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2016 Election: Rutabaga or Turnip? (EP.97)
Summary
Don’t like this choice? How about a choice between leftover cube steak and a bunless hot dog? This is how about a third of the electorate saw the 2016 Presidential choice. In round numbers, about a third hated DJT, another third hated HRC, and the last third hated the choice. Yes, many voters genuinely wanted one candidate or the other, and were quite happy with their choice. I am in the third that was unhappy with the choice I faced. Of the 17 Republican primary candidates, I saw Trump as my 18th choice, but then Republicans selected him as their standard bearer. Despite Sanders’ best efforts, that result was never in doubt on the other side; there was never a chance that Clinton would not be the Democratic candidate.
If you were happy with your choice, then I’m happy for you.
However, with 130 million votes being cast, that means about 43 million voters were disgusted with the choice they faced. For the next 10 minutes, we will unpack what that means for the future of our Republic.
Transcript
Don’t like this choice? How about a choice between leftover cube steak and a bunless hot dog? This is how about a third of the electorate saw the 2016 Presidential choice. In round numbers, about a third hated DJT, another third hated HRC, and the last third hated the choice. Yes, many voters genuinely wanted one candidate or the other, and were quite happy with their choice. I am in the third that was unhappy with the choice I faced. Of the 17 Republican primary candidates, I saw Trump as my 18th choice, but then Republicans selected him as their standard bearer. Despite Sanders’ best efforts, that result was never in doubt on the other side; there was never a chance that Clinton would not be the Democratic candidate.
If you were happy with your choice, then I’m happy for you.However, with 130 million votes being cast, that means about 43 million voters were disgusted with the choice they faced. For the next 10 minutes, we will unpack what that means for the future of our Republic.
Here is the evolution of the thinking that I have seen since the 60s when I first started voting. Caution, this is highly anecdotal, but still revealing.
“I like this guy a bit better than his opponent.”
“The other guy is not at all to my liking.”
“I could never--ever--vote for the other guy.”
The people who voted for X are idiots, and have no idea of what is good for them. By voting for X, they have proven that they have betrayed their race/gender/class.” (Pick one or more.)
The Jackson Pollack approach to voting mail-in ballots. Spill spaghetti sauce on the ballot, let it dry, and turn it in. (Okay, a little dark humor.)
“Not My President!”
Overturn the election, and change the Constitution so this can never happen again. Both parties are capable of that.
There is a ratchet effect here, creating evermore polarization, division and, increasingly, hatred. Divide and conquer is an age-old strategy, used by rulers and other leaders to do exactly that; divide and conquer. Many of our leaders do this to advantage their careers and their party. All to our detriment. Think about this for a moment; no matter who wins, this kind of deepening division will take us all down. If we stay on this path, one side will emerge triumphant, and the other defeated. That’s clearly a formula for more hating, and more fighting. Including physical fighting.
Today’s Key Point: If we want better candidates and better office holders, we need to be better voters. If let them, our leaders will continue to further divide us for their benefit. If we let them, and so far it seems to be working for them quite well. We’re falling for it. We often quote talking points from the politicians and media we favor. We listen to the voices who all share the same viewpoints,
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By Will LudenSummary
Don’t like this choice? How about a choice between leftover cube steak and a bunless hot dog? This is how about a third of the electorate saw the 2016 Presidential choice. In round numbers, about a third hated DJT, another third hated HRC, and the last third hated the choice. Yes, many voters genuinely wanted one candidate or the other, and were quite happy with their choice. I am in the third that was unhappy with the choice I faced. Of the 17 Republican primary candidates, I saw Trump as my 18th choice, but then Republicans selected him as their standard bearer. Despite Sanders’ best efforts, that result was never in doubt on the other side; there was never a chance that Clinton would not be the Democratic candidate.
If you were happy with your choice, then I’m happy for you.
However, with 130 million votes being cast, that means about 43 million voters were disgusted with the choice they faced. For the next 10 minutes, we will unpack what that means for the future of our Republic.
Transcript
Don’t like this choice? How about a choice between leftover cube steak and a bunless hot dog? This is how about a third of the electorate saw the 2016 Presidential choice. In round numbers, about a third hated DJT, another third hated HRC, and the last third hated the choice. Yes, many voters genuinely wanted one candidate or the other, and were quite happy with their choice. I am in the third that was unhappy with the choice I faced. Of the 17 Republican primary candidates, I saw Trump as my 18th choice, but then Republicans selected him as their standard bearer. Despite Sanders’ best efforts, that result was never in doubt on the other side; there was never a chance that Clinton would not be the Democratic candidate.
If you were happy with your choice, then I’m happy for you.However, with 130 million votes being cast, that means about 43 million voters were disgusted with the choice they faced. For the next 10 minutes, we will unpack what that means for the future of our Republic.
Here is the evolution of the thinking that I have seen since the 60s when I first started voting. Caution, this is highly anecdotal, but still revealing.
“I like this guy a bit better than his opponent.”
“The other guy is not at all to my liking.”
“I could never--ever--vote for the other guy.”
The people who voted for X are idiots, and have no idea of what is good for them. By voting for X, they have proven that they have betrayed their race/gender/class.” (Pick one or more.)
The Jackson Pollack approach to voting mail-in ballots. Spill spaghetti sauce on the ballot, let it dry, and turn it in. (Okay, a little dark humor.)
“Not My President!”
Overturn the election, and change the Constitution so this can never happen again. Both parties are capable of that.
There is a ratchet effect here, creating evermore polarization, division and, increasingly, hatred. Divide and conquer is an age-old strategy, used by rulers and other leaders to do exactly that; divide and conquer. Many of our leaders do this to advantage their careers and their party. All to our detriment. Think about this for a moment; no matter who wins, this kind of deepening division will take us all down. If we stay on this path, one side will emerge triumphant, and the other defeated. That’s clearly a formula for more hating, and more fighting. Including physical fighting.
Today’s Key Point: If we want better candidates and better office holders, we need to be better voters. If let them, our leaders will continue to further divide us for their benefit. If we let them, and so far it seems to be working for them quite well. We’re falling for it. We often quote talking points from the politicians and media we favor. We listen to the voices who all share the same viewpoints,