h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 4th, is the official Election Day in the United Sates this year. I have decided to move my intended text to another Journal Entry date, and just shoot from the cuff and share a few thoughts about this important event.

This also gives me an excuse to add a link to one of my first entries to reach the Front Page A1304993 (the companion piece about US governments was published the same day).

Today most areas open early voting facilities a few weeks before the actual election, some States only allow mail in ballots. I am old-fashioned enough to stand in line at my local polling place and cast my ballot at the last minute. Often the volunteer poll workers are neighbours, who I know well enough that we at least recognize each other.

This year is an 'off-year' election, meaning that the Presidential candidates are not on the ballot, theoretically every member of the House of Representatives, and one third of the Senate have to defend their seats.

In my county the voter registration breaks down this way;
116,992 Republican (conservative), 102,436 Democrats (progressive) and 86,637 registered as Independent or with other parties (views vary). No group has a clear majority in any race or issue.

Just a quick look at my local ballot for the fun of it;

There is no Federal candidate on the ballot, our two Senators are both on a by year, and our Representative is unopposed, and will automaticely retain his seat.
Although there are 5 people running for Governor the race is really between the sitting Republican, and his Democratic opponent, who was the sitting Republican Governor just 4 short years ago. They have both been telling us every 15 minutes or so how the other can not be trusted in their television adverts.

We also have State Attorney General (3 choices), Chief Financial Officer (2 choices), Commissioner of Agriculture (2 choices), State Representative (2 choices) and County Commissioner (2 choices).

We also have 3 Judges we can vote to retain or remove.

There are also 4 people who are competing for a place on the Mosquito Control Board.

We also have 3 State Constitutional Amendments to consider;
1 To set aside a percentage of revenue for land conservation
2 To allow the sale of Marijuana for medical needs (although possession would still be a Federal crime)
3 Regarding the appointment of Judges to open positions between elections (I suppose that could be used if we don't vote to retain them in the above questions).

It will probably be a month or two before we know the final result due to re-counts and future run-off elections.

In any event there are sure to loud complaints about how unfair the process is, by the losing side.




F S

[Amy P]

Hello Amy I still have my Mufflewhump

Mage

This is the first time since 1976 that I am not voting. I'm in a strange place where I don't know who any of the local contestants are, and illness interfered with obtaining an absentee ballot and studying the field. In '76 I took the train from Birmingham to London in order to vote at the embassy.

I voted today. As usual, the candidates were no trouble to sort out, but there were a page and a half of ballot questions. My natural inclination is to automatically note "no" on all of them, but there are often some extenuating circumstances. For instance, there was a question as to whether the minimum wage in Massachusetts should be set at $15.00. Now, I have heard proposals that it should be set at ten dollars or twelve dollars, but fifteen dollars seems to be pushing it. I would rather have had the question phrased in terms of raising the minimum wage by 10% or 15% above current levels.

Sigh.

I can't imagine how hard it is for you. I know as I grow older there are certain thing that I can no longer do, or at least not as well as I used to It always make me go

I hope you enjoy the journal I have slated for this Friday, I think you might get a kick out of it. The next few are intended as a bit of fun. I started the month with a blank slate, but I am trying to get a few ahead as I go each day so I don't wind up at 11:55 one night with nothing to post

I still think your journals from last year were some of the best, I even read most of them to my wife each night (she used to be a nurse in her working days)



F S