Tuesday

Reflections on US elections in 2016

As we've been experiencing, the US election are this year. First we have to make it through the primaries which is proving to be a testing time. I say testing time only because, to me, it seems more like they are a bunch of children than educated adults. Guess what? Its only going to get worse as time goes on.

It sad really because these adults are acting more like they are 10 instead in their 50's and older.

What the majority of people want I've seen and talked to?

An adult. One that is educated, acts like an adult, can make independent decisions on things like immigration, has some kind of budgeting background so we can make the deficit less, and thinks education and health are very important to everyone - no matter what your race, gender, or political views.

True it would be nice if we had some other things, but those are specific to the political parties themselves. I acknowledge this and agree about this, but as a country we need to get back to the basics - not continue on this self destructive path we've been finding ourselves going down.

Let's face the facts:

The US is in severe debt. If anyone of us were in this much debt we'd be in jail because its criminal.

Jobs are there, but the economy is still slow. The economy and jobs are getting better, but this is more of a global problem and not just a US problem. The other consideration which has to be looked at is one tiny scare again, and the economy stalls and jobs drop. Prior to the last global financial crisis, we had a slowing economy, we just change the taxes and breaks given and the economy just bounced right back. However, instead of an instance bounce which would normally happen, after taking the same actions as we had in the post and have taken in the past few years, this time we have to slowly build everything back up which is what is happening. However, what will the new president do to influence or not influence this?

Education seems to be slowly getting worse - not better. I've been watching what has been being said by news groups as well as parents with kids in the system. Common core? Its like common mess. There's just no common sense within the common core. Its bad enough, most parents don't discipline children or even tell them NO, and there's no growth with creativity or letting kids get hurt just a bit but they will learn not to do it again and will be able to rationalize things a bit better. However, parents are just too protective and won't let the kids get hurt a tiny bit (think of it when you tell them not to touch something that's hot when they were tiny and they reached and touch it anyway. They soon learn not to touch something like that because it hurts). College education is pretty expensive as well. Then you have to be able to get a job afterwards which was always a hard thing to get because then you have the problem of no experience whatsoever.

The US has major illegal immigration problem. I know I have had grandparents and great grandparents all immigrate to the US. Back then, you didn't apply and be accepted - you just showed up. However, now the rules have changed because there's only so much space in the US and the US' resources were starting to run down, so they had to cap it somehow, which means you now have to fill out forms to see if the US' resources can fit you in. However, people are just showing up and thinking the US should just accept them. Why not just stay and band together and make changes in your own country instead?  There are always those who need to just leave because of wars, but that's why there are centers where you can stay and then after its decided where the resources are that can support you the best and then you will be let go there - instead of an illegal you will be known as a refugee and this is acceptable. Those who are in the US illegally? You knew what you were doing when you first did this so why would you complain to go back where you came from and come back in legally?

There are many more areas the US has fallen down, but we have to start some place to make it a place people want to go again. Choosing the right person who head the whole thing is one of the most important decisions you can make. However, you have to look at things like:

  • Age - we have to know the person can handle shocks and long hours without getting a jolt and dying of a heart attack. 
  • Experience - they have to know what they are doing and not only what sounds good in a sound bite or on paper and social media.
  • Understand finances - do they have a concept of spending and being able to balance their budget? Or do they have a history of declaring bankruptcy or just thinking by partnering up with a few businesses will help the US to run like an independent business as it should be treated?
  • How do they act? How do they treat others - We are all taught in kindergarten we have to play nice with others. True, you don't have to be best friends, but you at least have to show people respect. This is, unfortunately, what we are sadly lacking from ALL candidates. 

  • Born in the USA - One of the facts is the constitution states:
Article II Section 1 Clause 5:
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
and later it was amended:
Amendment XIV Section 1:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
which is according to the constitution.  This means in order to be a president, you have to be a natural born citizen OR naturalized in the US or jurisdiction where they reside.
from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRklaxMVUmTmkXInJ9Uda1DiashOdW6Gs40TjaScoIwAbNWPyIfgw

The last 2 elections for president, this was in the news each time. This time its reared its head again because there's some doubt if some of the nominees were not born in the US; however, I don't think anyone's looked into the amendment XIV Section 1 though. Personally? I would automatically cross out anyone who was born outside or the doubts of their birth. Then couple this with their spouse's naturalization/background. Then follow the whole thing up with looking at where had they settled their life and family? Did they live overseas or the US? How long have they been in the US? How close are their ties to the US? All these are very important because they influence all of us in different ways but they are influences on our lives and the ways we live.

These are all very important areas to the US and not just ONE political party. This is what is lacking - people are thinking more of themselves and their parties and not of the United States. Our reputation is going down hill fast and its getting to the slope where its so slippery there is only limited time to claw our way back, but I feel we might be just slipping away if we don't do something NOW.
Taken from http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/09/24/article-0-1838B69E00000578-677_964x645.jpg

We are citizens of the US - We can do better - ALL of us.