How We Vote
In his book, Blink, the author, Malcolm Gladwell
tells the story of Warren G Harding, our 29th President of the
United States, arguably, according to historians of the time, one of the worst
presidents in history, allegedly, unbeknownst to him, overseeing an
administration of vice and corruption (His reputation has since been usurped by
a worse and even more damaging president, but that is a subject for another
time). Entering office March 4, 1921, Harding died in office of a stroke August
2, 1923.
According to
Gladwell, “Harding was worth looking at. His head, features, shoulders and
torso had a size that attracted attention; their proportions to each other made
an effect which in any male at any place would justify more than the term
handsome – in later years, when he came to be known beyond his local world, the
word ‘Roman’ was occasionally used in descriptions of him. …., his legs bore
out the striking and agreeable proportions of his body; and his lightness on
his feet, his erectness, his easy bearing, added to the impression of physical
grace and virility. His suppleness, combined with his bigness of frame, and his
large, wide–set rather glowing eyes, heavy black hair, and markedly bronze
complexion gave him some of the handsomeness of an Indian. His courtesy…..suggested
genuine friendliness toward all mankind. His voice was noticeably resonant,
masculine, warm. His pleasure in the attentions of the bootblack’s whisk
reflected a consciousness about clothes unusual in a small-town man. His manner
as he bestowed a tip suggested generous good-nature, a wish to give pleasure
based on physical well–being and sincere kindliness of heart.”
To make a long
story short, President Harding’s performance in office was reportedly lack luster
and mediocre in just about every position he held throughout his career and
into his presidency. He loved to play cards, drink whiskey, and women. His
political progress and success appeared to be due only to his personal
attributes indicated above combined with the salesmanship of the political machine
promoting his candidacy. One can only conclude that the preponderance of the
people who voted for him had to have placed their votes based on their
emotional prejudices and bias formulated by his physical appearance and
personality–certainly not rational and objective reasoning or knowledge.
Today, our world
is on fire, people are suffering all over, and our nation is in deep political
and economic trouble. Midterm elections are drawing near. Emotional and
prejudicial thinking among our voters are a threat to the very existence of our
democracy; and, yet, there are those among us who will put our nation at risk
by their refusal to seek the real truth and vote for those who really represent
their true interests–mainly because we just don’t want to take the time. We
refuse to accept the premise that with freedom goes responsibility. There are
still those among us who persist in using the same criteria for voting that we
did in 1921 when we voted for Warren G. Harding.
Election Day is
coming. It is imperative that we vote rationally and intelligently. It is
imperative that we vote for those candidates who represent our own interests.
Who represents yours? Are you poor? Are you working or unemployed? Are you
homeless? Are you in need of healthcare you can afford? Are you on Social
Security? Are you disabled? Are you on Food Stamps? Are you middleclass? Are
your jobs being outsourced to foreign countries, to slave labor? Or, on the
other hand, are you in the top 1% of the people, those taking in the highest income
and holding the most wealth among us–those on the top end (the receiving end) of
the income inequality picture–those whose interests are represented by our Shadow Government, the Corporatocracy and Power Elite among us.
Chances are that you are one of the 99% of us. You know who represents the 1%. Who
represents you, the 99%?
In either event,
what is any of this discussion worth if you don’t get out and vote, if you don't protect your interests. One thing you can count on–you can take to the bank, the Corporatocracy and Power Elite will.
Ronald Miller
Email me at mtss86@comcast.net
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