The Election and Civics

People are upset over the results of the election and are marching in protect. Many of those on the streets didn’t vote or were too young to vote. They are calling out names: fascist, socialist, racists but they can’t define what the terms mean. The people are unable to explain what the actual process of electing a leader to our country is or what the responsibilities of our President are.

Why isn’t civics being taught? 

Do these idiots really think they can go out are throw a tantrum and magically, the election results will be reversed? Some of the marchers can't even say what they would do to change the situation. They have a right to speak their mind but don't have the right to be destructive. What did they expect? A do-over?

Come on folks. Too upset to go to school? Get a life! Do you honestly believe if we allowed a 'do-over' the United States Constitution would stand? Do you think North Kora's leader allows protesters to march in the streets? Russian jails subversives. Gays are executed in the Middle East and women have no rights. Is the U.S.A. that bad?

Our schools are to blame for failing to educate our children.

Let’s start with some definitions.

Democracy: a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting and an organization or situation in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights

Socialism: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property or a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

Fascism: a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government

Marxism: the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx including the belief that the struggle between social classes is a major force in history and that there should eventually be a society in which there are no classes

Communism: a way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) and there is no privately owned property  

Anarchy: a situation of confusion and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, etc., are not controlled by rules or laws

Dictator: a person who rules a country with total authority and often in a cruel or brutal way (think North Korea).

Read the above definitions. Which one sounds the best? Socialism has never worked. Marxism and Fascism have failed. Communism is dying where it still exists. Dictators rule by fear. Do we really want Anarchy? 

Laws originate in the House of Representatives or Senate and are sent to the President. He can approve or veto (deny). Vetoes bills (laws) can be approved with majority votes by Congress (both Houses). The President doesn’t write laws – Congress does (although most Federal regulations are now authored by special interest groups and then sponsored by Congressional Members). Our President can work with Congress to get bills written and passed (i.e. the Affordable Care Act) but he can’t do away with laws in place (Roe v. Wade – aka. abortion rights). He can’t do away with Constitutional rights.

If we as the American People don’t like the process of election, then we must change it. That means going through our Congressional Members to change the 12th Amendment that set-up the Electoral process. Going around and setting fires or destroying our fellow neighbor’s homes and/or businesses is not the way to fix things.

A reporter asked one of the protesters why he was marching and he actually said he was afraid President-Elect Trump would deport him and his family back to Guam. Really? Free access is allowed between those residing in American territories and American States, just like those living in Washington D.C. can freely move from the Federal Capitol to surrounding states. United States territories may petition for admission as states under the U.S. Constitution, article IV. The current list of the U.S. territories is: American Samoa, Guam, the Marshal Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Baker Island, Midway Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, and the Wake Islands. Most of the territories are uninhabited.

Our government has problems. We all agree on that; that is why Trump won. Folks in general were fed up with the status quo in Washington D.C. Politicians kept making tons of promises to get elected but never followed through. The average person’s paycheck keeps shrinking. Trump’s election is a major “Take this and shove it” to the system. It was estimated about half of the population voted. Where was the rest? Shame on those who decide not to participate and now wants to complain.

Here’s the reality: Trump can’t deport all the illegals in the US. We need those undocumented workers. More realistically, there will be immigration reform that includes some path to citizenship. He can’t do away with a women’s right to chose or take away the marriage act. Those choices would require another lawsuit heard by the Supreme Court to change. He can reduce some of the executive orders dealing with over-regulation and work with Congress to reduce business taxes. That is a good thing. Companies paying less business taxes will have more money to invest, expand, and hire employees (this is basic Reaganomics).

So, whether you voted for Trump or not, at least give him a chance. I didn’t vote for Obama and I didn’t care for his policies but I didn’t run out and riot when he was elected (and re-elected). I had to accept the results of the election.

Stay safe out there.