Weekly Comments Archive
Archived Issue
Monday, November 7, 2022
ISSUE #1134
Will Rogers’ Birthday. Powerball. Will Democracy End?

Got back home last night after a delightful visit to Claremore, Oklahoma. It’s always fun to celebrate another birthday, especially when it’s #143.

Powerball is getting almost as much attention as the election. So many people have gambled and lost since August 3, that it reached $1,900,000,000. It’s almost false advertising because if you win you get less than half that much cash, $929,000,000. Minus taxes. And if you lose, like other millions of folks who seem to be both generous and unlucky, you hope to have enough left in your pocket to buy gas and milk with.

Tomorrow is Election Day, Nov. 8. Plenty of excitement from both Democrats and Republicans, especially where races are close. President Biden added another factor: FEAR. Did you hear him? This election is a “Threat to Democracy.” Many other Democrats use that phrase, too. (Actually, we live under a “Constitutional Republic” but most of us call it a democracy.)

But how is an election a threat to democracy? The President says that a vote for anyone other than a Democrat will lead to the “end of democracy.” All right, suppose we vote for Democrats and they keep control of Congress. Here’s where the FEAR becomes real. With support of a big Democrat majority in Congress, President Biden said this week he will stop oil and gas drilling, and no more coal burning electric power plants will be built.

That would mean, yes, you’ll still have a democracy. But this winter you may starve or freeze at home in the dark. No diesel to deliver food and other essential goods. No gasoline to let you drive to a warmer climate. No electricity to charge an Electric Vehicle. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a cord of firewood, a dozen candles, and a few cases of Chef Boyardee.

Of course, this is a farce. Democracy won’t end, no matter who you vote for. And President Biden can huff and puff all he wants about solar and wind. It can’t provide 100% of the energy needs for our growing economy. Not by 2030, not by 2050, and probably not by 2100. So just relax and vote.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers: (on elections)

“Coolidge made less speeches and got more votes than any man that ever run. (William Jennings) Bryan was listened to and cheered by more people than any single human in politics, and he lost. So there is a doubt just whether talking does you good or harm.” DT #673, Sept. 21, 1928

“You know the more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that’s out always looks the best.” WA #3, December 31, 1922

“(You know) Lincoln’s famous remark about ‘God must have loved the common people, because he made so many of them.’… Well, you are not going to get people’s votes nowadays by calling ‘em common. Lincoln might have said it, but I bet it was not until after he was elected.” WA #82, July 6, 1924

“There is only one redeeming thing about this whole election. It will be over at sundown, and let everybody pray that it’s not a tie, for we couldn’t go through with this thing again. And, when the votes are counted, let everybody, including the candidates, get into a good humor as quick as they got into a bad one. Both gangs have been bad sports, so see if at least one can’t redeem themselves by offering no alibis, but cooperate with the winner, for no matter which one it is the poor fellow is going to need it. So cheer up. Let’s all be friends again. One of the evils of democracy is you have to put up with the man you elect whether you want him or not. That’s why we call it democracy.” DT #1953, Nov. 7, 1932

X

    Contact Randall Reeder