Michael1942's Blog

A recent article by Professor Phillip Freeman  in the WSJ recalled an election in the year 64B.C. (a long time ago). One candidate was gifted speaker and quite brilliant however in his aspiration for a higher office , he was failing. He received a letter from his brother giving this advice:

1. Promise Everything to everyone, the best way to win voters is to tell them what they want to hear, then live up to the ones that benefit you. People will be much angrier with a candidate who refuses to make promises than one who does not.

2. Call in all favors. If you have friends or associates who you have helped in the past, let them know that its payback time.

There are 3 to 4 other points in this letter but the strategy has remained the same through all of the ensuing years. To read the entire column go on line to the WSJ online for Saturday 3/17/2012 or Professor Freeman’s book introduction in the book “how To Win An Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politician”. The article relates all of the same events we experience now in each election season. How we are coerced into making a voting choice is ancient but apparently still effective. This may not be a bad thing but we voters need to progress to voting with our brains instead of our misconceptions.?

The opinion page is one of best things any newspaper has done as it allows ordinary people to  voice their opinion on most things. This forum unfortunately also allows One issue voters to rant against issues that most of them have just a small or incomplete amount of knowledge. This is also true of some columnists. The opinion page is just that but any opinions offered should deal with facts not fiction and misunderstood issues. When I read an article written by a known writer who takes sides rather than write as a neutral observer, I realize that their unilateralism creates single issue voters. Their followers tend to lean towards their opinions and therefore forgo the experience of all of the available facts. Getting all of the available facts appears to be a chore for most people much like the folks who buy a newspaper and only read the comics and sports leaving the news for the birdcage.

I have come to the reality that in order for me to trust other people ,I need to trust me first. This is not to say that I do not trust other people, it just means that complete trust requires a connection to other people that is not always available from others. there is a cosmic connection between all of us yet the Ethno-Racial, religious divide still exists and has manifested itself in all parts of the world. With all the advances made in this modern world the conditions of the Crusades era still exist. The atrocities of much of the African and Asian continents are based in religious differences, greed and abject poverty due to Government malfeasance. The general method of ruling in the African and Asian continents appears to be one of murder, rape and jail. The resources in many of these areas are significant enough to sustain the population and bring the standards of living to a higher level. Unfortunately the rebel factions of these areas have promoted leaders who once in power are reluctant to release that power as well as the perks provided (or taken) by the office. We have “third” world countries that have prospered due to the influx of outside business expertise  and money  are poised to become 2nd or 1st world countries yet cannot achieve practical Governance without bloodshed. Trust the people to survive and eventually prevail.

As we approach the big push for the Presidential office, the misdirection and unfounded attacks have begun. It is unfortunate that many of us decide who to vote for by the appearances and words of the candidates and incumbents. Our approach to voting has been one of listening to half-truths and empty promises while electing the same people time after time because we are either too disinterested in having really good Government and merely happy with what we perceive as good Government. Good Government is not about satisfying everyone but doing the dirty job of insuring all of us are taken care of and kept safe. This is not a 9 to 5 proposition. It takes the better part of each day to attend to affairs of State and the 50 states at the same time. There is really no down time in this job yet we all (including the media) compare our daily  activities to the job that the President and Congress does while we sleep and beyond. The current Congress has done less for us as they age into their position while some newcomers (to Congress) present more rational ideas which are not given due consideration because of vanity, ego or plain ignorance. The voters are subjected to advertising which is designed to induce us to buy products, use services and commit to specific agendas while the real reasons for these visual and auditory onslaughts remain hidden. Our Congress have staffers who use these same tactics to get the votes that will keep them in the job to continue their self serving ways. It is of little importance to elect some one as President if the Congress continues to play the “our side is best” game and neglects the important work of the voters who put them in office. The best laws are the ones that benefit the majority of Americans and not the most vocal factions whose shortsightedness gets the most headlines.