Tuesday takeaways

From the primary election

1)       The partisan divide isn’t anywhere near as serious as the media and public politicians would like everyone to believe. The 8 of us (4 Republicans and 4 Democrats) worked together for 14½ hours without any arguments, fights, or any other indications of readiness for a civil war. We even discussed politics and the vagaries of our current ‘leaders’ without animosity. There is a strong feeling, however, that most public politicians who get media attention are nearly completely out of touch with the people they’re supposed to represent. That includes both parties, at all levels from local to the White House (current and immediately former occupants), and if ‘None of the Above’ was a ballot option, it would be almost a sure winner.

2)       Fewer people actively dislike the President than actively like the Republicans’ presumptive nominee.

3)       If there’s a positive impact from the failed insurrectionist’s time in office, it’s that people are fired up about participating both by voting and by getting involved in the electoral process as poll workers and in any other way they can. We had one person call from the polling place to volunteer for the next election.

4)       It’s silly to have 3 elections in a year unless there’s a really good reason for a Special Election. Having one in April that would include the primaries and the General Election in November of even numbered years would be fine and would save counties a fair amount of money that could be used to upgrade equipment, pay more workers and pay them better, and, maybe, reduce the county budget a bit.

5)       Anyone who actually, instead of just performatively, thinks an election could be stolen should work an election or three as an election judge and see just how secure it is.

6)       Anyone who is interested in running for public office or getting a taxpayer supported job should be required to work as an election judge so that their civic education gets an update and they have some appreciation of the infrastructure that supports the process by which they get their jobs.

7)       The system we have in St. Louis County where every registered country resident can vote at any polling place and get a personalized ballot for their address is outstanding and should be adopted everywhere.

8) It’s a very long day, and the person who comes up with a plan to cut the shift in half will be hailed as a genius. In the meantime, I’ll be there at 5AM on August 6^th and again on November 5^th along with 7 of my closest friends.