What Would Walter Sobchak Do?
From The Big Lebowski, Walter Sobchak says:
“Don’t run away from this, Dude! This affects all of us! Our basic freedoms! I’m staying. Finishing my coffee. Finishing my coffee.”
Vote no on the voting restriction and marriage restriction amendments. We should not over-regulate basic freedoms.
Larry McDonough
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Voter ID
Throughout our history our soldiers have fought and died for our basic rights: freedom of speech and religion, and the right to vote.
My mother is 89 years old. She has a drivers license, but no longer drives or travels. She probably will not renew it when it expires because she does not need it.
If the voter photo ID amendment passes, she might not be able to vote in the next election. Why are we making it so hard for her?
There is no evidence of voter ID fraud that would have altered any election results. So what is the real reason? Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said that by passing it in his state, the Republicans would win the state. This is no different than laws from our past which kept African American and women from voting, which almost all Americans now would agree were wrong.
We should defend the right of everyone to vote, regardless of for whom they would vote. I am voting no on the voting restriction amendment. We should not over-regulate a basic freedom.
Larry McDonough
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Marriage Amendment
For over 200 years African Americans in the military have fought and died for our freedoms, but until very recently, they did not enjoy the freedoms they protected. I think almost all American would agree that was wrong.
Gays also have, and continue to serve in the military, fighting and dying for our freedoms, but they still do not enjoy those freedoms. That also is wrong.
I am a 57 year old straight married man with three daughters. I am voting no on the marriage restriction amendment. We should not over-regulate a basic freedom.
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What 112 Years of History Tells Us About Economic Performance and the Presidency
There have been three periods of one party dominance of the White House since 1900.
From 1900 until 1932, Republicans controlled the presidency for 24 years (75%) with the Democrat Woodrow Wilson being the president only 8 years (25%). It was a period marked by little regulation of the economy or protection of the vulnerable, leading to the Great Depression.
From 1932 until 1968, Democrats were in the White House 28 years (78%) with the only Republican presidency being the 8 years of Dwight Eisenhower (22%). This period created the post-depression economic expansion along with increased regulation of the economy, protection of the environment, expansion of civil liberties and voting rights, and support for the vulnerable, leading to the United States becoming the dominant economic superpower of the world.
From 1968 until 2008, Republicans held the presidency for 28 years (70%) with the Democrats having only 12 years (30%). The hallmark of this period was reduced regulation of the economy and decreased support for the vulnerable, ending in a recession second only to the Great Depression.
Since 2008, the economy has started a slow climb from this massive depression, similar to the slow climb out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Where we go from here is up to the voters.
Larry McDonough
