Keep Election Perspective

This election lives up the ubiquitous hype of being the most important of our times. That doesn’t mean, however, that life ends immediately for those whose candidate loses.

It’s an important thought to keep in mind on this election day as we vote and, later, await the results. It could be a long wait.

While we wait, and even after the wait ends and approximately one-half of the population is extremely disappointed, it’s important not to throw in the towel.

Continue to do the things you like doing. Enjoy family and friends. Do not allow bitter disappointment to drain the hope and happiness from your lives. Do not collapse into a puddle of goo, unable to cope with reality.

There will be another presidential election in four years. There will be mid-term elections in two. There is a chances down the line for the voters who will leave 2020 disappointed to have their opportunity to correct the perceived mistakes.

There are extreme sentiments that whichever direction this nation chooses in this election, it will be carved in stone ad infinitum.

I concede that a Democrat win will produce an adverse shift to the left and potential power-grabbing moves by socialists such as packing the Supreme Court or adding Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states to, presumably, add four leftist Senators. This would make it difficult for Conservatives ever again to exercise power on a national basis.

But I also know from studying history that when a significant portion of the population feels isolated and powerless, sometimes those people act in ways other than visiting the voting booth. Democrats would do well to keep that in mind.

Even as I write this, there are reports of credentialed Republican poll watchers being barred from voting precincts in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Make no mistake, if Trump supporters are convinced this election was stolen from them, they will not go quietly into the night.

I voted early today – for Trump. I was somewhat pleased to show up at my polling place and find a crowd, but not an overwhelming wait. Similarly pleasing was the fact we actually had paper ballots that were scanned after their completion. But hard copies will exist in the event of a dispute.

This is much preferable to the touch-screen voting, with our votes potentially disappearing into the ether.

Before taking her afternoon nap today, Granddaughter No. 2 wanted to go for a ride in my Mustang convertible. It’s chilly, but sunny. I think when she awakens we will go for that ride.

I rewarded myself the past weekend by acquiring another Mustang, this a hardtop GT model.

In coming days life will be lived to the fullest in this household.

We will deal with the consequences of this election, whether favorable or unfavorable. Here’s hoping you can do the same.