Have you been deluged with political mail, text messages, phone calls and notes slipped under your bedroom door? They all insist that you hurry up and VOTE. It’s still September, but on both sides, they want you to vote for their candidate NOW.
What’s the rush? Well, the first Presidential debate is this week (Sept. 29). Each candidate figures they have a better chance of grabbing your vote before you learn the truth about their plans for the next four years.
This may be more important for Joe Biden than for Donald Trump. Trump has been flying all over the country, speaking. He’ll park Air Force One, climb up on a stage beside it and rattle on for an hour or two to a crowd of a couple thousand. A few wear masks, and all of them should because they are jammed together.
On the other hand, Biden ventures out two or three times a week, dutifully wears a mask, and speaks to a crowd that is spaced 6 feet apart. If he is asked a question about where he stands on important issues he usually says, “Nobody wants to know about me; they want me to discuss Trump’s plans and why they’re terrible for America. See, if I told any of my plans that would draw attention away from Trump’s failures with the coronavirus, riots in our cities, police brutality, high unemployment for Democrats, and imminent threats to abortion. It’s terrible the damage he has done in one term, and this country can’t stand another four years of his failed policies.”
In California, Governor Newsom announced that in 2035, any vehicle you buy in California will be electric powered. I don’t know how he can enforce this executive order unless he expects to be re-elected 4 or 5 times. But he knows California lawmakers better than I do and the Legislature may be nutty enough to go even further. They may pass a law that any manufacturer expecting to sell cars in California cannot manufacture any except electric. That sounds outrageous, but they already did it with egg producers.
Do you remember photos from Havana a few years ago, with all the American cars from the 1950s? Well, in 2050 California may look similar with most folks driving vehicles 15 to 20 years old. Actually, there may not be many of those left because the owners had already loaded their SUV’s and pickup trucks and moved to Texas or other state where oil and gas are appreciated. Congress may eliminate tax credits for wind and solar, so the only electric vehicle an ordinary Californian can afford to own and operate will be a scooter.
Historic quotes by Will Rogers:
“You can’t beat an Administration by attacking it. You have to show some plan of improving on it.” WA #101, Nov. 16, 1924
“Politics is the best show in America. I love animals and I love politicians, and I like to watch both of ’em at play, either back home in their native state, or after they’ve been captured and sent to a zoo, or to Washington.” (Undated notes)
“No matter what a President does he is wrong according to some people.” WA #352, Sept. 22, 1929
“Everything is in California, all the great sights of nature, and along with all the wonders we have out here is the world’s greatest collection of freak humans.” WA #363, Dec. 8, 1929