Scared Democratic!

Scared Democratic!

You’ve heard of being scared straight? When you are so scared of doing something that you don’t do it. Well that’s how I feel about the political situation at the moment. I’ve made no secret that I consider myself a moderate, a “dyed in the wool moderate” being one of my favorite expressions, even though I’ve been told I can’t call myself that. I believe in common sense and really wish someone would start a party that does just that – deals in common sense. Unfortunately, common sense seems to be seriously lacking these daze.

I was 20 years old in 1980 when I got to vote in my first presidential. The country was in turmoil over the Iranian hostage crisis, a bad economy and whatever else was going on back then, which sounds all too familiar 36 years later. It was Reagan vs Carter, and an independent bid by Illinois Congressman John Anderson. Not having too much faith in Carter and knowing my mother would shoot me if I voted for Reagan, I voted for the independent, or as my mother would say “a wasted vote.”

So began my long love affair with the idea of a viable 3rd party. Given the chance, I’ve voted for more than my fair share of 3rd party candidates. A few libertarians, maybe a green party candidate, and the occasional stoner running on the legalize marijuana line. With no choice, my social tendencies are to vote democratic but I have voted for republicans as well, especially in local elections where I’ve felt the left has had too long to screw things up.

Six months ago if you asked me who I was going to vote for I would have said “whoever the libertarians nominate.” But now, I’m not so sure. With what’s going on with the GOP has me “scared democratic.” In other words, I’m so completely freaked out, and quite frankly pissed off by what I see going on with the GOP that they may have just forced my hand to pull the lever and vote for one democrat after another, even if one of those weed dudes is on the ballot.

Before I get to Donald Drumpf, let’s go local – the jumbo-sized moron who serves as governor of our state. What a disaster this guy has been. Throws his weight around pretty good, both politically and figuratively. Over the past year, he has spent more time out of New Jersey than dealing with the many issues we have. I think many of us in New Jersey would like to boot his arse out of office but he probably wouldn’t feel it and we’d all end up with broken toes.

Then there’s Mitch McConnell, who heads his very own political party – The Obstructionists. His 8 year mission has been to make sure the twice elected President of the USA gets nothing accomplished. He has single-handedly destroyed the art of compromise in US politics. He’s smug, repulsive and I feel like I need to take a shower every time I see him on TV.

And then there’s the Donald. The crowning achievement of the far right, the evangelicals (who are a joke unto themselves), Fox News, those on the NRA payroll, and everyone else out there who has not recognized the changes in our country. The changes in demographics, the changes in sexual tolerance, the changes in the great melting pot that is America.

For all of those in the old guard of US politics, mostly white, mostly male, mostly old, your time is coming to an end. It’s a new world, which requires change, only you are too stubborn to see it. Or maybe you are just as scared as so many of us are. Scared that the world as you know it, is coming to an end. The big difference is that we are going to do our best to make sure the changes coming to our country do not involve you.