The Death Star of the Electoral System

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It’s only 61 days until the election, and in reality even less given early balloting. It’s going to be a “wild ride” that will probably go well into January. For now I want to focus on just one piece of the larger picture and that is ballot security.

I came across an article in Tablet, Broken Ballots, which compares our electoral system to that of Somaliland and let’s just say we don’t even meet Third World standards.

It’s a good read in general and his line “The new American voting system is practically calibrated to produce mistrust, and to create broad segments of public opinion that believe the whole thing is fake—regardless of who wins” hits the nail squarely on the head.

However there is one point that sticks out, one that I have been pushing for the past four years, which states:

“Unlike Somalilanders, most Americans no longer have to physically show up at a polling place to vote. Instead they have the choice of filling out and submitting their ballots beyond the observation of election officials, which means there is no assurance that the people in whose names ballots are cast actually signed—or saw—their ballots, voted free of duress or the promise of some benefit, or are even still alive.”

Bingo. Down to the last letter.

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Reagan Memories

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Coupla things have jogged me into writing this post. First was the finding an old “Reagan For Governor” button in one of my dresser drawers a few days ago. There are many things that have been lost for decades lurking within those drawers. Still looking for my German Volksmarsch medal I got for walking 25 km one Saturday  along the Moselle (culminating with a beer and a bratwurst!) during my Army days so long ago.

Second was seeing the great biopic starring Dennis Quaid today that opened in theaters a week ago. The movie reminded me of a lot of Reagan stories that I had forgotten.

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Hiroshima and Counting All the Dead

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It’s how you frame the question that often determines the answer you will receive.

Today is the 79th anniversary of the surrender of Japan. It is today, and not August 6th, when it is most appropriate to discuss whether dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was the correct decision.

The arguments are by this time well rehearsed. The opponents of the bombing answer that its use was not only unnecessary and gratuitous but immoral. They state that the Japanese were going to surrender anyway, shocked into submission given the declaration of war by the USSR, and the only reason Truman ordered the bomb’s use was to intimidate the now-menacing Soviets.

There of course was the remorse of the scientists, clergy, academicians, then and since, who denounced the death and devastation caused by the bombing. Many quoted Aquinas, others less eloquent pointed to moral failings of America and its people.

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Today’s Labor Day Viewing

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“Defeat” is Not an Option

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I am not trying to keep up a running commentary of the day’s events, but there are some things that run so deep that they must be accounted for in real time.

I saw this tweet from H.R. McMaster:

Bari Weiss is right. “Statements of sorrow from the leaders of the free world are insufficient. The message to terrorists and those who support them should be that the defenders of civilization will defeat them. No matter the cost.”

I like Bari, but I am not a big fan of McMaster — too interagency for me — but my first reaction was “Heck yeah!” and then I realized what he was saying was in reality what he was condemning, cheap sentiment that is insufficient.

Let’s start off by saying that we use the term “defeat” for all sorts of things like cancer or the urge to eat too much ultraprocessed foods. It has lost its punch. Also I think that just about everyone in the world, especially after our performance the past 20+ years, doubts our will power to defeat anyone.

An American overseas was kidnapped, held for nearly a year, probably tortured in ways I cannot describe on a family blog, used as a human shield against the laws of war, and then murdered. When I travel abroad, I’m always aware of two things; the first is that on my passport is the message from the Secretary of State:

The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.

The second is when I cross back into the US and go through Immigration, the official at the desk hands back my passport and says “Welcome home.”

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was never rendered all lawful aid and protection and he never came home. That means something on a very emotional level.

We look after our own. I didn’t care for Britteny Griner before she got picked up and railroaded by the Russians, but I’m glad we got her back. Cost us a lot on trade, but we can settle the Russians’ hash some other ways. We look after our own and to her credit Ms. Griner has shown her gratitude.

There needs to be something very personal and visceral to balance the scales with the murder of Mr. Goldberg-Polin, for and on the behalf of all Americans.

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