Politricks

So many of my friends say they hate dislike politics.  But, if you live in the USA you should know that the Federal, State & County governments are political.  Elections have consequences, and the people you may or may not elect, can make or brake laws that will affect your life in one way or the other.  Lately, some States within the US have made drastic changes to current laws, that make some residents want to pack up and move out of town. Yes. . . we are in critical times. We are watching as the rule of law comes under attack by those entrusted with enforcing it. We fear our democratic checks and balances are being destroyed as we watch. It hurts when tweets and actions of our highest authorities spread Fear in our communities, Ridicule the most vulnerable, Stir race Hatred, and make millions of us cringe with shame, rather than pride. Not to mention the extreme voter suppression actions that are active nationwide. We must push back against these ugly political realities with all the democratic spirit and wisdom we can muster. Our collective action, inspired by belief in a kinder and more just world, has never been more important. Therefore, we MUST VOTE AGAIN!

If we learned anything from the last Presidential election, things can & will get ugly quick, and we are in for a rough ride. The 2020 Presidential campaign officially starts on February 3, 2020, when voters in Iowa go to firehouses, schools, churches and meeting halls to caucus for their candidate to run for President of the US. Barring vacancies and party-switching, Republicans will enter the 2020 elections with control of 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, while Democrats will enter with control of approximately 235 seats in the House of Representatives.  All 33 Class 2 senators are up for election, and two states (Georgia and Arizona)  holding special elections for the Senate. The six non-voting congressional delegates from the District of Columbia and the inhabited U.S. territories will also be elected.

It’s time we face facts about 2020. It will be so dirty, brimming with disinformation, & packed with hackers -  that it'll make 2016 look like a student council election. (Author Unknown)

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General elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Seats in the United States House of Representatives, United States Senate, and the office of president of the United States will be contested. Thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as numerous other state and local elections, will also be contested. Each major party will choose a nominee for the 2020 presidential election through a series of primaries and caucuses, culminating in a national convention held in mid-2020. Know your rights, and beware of political actors & Politricks in this election season.

The Electoral College -  America uses this process to elect a President instead of the popular votes. The current resident of the white house did not get the popular vote in 2016.  (Clinton got 2.8 million more votes)  But, the Electoral College gave him the keys to the front door.  If it boggles the mind, or you're feeling the sting from past elections. . . you should learn more about this vital part of the electoral process HERE.

Voter Suppression - The Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of our nation’s proudest civil rights achievements, used to protect us from voter suppression. States and counties with a history of voting discrimination had to pre-approve any changes to their voting rules with the Department of Justice -- which stopped thousands of bad laws from taking effect. But when the Supreme Court gutted that pre-clearance requirement with the Shelby County v. Holder decision in 2013, it invited opportunistic politicians to attack voters’ rights, passing new laws that make it harder for eligible Americans to have their votes counted. Simply put, restricting a person’s vote is taking away their freedom. We must ensure that every eligible citizen has the ability to cast their vote, and that their vote will be accurately counted. Contact your Congressman if you have doubts.

Gerrymandering - is the act of politicians manipulating the redrawing of legislative district lines in order to help their friends and hurt their enemies. They may seek to help one party win extra seats (a partisan gerrymander), make incumbents of both parties safer (an incumbent-protection gerrymander) or target particular incumbents who have fallen out of favor.  The key to fixing gerrymandering is changing key statutory laws for how elections are held.  

Super PAC   -  A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money.  A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. In 1976, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Buckley v. Valeo that individuals cannot be prevented from spending unlimited sums of money on political messaging. With two 2010 rulings, the United States Supreme Court lifted restrictions on corporation and union spending in politics. Individuals, corporations and unions may now legally donate and spend unlimited amounts on independent political speech (Ads);  they may also donate unlimited amounts to groups that make independent expenditures.

Fact Checking - There is so much tweeting and false accusations from politicians on a daily basis and we get clouded by the facts. The fact-checking of political claims is an integral part of media coverage of political news in the United States. Political fact-checking intends to assess the accuracy of political information as it is expressed in statements made by politicians and others. Sort out the bullshit and Fact Check your elected officials Here!

Talk is Cheap - Don't put too much stock in all those New Year's predictions you're hearing and seeing about American politics in 2020. Anyone saying they know what will happen is probably just trying to get our attention. We've all fallen for headlines and clickbait proclaiming foreknowledge of events. We do it for sports, the stock market and just about any other outcome that cannot be foreseen.  Fact is, no one knows what will happen in the months before November, that will affect and perhaps determine the Elections outcome. You just gotta remember. . . IF You want to leave your kids and grandkids a great place to live in the future, you have to be part of the political process. Therefore, keep your eyes on the prize, do your own research, and when it's time. . . Rock the Vote!

** Thanks for Visiting. This post is an FYI. I am not soliciting for a political candidate nor giving political advice.  But if you like it, please leave a comment & Share, Share, Share. Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin  for new post updates, and on Pinterest. **