Tag: the vote

Elections And The Truth

Posted on by Ladmann

“…Elections are not a method for discovering truth. Rather, they are a method for maintaining order by adjudicating between people’s conflicting desires. Elections establish what the majority of people desire, rather than what the truth is. And people often desire the truth to be other than what it is. Democratic networks therefore [must] maintain some self-correcting mechanisms to protect the truth even from the will of the majority…” [i]

[i] Yuval Noahharari, Nexus (Random House, New York 2024) Page 126.

A Narcissist’s History

Posted on by Ladmann

Both Mr. Trump and the Republican Party are continuing to promote their Narcissistic history of the last [2020] election and voting. You might remember that Mr. Trump started the issue of the “stolen election” before the election and before any votes had been cast. He and his minions continued the attack on voting on 4/7/20, 7/19/20, 8/19/20, 9/29/20, 11/3/20 and of course continuing to this day.[1]

One thing we know, narcissists agree only with those issues, philosophies, religions, genders, races, and facts, that are acceptable and enduring to them. When facts do not support the narcissists’ agenda, competing scenarios are created. The narcissist will gaslight any and all who stand in his or her way of controlling all around them.

“To a narcissist the ‘truth’ is not seen as a finite, fixed entity, but as being malleable – as being whatever the narcissist says it is, at the time they say it. The truth is simply whatever serves the narcissist at that particular time.” [2]

… “Collective narcissism is not simply tribalism. Humans are inherently tribal, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Having a healthy social identity can have an immensely positive impact on well-being. Collective narcissists, though, are often more focused on out-group prejudice than in-group loyalty. In its most extreme form, group narcissism can fuel political radicalism and potentially even violence. But in everyday settings, too, it can keep groups from listening to one another, and lead them to reduce people on the “other side” to one-dimensional characters… ” [3]

… “One study found that collective narcissism was the second strongest predictor (after partisanship) of voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It was also associated with support for Trump’s followers attacking the Capitol, and support for Trump staying in power using undemocratic means. (A longitudinal analysis even found that group narcissism uniquely predicted growth of conspiracy thinking over the course of the 2016 presidential campaign.) …” [4]

Americans; do not allow yourselves to be gaslighted! [5] [6] We are not to blame, they are. The fix is voting against this attack on our democracy. Vote all Republicans out of office until they get the message, that we will not allow restrictions on who and how we vote, because of unfounded allegations.

 

[1] https://www.npr.org/2021/02/08/965342252/timeline-what-trump-told-supporters-for-months-before-they-attacked

[2] www.thelifedoctor.org/the-narcissist-s-prayer;Fromhttps://www.bing.com/search?q=narcissist%27s+creed&form=ANNTH1&refig=8dfb5f44106d4123a88f975798e6f1e2&sp=6&qs=SC&pq=narcisisist%27s&sk=PRES1SC5&sc=8-13&cvid=8dfb5f44106d4123a88f975798e6f1e2&ntref=1

[3] From https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/group-narcissism/620632/

[4] From https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/group-narcissism/620632/

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting

[6] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gaslighting

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.

 

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

The Heritage Foundation Now Lacks an Ethical and Moral Premise

Posted on by Ladmann

As a life-long conservative, I agree with many of the Heritage Foundation’s objectives in significantly reducing the size and impact of the administrative state within the executive branch of the US government.

I also agree with the position that the Congress has abdicated its responsibilities in governing including both the Republican and Democratic parties. As a result, the balance of power has significantly shifted to the Executive Branch, creating severe convulsions throughout society and economy with every election.

However, the belief of Mr. Roberts [1] that Biden did not win the 2020 election, because “I think there are unknowns… Is it possible he won? Sure. But can I say definitively that he won? No.” [2], undermines his and The Heritage Foundations platform.

Providing support for Trump and his public goals of autocracy undermines the historical integrity of the Heritage Foundation and their conservative agendas.

Continuing to support autocratic and anti-democratic goals of Trump and others like him undermines your statement that “…Heritage has no influence on the outcome of the election.” [3]

You can be a conservative and still maintain an ethical and moral belief system.

 

 

[1] Current CEO of the Heritage Foundation.

[2] Inside the Heritage Foundation’s Plans for ‘Institutionalizing Trumpism’ – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

[3] Ibid.

The Vote & Women; What’s Happening?

Posted on by Ladmann

” In America, justice is administered in the name of the, ‘the good people’ etc. etc.; the sovereignty residing with them.”  1

 

“The good treatment of their women is the surest evidence that a people can give of their civilization; and there is no nation which has more to boast of, in this respect, than the Americans.”  2

 

Based on the activity of the Republican Party and their minions, I am not so sure!

  1. The Spy A Tale Of The Neutral Ground, By James Fenimore Cooper, Wiley & Halsted, 1821.
  2. ibid.

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?” →

Republicans Promote Voter Restriction Laws

Posted on by Ladmann

Republicans are aggressively promoting voter restriction laws and regulations throughout the U.S.

“…In all, 28 states have introduced, pre-filed or are advancing 106 restrictive bills for the 2021 legislative session,…” ¹

Apparently we as a society have not changed much since the Civil War and Reconstruction. It has been more than 150 years and we are still dealing with the inability to accept that “…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”.²

This is another example of how weak the Republican Party’s political positions are.

The Republican’s only strong position is based on racism and discrimination.

 

 

  1. By Kelly Mena, CNN, Feb 2, 2021
  2. The Declaration of Independence, In Congress, July 4, 1776

 

Clear and Present Danger

Posted on by Ladmann

Mr. Trump is a clear and danger to our democracy not just because of January 6th. He is dangerous because he has consistently sought to undermine our government by:

  • Continuously attacking the legitimacy of many departments of our government, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, FDA, Attorney General, CDC, etc.
  • He has undermined our country’s relationships with many of our allies.
  • He has continuously charged the election of 2020 as rigged and stolen. He and the Republican Party has filed 62 suits and had 61 dismissed for lacking any evidence. Making these charges when no evidence exists and continuing to excite crowds against the results undermines the most important element of a democracy, the vote.
  • He has attempted to have several states votes overturned using the “power of the Presidency” as a threat.

This President needs to be impeached!

We need to hold him and the Republican Party responsible and send a clear message that this will not be allowed by any future President.