By james art citizens,
It’s impossible to ignore the deluge of TV, Internet, text, and phone messages describing the dire situation that forces us to choose between two imperfect candidates. So obviously half of all voters will be sorely disappointed. Conversely, the other half should be elated and remain bitterly divided. Not so fast.
Whoever wins won’t measurably change your life or circumstances. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this election won’t change that. If you’re lucky enough to be in better financial shape, that won’t change much either. If you’re in the top one percent, you’ll continue to earn wealth and avoid paying your share of taxes. congratulations
Your friends and neighbors who see no reason to vote for your favorite candidate will remain friends and neighbors after the election. Strangely, they will still offer help if you have health problems or experience a personal tragedy. They will continue to care for you and will likely enter your home if it is on fire and save your family and yourself.
With a very evenly divided government, it’s hard to see much in the bipartisan legislation that will be passed over the next four years in Washington. So basically all those campaign promises you’ve been hearing over the last few months are mostly bribes to get or change your vote with no chance of passing. No candidate will tackle the increased tax rates needed to balance the federal budget, never mind provide Social Security and Medicare and begin paying down the national debt. Nor will they campaign while describing the dangerous dilemmas before us in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Iran and China. No one treats us like adults because we don’t ask about these things and don’t want to hear the hard decisions we have to make. I’m not saying we should do away with political parties, but we should start electing responsible adults. If you can’t find someone responsible to vote for, look in the mirror. Reno, Washoe County and indeed Nevada need more serious, honest and principled elected leaders who can work together for you.
Sometime in the very near future another country or group or countries will challenge us. They will cost us dearly in lives lost and treasure spent.
America’s soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen will rise to the challenge and defend this country as they always have. No one will do that for a political party, an ideology, or a particular president.
Happy elections and vote carefully. Most people on earth have no option for either.
Jim McNamara is a poll worker and Reno resident.
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