Tag: political parties

Unworthy Leadership

Posted on by Ladmann

Political differences are to be expected and welcomed in a democratic/republican government and society. Given that fundamental expectation, one would expect that voters would elect leadership with integrity, ethics, humility, adhering to truth/facts, and requiring respect for others, while disagreeing with political/philosophic positions.

Unfortunately, Trump and MAGA do not promote any of these desired traits. Apparently 50% of voters select these diminished personalities based on power, greed and divisive cultural desires. Unfortunately, history is replete with this activity and its result. As Anicius Boethius first wrote in the 600 AD century.

“And yet wealth cannot extinguish insatiable greed, nor has power ever made him master of himself whom vicious lusts kept bound in indissoluble fetters; dignity conferred on the wicked not only fails to make them worthy, but contrarily reveals and displays their unworthiness…” [1]

 

 

[1] Anicius Boethius (480-525 AD); The Consolation of Philosophy. Mint Editions 2021. (This edition of The Consolation of Philosophy was first published in 1882. Page 52.

It Can’t Happen Here?

Posted on by Ladmann

It Can’t Happen Here?

 

When it comes to the election of a US President in 2024, I “…could not explain his [Donald J. Trust, I mean Trump] power of bewitching large audiences. The [former President] was vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily detected, and in his ‘ideas’ almost idiotic, while his celebrated piety was that of a traveling salesman for church furniture, and his yet more celebrated humor the sly cynicism of a country store…[Trump] was [is] an actor of genius. There was [is] no more overwhelming actor on the stage, in the motion pictures, nor even in the pulpit. He would whirl arms, bang tables, glare from mad eyes, vomit biblical wrath from a gaping mouth; but he would also coo like a nursing mother, beseech like an aching lover, and in between tricks would coldly and almost contemptuously jab his crowds with figures and facts — figures and facts that were inescapable even when, as often happened, they were entirely incorrect.” [1]

 Again, history repeats itself. Or will the citizens/voters realize that history is replete with small narcissistic, autocratic, wannabe macho men who can entertain in a circus tent but whose leadership ends badly for the country and its citizens.

Will It Happen Here?

 

[1] It Can’t Happen Here; Sinclair Lewis, Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1935. Pg. 86-87.

 

Our Elections and Shared beliefs; Or Lack Thereof

Posted on by Ladmann

 

Much has been written and discussed regarding our toxic and misinformed election process. Misinformed from the perspective of promoting the false narrative that elections are “stolen” only when you lose! The stupidity of those statements rises from the basics that assume 100% of the voters were compromised, 50% on either side. Additionally, ignoring the results of down ballot races. Why such a lack of respect for the process?

“Democratic elections usually work only within populations that have some prior common bond, such as shared religious beliefs or national myths. They are a method to settle disagreements among people who already agree on the basics.” [1]

 It is obvious that as citizens, we do not agree on or accept the basics. “In such cases, holding democratic elections is hardly a cure-all, because the opposing parties have no reason to respect the results.” [2]

 

 

[1] Harari, Noah Yuval; Homo Deus, A Brief History of Tomorrow: Harper Collins Publishers, 2017. New York, NY. Pg. 251.

[2] Ibid. Pg. 252.

 

Trump As Dictator; Temporarily?

Posted on by Ladmann

Trump states he wants to be dictator only on day 1! [1]

Really?

Trump has made clear, and the Republicans, by consent, that they want to undermine our republican institutions by:

  • Attacking our Judicial system and Courts.
  • Praising dictators in other countries who eliminate freedoms.
  • Demeaning, attacking, and insulting judges and juries.
  • Undermining our country’s security by stealing military and nuclear secrets.
  • Attempting to overturn a legal election.
  • Suggesting the execution of a previous Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman.
  • Changing state and local voting regulations to make it harder to vote.
  • Demand total immunity from all illegal acts he takes as President.
  • Etc.

Trump has stated, if elected, his presidency will be one of retribution. [2] [3]

Can he reach his goals on only day 1?   BEWARE OF WHAT HE SPEAKS!

[1] Trump: I’ll be a ‘dictator’ only on ‘day one’ (usatoday.com).

[2] Trump zeroes in on a key target of his ‘retribution’ agenda (nbcnews.com).

[3] Karl, Jonathan; “Tired Of Winning”; Dutton, Penguin Random House, L.L.C. 2023.

Time for Multiple Political Parties

Posted on by Ladmann

The keys to success in a capitalistic society are winning and profiting. Unfortunately, the slippery slope of winning at any cost undermines any semblance of ethics and morality. The current election and the two-party political system embellish these two fundamentals. Extremes in both parties control the election process, with no regard to reasonable service to the country.

The system is broken, and the current social media landscape attracts and rewards participants who salute the parties/tribe at the expense of truth, ethics and moral character.

Winning elections based on fear, threats of violence, lies and preventing the voting of anyone other than those belonging to your party/tribe may be efficient in the short term, but will lead to losing in the long term.

If you believe I am being extreme, explain otherwise the promotion of an individual and platform based on undermining the Republic and free elections.

Multiple parties will not be successful in our current structure. We need to create election platforms that invite and promote multiple parties and participants. [1] [2]

Time to implement Ranked Choice Voting/Proportional

Multiple Winners [3] IN our Elections.

 

[1] Ranked Choice Voting | Support Better Elections for California (calrcv.org).

[2] Homepage – FairVote.

[3] Drutman, Lee; Breaking The Two-Party Doom Loop, New York, Oxford University Press 2020

Stop The Steal! Which One?

Posted on by Ladmann

Stop the Steal!     Which One?

 

Mr. Trump’s supporters and the Republican Party have continuously promoted the unfounded claims that the election has been stolen.

Which election is that?

The Republicans gained seats in the House of Representatives. “…Republicans had flipped fourteen, including one held by a Libertarian in 2020…” 1

 Just a reminder that ballots have all the choices, all candidates, on the same ballot!

Oh, that cannot be correct, because the election was stolen. That being the case I can only assume that the Republicans were the ones who stole it!

Excuse me for forgetting my common sense. The Republicans only believe the election results were stolen when they do not like the result.               Ok, that makes sense!

 

 

 

  1. https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_2020:_Control_of_the_U.S._House

Continue reading “Stop The Steal! Which One?” →

The Political Two-Step

Posted on by Ladmann

The Political Two-Step

Mitch McConnell’s recent post impeachment statement regarding Trump vs. his vote is a classic political two-step. First to promote his “true beliefs”, then second, to explain his opposite actions.

Moderates in both political Parties use this two-step action as an attempt to maintain power and position while straddling political and philosophical positions.

I have written previously supporting the creating of multiple political parties in the U.S. McConnell’s actions and statements are an additional striking action in support of multiple parties. Moderate Republicans need to retreat from the Republican Party and create a Party and platform they can honestly support without resorting to untruths and untenable positions. The same holds true for the moderates in the Democrat Party.

For all politicians, you can not have it both ways, not for long. Because the dishonest nature of those positions ultimately undermines how others perceive you and how you live with yourself.

The “Imperial Presidency” ¹ Revisited

Posted on by Ladmann

In the past, our country and political system became concerned about the alarming increase in presidential power relative to the Congress. Over time this concern has taken a back seat to the ongoing and increasing war of obstruction and destruction between the Republican and Democratic Parties.

As a result of the continuing lack of constructive attention to and resolution of our nations challenges, recent presidents have taken increasing and unbalanced power from the Congress.

This congressional power vacuum has allowed the Presidential power to amplify the degree of political polarization.

Executive actions taken by recent Presidents:

  • Bill Clinton 364
  • George W. Bush  291
  • Barack Obama 276
  • Donald Trump  206 [only 4 years]

The concern here is the degree of political extremism in Congress combined with wide volatility in the executive actions; created and vacated by each President as the political party changes.

Combine the above with the rise of social media and extreme emotional nonfactual broadcasting of extreme views and beliefs, you have the perfect storm.

In the eye of the perfect storm is the Imperial President.

 

  1. “The Imperial Presidency”; Schlesinger, Arthur, M. Jr. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1973

Time for Multiple Political Parties

Posted on by Ladmann

As unfortunate as the attempted insurrection on January 6th is, we should be aware that this has been coming for a long time. The two primary political parties conduct, promote, require, and reward tribal warfare against the other party for the simple and primary purpose of obtaining and maintaining power. “Governing” then becomes the positioning and re-positioning, each election, based on the power politics of the extremes. Maintenance and financing of power becomes the norm, and little attention is paid to the needs of the country.

The corrective measure requires breaking the deadlock. As bad as recent events are, maybe this is what is required for the citizens to finally take control and create additional political parties.

  • Let us start with splitting the Republican and Democratic parties in two. This would create two new parties to allow the extremes to exist [freedom of speech must be maintained].
  • First eliminate the current names of the Republican and Democratic Parties to allow new allegiance without the baggage of the past.

An example could be:

Current Republican Party Becomes the:

  • ⇒ American Conservative Party
  • ⇒ Tea Party

Current Democratic Party Becomes the:

  • ⇒ Progressive Party of America 
  • ⇒ Socialist Party of America

We currently already have the Libertarian and Green parties. This would provide 6 parties and at least the start toward allowing voters other options as they believe and vote. This would break the log jam of the two current major parties we are and have been stuck in.

The new political parties could be:

  • American Conservative Party
  • Progressive Party of America
  • Libertarian Party
  • Green Party
  • Tea Party
  • Socialist Party of America

I recommend using a “ranked voting”¹ system for ballots [all paper, hand delivered or mail in] to allow for complete openness and full disclosure in all elections.

[1] “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop”, Lee Drutman, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-091385-4

 

 

 

Fight, Fight, Fight Enough!

Posted on by Ladmann

The only unity in our country and politics currently is fight!

  • I will fight for you
  • I will fight for this
  • I have always fought for this
  • We need to fight for this
  • I am a fighter
  • I/we must fight against this/them

If all we can do and think about is fighting, it is no wonder we do not accomplish much. After all, if all we want to do is fight and defeat the foe, we are never open to actually accomplishing anything.

I believe this mindset is creating a sub-conscientious anger in us as we are always looking for, expecting and wanting to fight.

We need to take a step back, take a breath, put things in perspective and work towards success. Instead of fighting, lets work towards the objective and goal. Lets work together.