Voting November 6, 2018
There is much hanging on today’s voting. The integrity of the country is at stake.
I voted with an absentee ballot, but I’m not confident that my vote will count. The news is full of complaints about people being blocked from voting. There are also complaints that the votes cast were switched by the machines they used. I can believe that since the last time I voted in person it happened to me. I complained and someone came into my booth and hit a reset button so that I could recast my ballot. The absentee ballot I received had specific instructions on how to fill out the ballot. One instruction in particular said to use a “black-ink pen". I used a blue pen until I re-read the instructions and eventually found a pen with black ink that I wrote over the blue. Will they disqualify this vote if it shows evidence of some blue? With my skepticism, I don’t know. I re-read all instructions and tried to comply. I suppose it comes down to the people who open the mail-in ballots and their integrity. I hope that they have people of both political parties observing the process to insure honesty. I don’t trust the present administration. The lies told on a daily basis to mislead the public is a matter of record. Trying to “undo” the wrongs committed is no easy task. It will take a new administration to reverse the disastrous policies by Trump with his executive orders. As a Senior, my concern is for the things that affect me and others like me. Protecting Social Security is at the top of my list as it is the only income I have. Those who depend on Medicare are also at risk. Just the threat to reduce these programs cause stress with related illnesses. Since I live outside the US, I have been accused of not being an American with no right to have an opinion. A recent post on FB to that effect, coming from a relative, made me angry. I was delighted when some of my friends came to my defense. Living outside the US doesn’t require one to give up their citizenship. Personal reasons such as having healthcare is one. It saved our lives. If we lived in the US, we would either be dead or destitute. Bankruptcies are on the rise due to medical bills and that is so sad. In the remaining years one should be free of worry about financial security as well as having the care one required in old age. When I hear people proclaim that “America is the richest country in the world” I am saddened. It may be rich in money, but poor in humanitarian values. Catering to the rich while ignoring the needs of the less advantaged is sad. There are exceptions among its citizens. One post I read was that if you are in need, go to a poor person for help. They will give you the shirt off their back to help.
The results of the election will take some time to be fully known. It will determine the future of our country. It may also determine what action some of us will take.