Florida is putting into effect the first “election police” in the nation - expect other GOP-run states to jump onboard soon, as the Republican War on Democracy continues apace
Unfortunately, Mr. Hartman's analysis is correct. Between both parties trying to gerrymander voting districts whenever they each can, and the Trump scenario of repeating "False" election enough times to make many people believe it's true, the US voting system is in serious danger of collapsing - unless people really do more than talking.
We lived in Oregon for many years, as does Mr. Hartman currently, and one of the things Oregonians have done well is to adopt the "Vote-by-Mail" system (https://en dot wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote-by-mail_in_Oregon). My wife and I purely enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table and reflecting on our voting preferences. The materials provide in the mail was factual and allowed for both sides of any voting issue to be represented and discussed.
As a result of this experience we have chosen to contribute monthly to https://voteathome dot org/ to help competent people seed the advantages for voters in all states. If 10 million people contributed $10 each month this non-profit organization could do a lot of work.
Wonder if DeSantis has noticed a few things. People do not view the police like they used to. It's a love/hate situation.
There is an ad (a bad one) running on TV in my area because they need cops. That's the first ad for that I have ever seen. Recruiting cops used to be a matter of just written public notice, and it was to make sure the whole community got a fair chance of applying.
Everybody has a camera, so the scrutiny works both ways. The power has shifted a bit, and I am thinking civic-minded voters may turn the tables. For those that like the police, some may be comforted by their presence.
Overall though this is just a bad-look for these frightened, trembling little Republicans. Bullies are really hated these days. That shitty attitude DeSantis showed with the masks and students did not play well on the nightly news.
Thom's point is well taken though, because the margins were thin in the last election and they will try ANYTHING.
Maybe the election police could serve their communities by getting ballots to the people in a timely manner, what with Louis xpo DeJoy still posing as PMG and all. I just think it would be a more fiscally responsible allocation of public resources than "protecting" the people from the unicorn that is voter fraud.
The battle for the right to vote freely and have it counted fairly is the tip of the spear in the larger battle for the soul of democracy suffering under a barrage of withering fire from all sides. Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are literally fighting that battle -- our battle! -- to the death.
Yet, nearly half of the US electorate is gleefully attempting to "cancel" our most sacred right, to destroy America in order to "save" it. White nationalists can then rebuild a radical Christianist theocracy from the smoldering ashes, which will represent the faithful and no one else.
Russian and Republican leadership are not that far apart in their competing worldviews.
Creepy GOP are greedy cheater's and pendejos!!
Unfortunately, Mr. Hartman's analysis is correct. Between both parties trying to gerrymander voting districts whenever they each can, and the Trump scenario of repeating "False" election enough times to make many people believe it's true, the US voting system is in serious danger of collapsing - unless people really do more than talking.
We lived in Oregon for many years, as does Mr. Hartman currently, and one of the things Oregonians have done well is to adopt the "Vote-by-Mail" system (https://en dot wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote-by-mail_in_Oregon). My wife and I purely enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table and reflecting on our voting preferences. The materials provide in the mail was factual and allowed for both sides of any voting issue to be represented and discussed.
As a result of this experience we have chosen to contribute monthly to https://voteathome dot org/ to help competent people seed the advantages for voters in all states. If 10 million people contributed $10 each month this non-profit organization could do a lot of work.
Great article, Mr. Hartman! Thanks.
Wonder if DeSantis has noticed a few things. People do not view the police like they used to. It's a love/hate situation.
There is an ad (a bad one) running on TV in my area because they need cops. That's the first ad for that I have ever seen. Recruiting cops used to be a matter of just written public notice, and it was to make sure the whole community got a fair chance of applying.
Everybody has a camera, so the scrutiny works both ways. The power has shifted a bit, and I am thinking civic-minded voters may turn the tables. For those that like the police, some may be comforted by their presence.
Overall though this is just a bad-look for these frightened, trembling little Republicans. Bullies are really hated these days. That shitty attitude DeSantis showed with the masks and students did not play well on the nightly news.
Thom's point is well taken though, because the margins were thin in the last election and they will try ANYTHING.
Maybe the election police could serve their communities by getting ballots to the people in a timely manner, what with Louis xpo DeJoy still posing as PMG and all. I just think it would be a more fiscally responsible allocation of public resources than "protecting" the people from the unicorn that is voter fraud.
The battle for the right to vote freely and have it counted fairly is the tip of the spear in the larger battle for the soul of democracy suffering under a barrage of withering fire from all sides. Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are literally fighting that battle -- our battle! -- to the death.
Yet, nearly half of the US electorate is gleefully attempting to "cancel" our most sacred right, to destroy America in order to "save" it. White nationalists can then rebuild a radical Christianist theocracy from the smoldering ashes, which will represent the faithful and no one else.
Russian and Republican leadership are not that far apart in their competing worldviews.
Off topic:
“Spain and Mexico speed up their bilateral relations by signing political, feminist and scientific and cultural cooperation agreements”
https://www.exteriores.gob.es/en/Comunicacion/NotasPrensa/Paginas/2022_NOTAS_P/20220309_NOTA025.aspx