Are WE Buying Democracy?

There is no doubt that this election has no precedent in American history. Even the election of 1860 with FOUR presidential candidates wasn't this divisive. We all know what happened. Lincoln won even though his name wasn't on some Southern ballots. His election set the stage for Civil War even though he never supported abolition. He did support not extending slavery and that's all the Southern states needed as an excuse to leave the union and form their own government.

While we have had name calling since the beginning of the Republic, the 2024 Election, which has basically been going on for four years, has reached to many, a new low. Never has name calling been so ubiquitous, crass and demeaning.

Even more alarming is the cost to elect representatives of our Republic. Estimates are that just the presidential election alone will cost $1,000,000,000. That's right, one billion dollars. Add in the costs for Senate and the House of Representatives and I wouldn't be surprised at a sum of between 2 - 4 billion more dollars. It makes you yearn for the British system where campaigns are held to a strict 90 day period.

What has alarmed me in this election are two important issues:

1. The cost of each race AND that these are Senators or Representatives appealing far outside their state boundaries. Send $3.00 or $5.00 or $10.00! Some aren't shy of asking for $100.00 or more. If you sent money to each plea every day for a month, many of us would be broke.

However, the bigger issue is why is this allowed. Are Senate or Representative races now a national affair? Can I vote in Georgia, Texas or Florida even if I'm a resident of California? I don't think so. This is becoming a big issue I feel needs to be addressed. But, will it? 

I asked Chat GPT who was trustworthy for the Democrats and it Suggested the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or Act Blue. For Republicans the Republican National Committee or a candidates web site and also a senate or representative overall web site. Republicans seem a little more organized.

We have struggled for decades in limiting election costs and the power of money in elections. After this election I would say this is a good time to seriously tackle the serious threat unlimited money poses to our democracy. Can we afford money to buy our candidates? Can they truly represent us when they are bought by the highest bidder?

Besides how sure are we this "donation" to a PAC or committee is going where it says? Before you send, check ahead.

2. My second concern is how elections are handled. Presidents, United States Senators and Representatives are elected per statues in the United States Constitution. As such they are Federal representatives. We should have a standard procedure, a playbook that every state in the union must follow NOT the banana republic statues some states have creatively come up with especially in the past four years. How you vote in California, Texas and New York should be the same NOT different as it is today. If states want to hold their internal elections differently that is the peoples choice. On the Federal level they must be identical. And, for good measure whether it's a Tuesday or changed to a Sunday as it is in most of Europe, it should be a Federal holiday to give every eligible voter a chance to vote. A standard Federal format would end the endless battles waged in courts pro and con voting rights. Why this wasn't done decades ago is a mystery. It needs to be standardized now and forever going forward.

I urge you consider these issues as we vote in 2024 and continue moving forward. They are key issues in maintaining and hopefully strengthening our Republic!

Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed!

Be sure to check my ETSY store ... KrugsStudio.etsy.com. I am adding many new and exciting, collectible birdhouses and craft items. Many of the items talked about here will be for sale there!

Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed!