---Benjamin Franklin
The time has finally come for us to make our choices at the polls. Many young men and women have fought and died so we can have that right. It is our responsibility to take advantage of that right even though we are frustrated with our choices. Come Tuesday we will all face a decision that will have an immense impact on our lives. Make no mistake...your vote counts!
Through these last few months I have tried to be even handed in expressing my thoughts. Since, much to Arthur's frustration at times, I am pretty middle of the road in my views on most issues, focusing on both sides of an issue has never been difficult. As strongly as I might feel about a given topic, my debate experience shows me that there are others with valid points, too, so unless basic human rights are concerned I try to stay neutral.
This is my blog though, and my thoughts just hit the overflow point. Son Michael believes there are no undecided voters, just those who aren't ready to admit their decision. If that is the case, my words do not make a difference, but if one or two of you are still deciding, please don't let people manipulate your emotions in this election. Honestly speaking, if I was ever undecided in this election, the release of these emails would have clinched it for me. WE MUST NEVER allow people from other countries to have a hand in controlling our vote. To hack into our system and pick select information to share with us is a tactic that we might have expected during Cold War days. Can we even imagine what a hack into the other side's emails would present to us? Imagine we must, however, because Trump is the choice of those who would like to see us lose our world status.
I understand why you might not like Hillary. She offers us business as usual, and some feel a need for change. A peek at the emails showed us she is human, and perhaps stepped over the line at times, but it also showed us a woman who cares deeply for the rights of others...a woman who feels others' pain deeply enough to work her political magic and help right the wrongs that plague them. She is "business as usual" because she has been part of the system for thirty some years, and she has learned how it works. Democrats and republicans of the Senate say she is a hard worker who is easy to work with and ready to compromise. Her resume speaks volumes.
Donald Trump will not be business as usual. He has no political experience and sees things from a business man's perspective. People he has worked with say he is self serving and seems single minded in his pursuit of the bottom line. Some of his ideas have merit. He might have suggestions that could help our economy. Unfortunately, the lack of political experience that makes him seem desirable, is the very thing that makes him dangerous.
Our society often condemns the actions of physicians. We say they are only after the almighty dollar. We worry that they aren't listening to us. We say that they have lost the ability to relate to us. When you or your loved one falls ill though, would you call on Donald Trump to diagnose or operate on you? He might be dynamite running the business end of the practice, but could he insert the stent you need or remove the tumor from your belly.
Trump does not have the experience to operate on your body, and he doesn't have the experience to run your country. Please don't allow your desire for change to blind you to the need for experience. Don't allow your fear of terrorism to convince you to swap freedom for the illusion of security. On a personal note, I find his feelings for women and immigrants and those of us that he considers beneath him to be horrifying, but that is not the main reason that he is dangerous. His desire to cut ties with our allies while he praises our enemies shows me that his intentions might be okay, but his lack of knowledge where it really counts is as scary as having the well intentioned plumber operate on your child's tonsils.
Please go out this Tuesday, and vote for the person who was trained to save your country and help us all in our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
Speaking of choices, John Lescroart's upcoming novel, Fatal, shows us how dangerous the wrong choice can be. I always wait patiently for one of Lescroart's offerings, and this one was worth the wait. When Kate decides to cheat on her husband...just once...she can't begin to imagine the dominoes that will begin to fall. Lescroart weaves a tale filled with murder and mayhem and strong characters, who will capture you from page one.
On a lighter note, Haunt Flashes by Leigh Selfman is a terrific ghost cozy mystery that introduces us to Arden, who moves into a new house that seems to be haunted by a 1940's movie star...who might, or might not, have been a murderer. This book, while somewhat predictable, is light reading for a week that is stressing all of America.
As always, complete reviews of both books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly