Election season, system still not good enough.

 

SADLY, THERE WILL STILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION 

WITHOUT REFORM, INTEGRITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUESTIONED

There have been some attempts to reform election methods that will make them more trusted, but sadly it has not gone far enough. As long as we have unlimited mail in ballots, unguarded drop boxes, machines that are connected to the internet, counting done only in large counting centers, there will be questions. We cannot trust our election results to be based on trust of political election officials and elections need to have the ability to be audited.

Here in Pennsylvania we have a Supreme court that has disregarded the constitution numerous time concerning mail in ballots. They should be impeached for not doing their constitutional duty.

Elections are critical to the success of any democratic government. Honest and clearly legitimate elections can only be conducted and accepted by the population if the elections and their results are auditable. Elections must be 100% verifiable. There cannot be a system were the results need to be accepted on faith in the process or the people in charge of the elections. It is clear this is not presently the case with our election system here in Pennsylvania or in many other states. It is time to put into  place a full proof auditable system of elections.

1. General mail in voting is to be eliminated. It allows multiple opportunities for fraud, abuse and is not verifiable. 

2. Absentee voting with cause is allowable. This would accommodate the handicapped, nursing home and hospitalized persons, the military, and persons required to work out of their voting district on the general election day. All first time applications for absentee ballot would need to be affirmed by a physician, nursing home administrator, superior military officer or work supervisor. All absentee ballots would require the identification number of the drivers license or state Identification. This would assure their place of residence.

Applications for absentee ballots would be kept for 24 months from date of the general election. Absentee ballots and applications would have an identification number coinciding with a number on their voter registration. This is necessary to have an auditable system.

Absentee ballots would be required to be received 10 days before the general election. Absentee ballots would be opened by teams of representatives of all political parties involved in the election. These representatives would be vetted and supplied by the political parties. Each team would stamp the ballots as complete and genuine and be initialed by the team, each team would have a team number. The ballots that they approve will be counted by the team and placed in a sealed container with a result of their count. A copy of their count will be placed on the outside of the container and each team member will keep a copy of their totals. On the general election day, all teams will be present to add their totals to general count and verify they are correct. All these ballots will be kept for 24 months from the general election.

3. General election ballots will also have a number placed on them coinciding with the number on the voters registration. This could be a number from the registration or coinciding with the signature record at the voting place. Ballots are to be counted by teams made up of individuals from all political parties involved in election. Ballots are counted at the precinct level and all ballots are sealed in boxes by the teams with a copy of the results inside, outside and kept by members of the team. Results are then communicated to county. All ballots will be kept for 24 months after the general election.

 Election Audit

Before any proclamation or certification of the results of an election an election audit team made up of representatives of all political parties involved in the election shall conduct a random sampling of districts for audit. These teams will be vetted and supplied by the political parties. They will begin their audits with both sides picking 6 districts or precincts in their county for spot auditing. This would be accomplished by picking 50 ballots from each selected district, identifying the voters and contacting them to verify their votes. If the results are 100 %. in all districts, no further action would be needed, if not there would need to be a more complete audit.

Registration

Registration may be performed as now, requiring Identification and also a group of auditors composed of representatives from all political parties to work together to assure addresses and voters are real. Registrations will be purged if voter does not participate in 2 consecutive presidential elections, or any other elections. Voter will be notified that his registration has lapsed with instructions as to how to re-register. 

The goal of this system of voting is to have an opportunity for representatives of both parties to work together and insure that everyone is satisfied that an honest and fair election has taken place. It should insure that the election results are recorded in a timely manner, without any doubts as to the validity of the vote. With precincts limited to 2000 voters, hand counting should be accomplished in several hours. This would eliminate the cost of electronic voting machines which have a high level of distrust by voters. This is a simple, less costly and fully auditable system that all Americans can and deserve to trust.

originally published 11/2/21

After 2022, now 2023, election integrity is still not assured. If not corrected, we will soon see a decline in voting and the real end of democracy.

7/30/24. No real changes to a flawed system. We must assume intentionally. All first timer registrations should also include proof of citizenship.

Kamala would like you to think, she is the candidate of change.

 NO POLICY, NO PLATFORM, ONLY TRUMP IS BAD

EVEN BIDEN, IS MISSING IN ACTION

It is interesting that listening to Kamala Harris, she likes to give the impression that Trump is the incumbent and she is the candidate of change. No mention of her accomplishment in the last 4 years, because she has none. No mention of the victories or accomplishments of the whole Biden Harris team, because there are none. She was given the opportunity to manage the border and she was a no show, did nothing or at least nothing positive. All democrat initiatives on the border were an attempt to make the entry into the country quicker, easier and more permanent.

We have record inflation, the lowest home affordability situation, the highest rents in history. Then promises more home loans and government housing. Loans that many will not be able to service. The highest food prices in history, making some items unaffordable to many. I guess her answer will be more food stamps.

The debt is now increasing at the rate of $2 trillion a year, a disaster with no solution in sight.

In foreign affairs we are at the greatest danger of world war since 1945. Mostly because this administration has intentionally gone around the world threatening a multitude of nations with economic sanctions and military intervention. Near 30% of the worlds nations are under U.S. sanctions of some kind.

Their policies have destroyed Ukraine and rather than a prosperous European nation, it is destined to be failed state, dependent on the west for decades.

The once situation of hope and peace in the middle east has exploded into a never ending cycle of revenge and death, with no end in sight. This administration does not have 1 credible diplomat that has any credibility in world affairs, neither with allies or competitors. We are in the worst foreign policy crisis in 70 years.

I guess we should understand why Kamala would like to distance herself from her own record, she understands that it is disastrous. The reality is that she has no idea how to correct any of this mess. 

If you Americans believe that it can not get any worse, I expect, if given the opportunity, she will prove you wrong. She is without a doubt the candidate of more of the same.

I voted by mail, I do not see the point.

 MUCH EASIER TO VOTE IN PERSON

MAIL VOTING: TOO MANY POSSIBLE BAD OUTCOMES

Yesterday I voted early with a mail in ballot. I did not trust putting it through the mail, so I dropped it in a drop box in west Allentown. I will give my opinion of the experience.

I applied by mail for a ballot, my ballot arrived 8 days after I mailed in my application. I am in Lehigh county. This was ok, as I had plenty of time to get my ballot in. Filling out the ballot was the same as in person, and putting it in the yellow envelope and signing and dating the mail envelope was no problem.

I did not feel comfortable mailing in the ballot, imagine this ballot going through many hands on its way to the court house, with your signature on the outside, I suppose it would be easy to determine ones political affiliation and trash the ballot, or even worse, open the outside envelope and switch the ballot. I never stop thinking about possibilities. After all, the post office union has endorsed Harris for President. The same could be true of biased election workers in the court house. They will have the ballot in their hands for a week.

As for easier, I had to travel about 15 miles to the nearest drop box, took near 1 hour for round trip, due to lots of traffic around Allentown. Box was inside and not accessible from outside, a good thing. I did see others dropping in ballots. 

I did get an email from the state when they received my application and I understand that I will receive notification when they get the ballot. All this is extra work and cost to the state.

My opinion is the same as before, it is far too complicated and the ballots are given multiple opportunities for something bad to happen. While I understand that service people and people who need to travel may need this opportunity, it is far too costly and too open to bad outcomes to be used by everyone. I will vote in person in the future, as long as I am able.

Have the dems staked their future on abortion?

 MISINFORMATION AND LIES ARE POOR ELECTION STRATEGY

COURT DID NOT MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL

The reality is that the Supreme court took the abortion issue out of the purview of the federal government and federal legislators. It is unlikely that any federal law concerning abortion will pass supreme court scrutiny, yet the Democrats have insisted that Republicans want to ban abortion and even In Vitro fertilization, which is just dishonest. I don't believe any candidate for federal office has proposed or support any of those measures.

It is another sign of the lack of serious policy initiatives that has become the hallmark of Democrat strategy. Either proposing things that can not be enacted, like student loan forgiveness,  or even proposing to support Republican initiatives, like border security, it seems there is a vapid purpose to their campaigns other than retaining power. Say or propose anything that will garner votes is the only goal.

Removing abortion from the federal purview was a good step in attempting to unify the nation. A fine tuning of this controversial issue is best done at the state level. What is acceptable in San Francisco may not be acceptable in Alabama.  Using in vitro as a federal campaign strategy is just plain dishonest. It is a sad commentary on this election. It is just attempting to create more division in an attempt to retain power, rather than propose things in the best interest of the nation. 

With only 1 week to the election,  it seems we can only expect more outrageous claims and misinformation. Then rather than it all being over, we can expect it will just begin the next round.

Should we be surprised at foreign troops in Russia.

 RUSSIA IS THE SECOND BIGGEST ARMS EXPORTER IN THE WORLD

THE U.S. IS FIRST

Much ado about North Korean troops seen in Russia. I would expect that a large number of foreign troops come and go in Russia. With Russia being the second biggest arms exporter we can expect troops from every country that they do business with to be in Russia at some time, maybe even some NATO members. 

It seems Ukraine now believes that the presence of North Koreans in Russia may be an excuse to send NATO or U.S. troops to come to their aid. It is pretty much confirmed that Uk, U.S., French and Polish troops are now actually in Russia fighting on the side of Ukraine. This is in Kursk region were an estimated 25,000 Ukraine and its allies troops have been reported killed. 

The reality is that we can expect North Korean, Chinese, Iranian and possibly other troops in Russia on training missions and also as observers of the present conflict. Some may also be involved in logistics support and construction. North Koreans are in fact working in many countries including some of our allies in the middle east.  

U.S. troops are now in an estimated 150 countries including some just announced going to aid in air defenses in Israel. It is very possible that some may die or be injured. 

The U.S has many thousands of foreign troops in the U.S. either for training or examining weapons for sale.  I suspect it is a very long list.

I find it hard to believe that North Korean troops in Russia is a strong case for the U.S. to enter this war, but it seems that some in the state department and intelligence community still would like that to happen. I suspect they will at least have to wait until after the election.

Pathetic closing argument,"Trump is a fascist".

 

FASCISTS USE FASCIST LABEL TO DISCREDIT OPPOSITION

We continually hear groups labeled as fascists. This label has been applied to Trump and his supporters relentlessly. Many really don't know what the term fascist means. They relate it to the socialist governments of Germany and Italy in the 1930's and 40's. It is true that these governments did fit the definition of fascist and were likely the first to be so labeled.

The American Heritage dictionary definition 1982. "A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, through the merging of state and business leadership, together with a belligerent nationalism".

Websters Collegiate Dictionary 1987."Political Philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe social and economic regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition".

It seems the definition has changed over time, but basically we could say that it is a government that has dictatorial and almost absolute power, or a movement that advocates a government with absolute power. It is in cooperation with business or business leaders to use their power to enhance the power of the state with a reciprocal blessing from the state. Also that the government and business use their power to silence or oppress opposition.

Can a fascist government be a government of the left, if  the above principles are in play? Also is fascist behavior or tactics limited to nationalist governments. 

While Nazi Germany is considered fascist, what is the difference in the behavior of Stalinist USSR , China's Mao or communist China today, North Korea, Cuba  or Venezuela. The common denominator of all these countries is Socialism. That is when the state is exalted over individual rights, economic freedom and liberty in general. Most socialist governments are more internationalist or global in their view.

We see many today who have been convinced that Socialism is the route to equality. In effect it has been historically proven to be just the opposite. It only comes close to equality in poverty and misery.

We have seen government continually grow and assume more power. It has exercised increasing more power and regulation of business, until possibly the biggest determining factor of success for a business is government regulation. This requires business's who attempt to protect their livelihood to continually lobby government officials, either to enact legislation to allow or protect their business from government regulation or competition. Much of this requires contributions to political candidates or parties. The politicians on both sides of these questions, just love it. They are, as long as they are in power the ultimate Alpha Dog.

While most of these activities are also regulated and legal, the crossing of the line into fascist behavior is when these businesses use their power to enhance the power of the state or suppress opposition. 

In the 2008 and 2012 election, the Obama campaign was praised as brilliant for using social media to enhance it messaging. In 2016 the Trump campaign was considered criminal for doing the same. In the 2020 campaign, and for months before, we saw social media, block, suppress and take down messaging from the conservative side. They stepped over the line into a fascist co-existence with the state.

We have seen a media that has become part of political campaigns, what would be the value of their in kind contributions? 

We have seen big Tech expend millions on election programs to enhance their agenda. This is again a fascist relationship with the state.

We have witnessed Universities that are financed by the Government, suppress opposing voices, even their administration members encouraging violence. 

It does seem that they perceive that they are losing the debate and have to go to extraordinary and repressive practices to sustain their hold on power. Is the debate on policy over, when they perceive they are losing?

We have seen Black Lives matter and Antifa, destroy cities, assault the police and opposing protesters, but they are labeled by the state and media as peaceful protesters. While anyone who should defend themselves or counter protest are white supremacists and domestic terrorists. This is all repeated and advocated for by the fascist media.

Trump and his supporters have continually been labeled fascists, but they do not have a fascist relationship with social and big media. They do not advocate more government regulation and control. They do not advocate for expanding government power over individual liberty. They do advocate obeying and enforcing the existing law and even this is labeled fascist by the true fascists.

Even in the Pandemic, Trump was careful not to tread on states rights to deal with the virus. While providing everything that was needed, he allowed the states to do as they saw appropriate for their state. Does anyone doubt that many would have loved to have expanded the power of the federal government in this crisis.  

As far as a belligerent nationalism, while Trump advocated an America first policy, he stepped back from international intervention in the affairs of other countries. While his opponents have been intervening and using belligerent American power for decades.

We see the use of language being distorted every day. We see new definitions of words, even by the dictionaries.  It is all in the quest of maintaining and expanding power of the socialist state.  A state that has increasingly become separated from the people, not representative of the people, but the ruler and arbitrator of right and wrong with ultimate power as the goal. 

We now see a rush of establishment government to endorse suppressing of dissent and freedom of speech by the private sector. A private sector that is in a fascist relationship with the existing government power. A private sector that has been reaping the benefits of its relationship through trade and regulation benefits. A sector that has helped finance voting changes that have tipped the balance toward their benefactors. Fascism plain and simple.

Now we hear threats of policy's to diminish the incomes of everyone who supports a different view. Are we now going to embark on not only a political war but an economic war. Such a war is a two way street, particularly when the base of the existing power is in areas that are not self sufficient, but dependent on the very people they wish to oppress. This idea should be dismissed quickly, or the whole nation is going to descend into an escalating decline.

We hear the coming president claim that BLM protesters would have been treated differently than those that breached the capital. We hear him label Trump supporters as white supremacists and racists. I see no effort of unity and addressing the concerns of all the people. If those who are coming to power believe that they can dismiss and attack all those who supported the policies of Trump it very likely will be the end of this experiment in self government.

This article was originally published 12/15/20, it is now updated in view of current events.

The fascist label along with white supremacy is the 2022 and 2024 talking point of the democrats. They know that they cannot win on their policies, but only in instilling fear of those who oppose their destructive policies. 7/6/2022

We now see the FBI and DOJ increasingly being used to intimidate those that oppose the agenda of this government. More fascism at work.

9/27/2022

6/4/2024  

We now see the use of the legal system and again the fascist media to attempt to eliminate the existing powers opposition, another hallmark of fascism.  The real fascists do indeed become more obvious every day.

10/24/2024. Here they go again, Trump is a fascist and a potential Hitler. While they advocate intervention around the world and suppression of political opponents at home. At the same time being aided by big business and the complicit media. It is clear who are the real fascists

BRICS is offering an alternative to present economic system.

 ALTERNATIVE, NOT REPLACEMENT

19 GOVERNMENT HEADS MEET IN KAZAN  

The 2024 BRICS meeting in now underway in Kazan, Russia. It is expected to run through the end of the week. While many describe this as a threat to the U.S. dollar supremacy, it really is not an attempt to replace the dollar as much as to offer an alternative. Both economic systems could operative cooperatively if there was a desire for that to happen. The reality is that the present system is failing and it will fail with or without a BRICS alternative. It is failing because of irresponsible debt and spending by most of the western powers. We witnessed the first signs with the 2008 debt collapse and now the ingredients are far more serious and the debts are now unsustainable. We can expect that we will be offered some sort of reset that will make everyone a lot poorer.

The world has strayed far off the path of economic solvency and honesty. 2 +2 still can only result in 4 and no one can spend themselves into prosperity. There are limits to debt and fiscal irresponsibility. The present system has lasted because there is no alternative, all money is now fiat and unbacked and no government engages in balanced budgets. 

In the 1930's the economic debate was between the Keynesian and the Austrian School of economics. The Austrians believed that money was to be an asset that was represented by currency and could be exchanged for goods and services. That governments should have a balanced budget and should not manipulate the economy by debasing the currency. This is of course a simplified explanation.

Keynesian's believed that money did not need to be backed by anything, fiat currency, and the economy could be controlled by raising and lowering interest rates. They in effect changed money from being an asset into being an instrument of government debt. They believed in running deficits to stimulate the economy and raising interest rates to suppress overheating.

Keynesian policy was adopted by Europe and the United States and our currency also became an instrument of government debt rather than an asset. Of course we see that the stimulation through deficits is never slowed by decreased spending. The theory has failed because there is no restraint on government deficits.

The New Democrats have embraced the "Modern Monetary Theory", which believes that deficits and debt are not relevant nor to be considered. The plan is to control all aspects of the economy by government spending and taxes.

With this theory they can spend on social programs without restraint, debt, deficits and even interest, as far as the government is concerned, would be eliminated. They also believe that to restrain the economy from overheating, taxes, licenses, fees etc would be raised to restrain inflation and also to target the wealthy to achieve income equality and social justice. They also propose to adopt Asset Taxes, starting with the very wealthy, but as one could imagine it would soon apply to anyone with assets.

This theory is without simple common sense and attempts to defy the laws of simple economics and human nature. Implementing such a policy would destroy the economy in short order. Their policies would force people to shift assets from paper to hard currency and simply shut down much private economic activity.

Of course, that is precisely their goal, no private economy, it would be a 100% Government controlled economy which would lead to an economy like Venezuela or Cuba.

I suspect that these policies will culminate in a worldwide economic crisis unprecedented in history.  It is not a question of if, but when, and it appears we are now in the beginning of an economic collapse in the western world.

It may be possible to escape such a crisis but it would take recognition of the errors and a plan to remedy this irresponsibility. It would cause much pain, but it could be less than a total collapse.