WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHO GAVE

Last week the special election in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District caused me to make changes to Voting Alert Beacons #3 and #5, Listen/Ignore and The Money respectively.  WHY?  

First, some facts.  The final round election was held on June 20th after a primary which included a slew of Democrats and Republicans.  However, in the April 18th primary, no one garnered more than 50% of the vote.  So, the run-off election ensued between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel.  It was a closely watched campaign with heated debate on the issues of our day.  However, two facts caught my eye.  Jon Ossoff doesn’t live in the district he proposed to represent, and more money was spent in this race then ever before in any Congressional District race.  There are several numbers floating around, but a common figure seems to be $50 million plus.  WHEW!  The alarming factor is that the lion’s share of this money came from outside the 6th District.  Many PACS and special interests contributed, along with vast sums from both New York and California.

This has happened before.  Sometimes people who don’t live in the State, Congressional districts, or state legislative districts run for office in those same areas, and are supported by money from the “outside.”  When this happens, the local elections are influenced by national special interests and power brokers.  So, specifically we’re left to conclude, and it’s not a reach to see, there is little difference between what happened in the 6th District and the apparent Russian interference in the 2016 national elections.  WHY WOULD ONE BE ACCEPTABLE AND THE OTHER NOT?

Here’s what I changed:

Beacon #3 Listen / Ignore:  Regardless of local laws, IGNORE candidates who don't live in your State, Congressional district, or state legislative district.

Beacon #5 The Money:  DON'T vote for candidates who accept money from outside your State, Congressional district, or state legislative district.

Simple and logical, right?  The power of each vote we cast and all of them together is immense.  Don't forget!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

FREEDOM OF SPEECH ALERT

Our most fundamental freedom and right is the right to free speech.  It is articulated in the First Amendment to the US Constitution: 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

With few exceptions, all speech is protected, including hate speech:

The Supreme Court has identified categories of speech that are unprotected by the First Amendment and may be prohibited entirely. Among them are obscenity, child pornography, and speech that constitutes so-called “fighting words” or “true threats.”

Freedom of speech has a long history in America.  However, now, for the first time, we are experiencing demonstrations that seem to be targeting speech itself.  For example, this is true of recent demonstrations at Berkeley, University of California and at New York University.  They haven’t targeted specific issues, but more dangerously targeted speech itself.  At times, they have been violent all the while claiming freedom of speech for themselves and their actions.  This is wrong.  Freedom of speech does not include a right to assault people or damage property.

Democracy is a marketplace of ideas that relies on the influx of new ideas of all kinds.  When this stream of ideas lessons, democracy begins to die.  Freedom of speech is absolute.  It’s not a partial right.  Giving more of it to someone doesn’t lesson it for someone else.  Like voting, freedom of speech is the birthright of every American citizen, but like all rights, it comes with responsibilities.  For each of us to fully enjoy freedom of speech, it’s critical that we recognize this right for others no matter how they and their ideas are different from ours.  They can say what they want!  We all can!  If we support this right and defend this right for others, then our own is assured. 

ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES who swore allegiance to the US Constitution, and to protect it, have a special duty to speak out when freedom of speech is infringed by anyone.  When this happens, and especially when some use violence to prevent speech, those actions are hypocritical, disgusting, and un-American.   

THE MEDIA has a special opportunity and obligation to speak out when the right to free speech is threatened.  Their historical responsibility as the “4th branch of government”  demands condemnation of any action or effort to block speech whether it is from the left, right, or the middle.  In recent times, the media hasn’t alway been unbiased and alert to the importance of fulfilling this role and their responsibility.

AS VOTERS, it is our job to monitor and ensure that the public servants, elected representatives, and the media do their job.  After all, effective voting relies on the right to free speech.  It is the ultimate free speech.  Political disagreements, and losses in elections,  do not impact or lesson our duty to protect this RIGHT.

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

COMMENT AND QUESTION: The Search for Truth

Comment

In a Voting Alert Beacons post on May 17, 2014, I discussed the virtues of truth and honesty.   Following is a portion of what I wrote:  

“Truth can be found in the alignment of our senses with ideas and viewpoints that are supported by facts.  To pursue the truth we need to use our intellect, our spirit and all of our powers of intention.   It has always been a quest, and still is.

Outside of a way of living, talking about something, or in taking an action, honesty doesn’t mean much.  However, it is everything when our lives, the words we speak, and the actions we take line up perfectly with the truth.  The truth, not from only our point of view, but from point of view of others, too.  Our honesty isn’t so much about ourselves as it is about how we treat others, the actions we take, and what we give of ourselves to the world around us.”

It is perhaps the most important goal for us as citizens that the public servants we elect are truthful and honest.  This is not only true for how we work together as Americans, but it is equally true for how we treat the world around us, especially our closest friends and allies.  An example the world is currently experiencing is the conflict between Israel and Hamas (it’s not between Israel and the Palestinian people).

Two days ago, I posted another “Comment and Question” about Hamas and the lack of support President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the administration are showing Israel.  I also included comment about Britain, Germany and France, and how weak they are at this point in history as evil seems to be emerging everywhere.  Lastly, I questioned the Media in terms of factual and unbiased reporting.  The Media as a group generally claims that they are presenting all the facts and reporting with no bias.  Well, maybe not.  

Somehow the truth seems to emerge eventually though. Today, I found several videoclips (Facebook and Twitter) that are factual, truthful and simple.  See what you think.

The Middle East Problem

The Empty Spaces in Gaza

Questions

President Obama, have you done your homework?  Did you view the above videoclips?  Has this kind of information been presented to you in your intelligence briefings?  If you haven’t seen this kind of information before, as President, have you fixed the problem for the future?

Secretary Kerry, why did you even think it was a good idea to negotiate with Hamas?  You realize that they are on our American (and most other countries) terrorist organization list, right?  Do you understand that the strongest negotiating position is always from truth and honesty?  

Media, I asked in my post two days ago why no one seemed to be able to find information about what Hamas is doing on the ground.  Others, not in the media, seem to find information.  Why haven’t you?  Why do you interview Hamas leaders and members?  Why do you give a listed terrorist organization a “microphone?”  Do you realize that if you were a company doing business with Hamas, it would be illegal?  I’m not at all in favor of limited the Media and curtailing the First Amendment, but can’t you just present all the sides with more truth and honesty?

BOTTOM LINE:

Now and in the future, when we cast our votes and elect public servants, let’s work harder at finding people who will serve with truth and honesty.  If it’s the President, lets elect someone who will lead from the “high ground.”  If it’s Congress, let’s elect people who begin with truth and honesty as they find common ground to work together from, and solve problems.

Spread the word!  Tell your friends about the Voting Alert Beacons!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

Cantor vs. Blat and Voting Alert Beacon #5

Did you see it?  Have you heard?  Today, the earth is still trembling after David Blat beat Eric Cantor in the Virginia Republican primary for Congress.  

The newspapers and the news websites are all declaring the magnitude of the earthquake and guessing about the dramatic changes this one election may predict about the elections next fall.  It was predicted in the morning and by afternoon, Mr. Cantor had resigned his position as Majority Leader in the House.  Now the guessing games by the political professionals is focused on whether John Boehner can survive as Speaker of the House.  

In the last election, Mr. Cantor won by a wide margin.  Actually, almost the same margin as Mr. Blat defeated him by last night.  Keep in mind that Mr Canter had served since 2000.  The reasons for Mr. Blat’s victory have been declared.  Mr. Canter wasn’t returning to his district often enough.  He was out fundraising across the country for other Republican candidates.  In the past few years, his focus had shifted from his district to his own position of power.  It is said that he coveted the Speaker spot.

Now enter Voting Alert Beacon #5 about Money.  This Beacon recommends that voters should vote for the candidate that doesn’t take special interest money, and only takes smaller donations from individual citizens.  So, here are the numbers.  Mr. Canter spent over $5 million dollars in the election (by all accounts largely negative).  Mr. Blat spent only a little more than $120,000.  Yup, you read that correctly, and I’ve verified these numbers with the Federal Election Committee records.  What do you think?  I’m guessing that Mr. Blat isn’t in any special interest pocket, and he modestly appreciates every vote from ordinary citizens he received.  

OK, so we know it works.  Vote for the NON-incumbent and for the candidate who raises and spends the smallest amount of money.  Whatever political party is irrelevant.  At this point the parties just don’t matter.  In my next post, I’ve give you some numbers that demonstrate why that is true.

Spread the word!  Tell your friends about the Voting Alert Beacons!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.