in school. It was taken down immediately. The next day I was accosted in an empty hallway by two teachers trying to convince me of the error of my ways. What harm could come from a 16-year-old “liking” JFK? We didn’t patrol the halls with signs or hand out leaflets. We couldn’t even vote. But there were two problems with JFK in this town, run by the Lutheran church. He was a Catholic, and he was a Democrat. I went home that afternoon, put an ice pack on my head and went to bed.
As editor of the Peterson school paper, which was part of the Tri-County Record, I wrote this editorial back then: “By the time this paper is published, we will all know who our next president is. No doubt many people will be disappointed because their candidate failed to win the electoral count. One should remember that there always has to be a winner and a loser. Both candidates are very excellent men, so no matter which one gets into office, we ought not criticize or be uncooperative and antagonistic, but rather apply that effort into making our country a better place to live and in striving together for unity. In this very tense and trying time one should remember the quotation, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ and all strive for a very perfect government. If we are united by a common bond, love for our fellowmen, we will build more strength than the Communist countries who are united by force. So let’s remember this and all stand behind our new president.”
Times have changed.
Jason Sethre says
Donna,
All of your comments have been approved. I have to personally approve all of them, so we avoid personal attacks between posters and/or use of profanity from appearing in the comments.
Since we receive hundreds of comments per day, along with everything else we have to take care of at the newspaper, they don’t get approved immediately. Sometimes it may take a few days. Especially if a comment is posted on the weekend. We do have a life outside of the newspaper, since working 24/7 is not conducive to a healthy work-life balance.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Jason Sethre
Publisher
Fillmore County Journal
Donna Halvorsen says
Perhaps Stan Gudmundson and I should look for political guidance to our childhoods in Peterson, where we lived a block apart and I babysat for the Gudmundson family. And where, as teenagers, Barb Mattson and I put a JFK banner above the lockers in school. It was taken down immediately. The next day I was accosted in an empty hallway by two teachers trying to convince me of the error of my ways. Two authority figures against a kid. What harm could come from a 16-year-old “liking” JFK? I didn’t patrol the halls with signs or hand out leaflets. I couldn’t even vote. But there were two problems with JFK in this town, run by the Lutheran church. He was a Catholic, and he was a Democrat. I went home that afternoon, put an ice pack on my head and went to bed. I became a Democrat that day and am one still, though I couldn’t, and didn’t, express an opinion about anything in 32 years as a newspaper reporter.
As editor of the Peterson school paper, which was part of the Tri-County Record, I wrote this editorial back then: “By the time this paper is published, we will all know who our next president is. No doubt many people will be disappointed because their candidate failed to win the electoral count. One should remember that there always has to be a winner and a loser. Both candidates are very excellent men, so no matter which one gets into office, we ought not criticize or be uncooperative and antagonistic, but rather apply that effort into making our country a better place to live and in striving together for unity. In this very tense and trying time one should remember the quotation, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ and all strive for a very perfect government. If we are united by a common bond, love for our fellowmen, we will build more strength than the Communist countries who are united by force. So let’s remember this and all stand behind our new president.”
Thankfully, the First Amendment still lives, and Stan can say whatever he wants, and so can I. I just did. Donna Hasleiet Halvorsen, South Portland, Maine, 1962 Peterson graduate
robert ellis says
So starving the IRS of it’s ability to go after tax cheats like the Trump Organization and Jared Kushner’s father is somehow in the nation’s interest? Building and repairing roads, bridges and other public works projects are just some of the few acts of government that used to draw bipartisan support, but now a major political party seems to to have endorsed Sarah Palin’s mockery of Joe Biden’s comment that paying your taxes is patriotic.
Stanley J Gudmundson says
Paying taxes is patriotic. Paying the taxes the left wants to impose on us isn’t.
Donna Halvorsen says
Perhaps Stan Gudmundson and I should look for political guidance to our childhoods in Peterson, where we lived a block apart and I babysat for the Gudmundson family. And where, as teenagers, Barb Mattson and I put a JFK banner above the lockers in school. It was taken down immediately. The next day I was accosted in an empty hallway by two teachers trying to convince me of the error of my ways. Two authority figures against a kid. What harm could come from a 16-year-old “liking” JFK? I didn’t patrol the halls with signs or hand out leaflets. I couldn’t even vote. But there were two problems with JFK in this town, run by the Lutheran church. He was a Catholic, and he was a Democrat. I went home that afternoon, put an ice pack on my head and went to bed. I became a Democrat that day and am one still, though I couldn’t, and didn’t, express an opinion about anything in 32 years as a newspaper reporter.
As editor of the Peterson school paper, which was part of the Tri-County Record, I wrote this editorial back then: “By the time this paper is published, we will all know who our next president is. No doubt many people will be disappointed because their candidate failed to win the electoral count. One should remember that there always has to be a winner and a loser. Both candidates are very excellent men, so no matter which one gets into office, we ought not criticize or be uncooperative and antagonistic, but rather apply that effort into making our country a better place to live and in striving together for unity. In this very tense and trying time one should remember the quotation, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ and all strive for a very perfect government. If we are united by a common bond, love for our fellowmen, we will build more strength than the Communist countries who are united by force. So let’s remember this and all stand behind our new president.”
Thankfully, the First Amendment still lives, and Stan can say whatever he wants, and so can I. I just did. Donna Hasleiet Halvorsen, South Portland, Maine, 1962 Peterson graduate