I’m sitting on my couch watching the election returns from a Congressional district where Satan would get 71% of the vote if he put a “D” behind his name on the ballot. I have grown accustomed to most of the boxes I check on my ballot being a waste of time. For the sake of Pete, Walter Mondale carried Minnesota against Ronald Reagan. It’s that kind of blue.

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However, even in this very blue state, I’m enjoying the schadenfreude of my friends on the left whining about how rude people are to President Obama tonight, and how the projected return of the Jim Crow laws and the supremacy of the Klan will take away women’s rights. I don’t know what kicked this off, but it’s been building for a day or two in the social media. I didn’t see any of those on the ballot, but I can assure you that I would definitely have voted against them.

Speaking as a primary member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (VRWC,) [I qualify because I’m white, I served in the intelligence community, and I was a cop] I’d like to point out a few things to my friends on the left:

1. Jim Crow was actually a Democrat deal. Not Republican. Sorry, those facts sting.
2. The Klan, again, was a Democrat deal. I’m seeing a trend.
3. Women being denied the vote is not making a comeback. A surprising number of Republican women did well at the polls Tuesday night. Congratulations to Lt. Colonel Ernst of Iowa.

Further, as far as this stuff goes, I’d respectfully ask everyone to calm down and have a sip of coffee before you continue your rants.

Done? Okie-dokie. Listen, we’re all going back to work on Wednesday. Nobody is going to be put up on an auction block and be sold into slavery, white or black. Women will not be beaten in the street. Dogs will not be served in the local diner. Your education will continue in your college. Etc.

America, as a representative form of government, is set up to have checks and balances. I know that no matter how jacked up things get, short of changing the Constitution, the excess of the current government will be corrected at the next turn of the election cycle. Things get miserable on occasion, and some of that misery is so stupid that it makes my teeth hurt. So, let’s all get on the stick and move, as a nation, for a few things before the next national election:

1. Let’s have term limits. Guys and gals that I hate a little bit less than the current crowd are in charge the next time around. But I don’t want them there forever. Washington and Jefferson would barf if they saw Mitch McConnell being reelected tonight. This was not meant to be a forever job. How about 2 and out for both the House and the Senate. Same for governors, mayors, etc. I’m sick of machines controlling the politics of this nation. It’s not the money in the mix, it’s the incumbency that hurts us. These clowns (yes, clowns, not clown-car occupants) hurt us as a nation when they grow old in positions of power.

2. Let’s have some form of voter-identification throughout the nation. The linked article lays out some reasons for my view, but the simple fact is that the worst form of voter suppression is fraudulent voting. James O’Keefe presented a brilliant piece on this recently. When I voted tonight nobody was concerned that I really was me. Let’s all get past the blind hatred of each other on racial lines and move together as a nation to make every election fair. I appeal to the leaders of the civil rights community to work with governmental agencies to ensure it is a fair process. I want everyone that is qualified to vote to have a chance to cast their vote without it being nullified with fraud. I want not a single soul who shouldn’t vote to vote. I want no body of people, in or out of government, to prevent legal voters from voting. We can make this happen if we work together.

3. Let’s feed the poor, care for the sick, and love one another as Jesus commanded. Not as the government taxed it, but on our own. As a church, as a community, as a body of Christ. Join me in doing this simple act.

4. Let’s all take a breath and look at our fellow citizens as decent beings who do not have our doom and demise as their primary goal based on political, racial, or gender lines. We do a great deal of harm to our nation by letting that anger override our love of rational discourse. I have many liberal friends with whom I can have a rational discussion. I only can think of two that I can’t. Not that I sway the rest, but because the two come unhinged and disparage instead of debate. Do you want to be that person? I don’t. I want my friends, of any sort, to enjoy our discussions. They might think me a fool when we are done, but hopefully a thoughtful fool.

Let’s all take a moment to pray for thoughtful leadership, accommodation in order to honor the Constitution, and the dignity of our fellow citizens. Let’s not get out the tar and feathers. Let’s not gloat. Let’s not whine. Come to think of it, Santa Claus IS coming to town. Let’s get ready to celebrate that wonderful event and get on with our lives.

Finally, be blessed. I’m glad you stopped to read this little missive. I appreciate your loyalty to the blog.

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