What Are We Afraid Of This Halloween?

Are We Afraid Of Who Is Knocking On Our Door?

This is the season to be afraid. It’s Halloween! We entertain each other with visions of witches and goblins and zombies (mustn’t forget the zombies!). We don costumes, smear on the makeup, and let our imaginations go. We binge watch horror shows hoping to scare ourselves silly.

And then there’s a knocking on our door and someone shouting, “Trick or Treat!”

103118 Afraid On Halloween

Then we may well wonder, “What are we afraid of?”

Midterm Election Fears

As the midterm election draws near, that question may present a more serious side. Are we afraid our voting choices may not win? Are we afraid of a “blue” wave; or is it a “red” wave that makes us shudder? Are we afraid of what may happen after the election? Will the fear persist?

Though the election may be a focal point, perhaps our fears are generated more by what we witness in the world around us. In the last few days we have witnessed news about package bombs being shipped to “high-tier” Democrats and a synagogue shooting leaving 11 dead and a shooter focused on blacks in Kentucky.

Are We Afraid Of The New Normal?

Such news is becoming all to commonplace anymore. Perhaps our fears have now evolved to where we are more afraid of this “new normal” than we are of any given event. Have we become calloused such that we are now insensitive?

The new normal also now includes tectonic shifts in our nation’s relations with our adversaries and, yes, our allies. We can now say we are afraid of potential nuclear wars (note the plurality). We are afraid of immigration mayhem that pits national security against being a nation offering sanctuary and opportunity. Climate change recognizes no political party – being an equal opportunity threat – and promises starvation, migrations, and death. Even the Pentagon is concerned (afraid?)!

We, all of us, are afraid of what may come. Sadly, fear is not for just a few.

Are We Afraid Of Being Duped?

Here’s a question for us to ponder: Are you afraid of being duped?

It’s a serious question because, as our political differences become ever more contrasted, it’s obvious nobody has all the answers. Nobody has the absolute correct position or perspective. Everyone is surprised, a bit confused, and disappointed as we adhere to a truth that melts away. How do we act when reality shakes our world?

For example, our political leaders are human. Since they are, they sometimes falter. Others, true purveyors of discord, emerge as being on the wrong side of history as they lead us astray. Policies do not always fulfill the promise upon which they are founded. They disappoint and do harm. Do we modify them or ignore the glaring destructive consequences?

We are often duped into believing what we shouldn’t. It’s human to make such mistakes. Everyone is duped at one time or another. We make bad choices that cause us harm – financially, physically, and emotionally. But are we resilient enough to recognize truth when it emerges and are we able to let go of the strategies and tactics that have led us astray? Do we seek a new truth?

Can We Recover From Being Duped By NPV?

Not being able to admit we’re wrong, as a nation, makes me afraid. Can we change so this nation can heal?

Every four years we elect or reelect a U.S. president. The electoral results never align with the nation’s popular vote totals. There always is a electoral and popular vote total disparity gap.

The National Popular Vote (NPV) adherents believe the problem is the Electoral College. The history and the mathematical electoral results reveal this is not true. The real problem – the winner-takes-all approach – is ignored and little understood. Yet money and lobbyists and legislators pursue a misguided goal, hoping to upend the Electoral College.

Some day, perhaps, Oregon (my home state) might become part of the NPV compact. Eventually, too, the NPV compact may be intact enough to trigger its engagement for an election. Will the citizens recognize that their ballots are not reflected in how their state casts its electoral votes? The national electoral vote and popular vote disparity will likely be even more extreme than what is currently experienced. The messaging from the media and “winning” political party will leverage dishonest margins and form narratives that fail to recognize how the citizens actually voted.

Given the scenario painted above, will the NPV followers recognize they’ve been duped? Or will they be satisfied that they have further spoiled an ingenious election system even beyond what is experienced today?

It makes me afraid.

Equal Voice Voting Skips The Fear

It is for this reason that this blog continues to show how we can remedy our current election process by using Equal Voice Voting. We can eliminate the winner-takes-all problem. We can make every citizen’s vote count and, in so doing, ensure every state matters.

The fifteen elections analyzed clearly show that the numbers don’t lie. The disparity between electoral and popular vote results can become well aligned if we allow the Electoral College to function as it was originally intended.

It’s okay to be fooled by odd costuming and makeup and little children knocking on our doors as they cry out, “Trick or Treat!” It’s not okay for us to be duped by false promises to remedy an election system when the purveyors of the false remedy do not even recognize what may be wrong.

Let’s not be afraid.

NOTE: Since next Tuesday (November 6) is the midterm elections and the immediate days thereafter will be taken up with the election results, this blog will not be published next Wednesday.