Mid Term Election Upon Us!

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment provides, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.” It prohibits states from discriminating among voters based on age, for people who are at least 18 years old, and grants Congress power to “enforce” that prohibition through “appropriate legislation.” The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is the last in a series of amendments enacted over more than a century expanding constitutional protection for voting rights. Like many other amendments, it was enacted as a direct repudiation of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

We can see with our own eyes (even though the orange menace in the WH told his base, not to believe what they see, hear, or read–cult mentality) that the Republican party is doing everything it can to keep citizens from voting.

In North Dakota–they’ve come with a “legal street residence requirement” for Native Americans who live in rural areas where no streets have been established. It is designed to keep them from exercising their right to vote. Fear of them voting for Democrats–is the real reason since most usually vote for Democrats.

In Georgia–Brian Kemp is afraid of losing to Stacey Abrams–a Black woman who is the Democrat challenging him. Right now–Kemp–is the Secretary of State in Georgia–has over 53,000 voter registrations sitting on his desk because–get this–the signatures don’t match “exactly” those already in their data files. Realistically, if I signed my name three times within three minutes, they won’t match exactly. This excuse is just that–another attempt to suppress the Black vote in Georgia by Republicans.

In North Carolina–the Republicans shut down “Sunday Voting” in counties that are predominantly Black–to keep the citizens from exercising their right to vote.

In Michigan–just weeks before the election–the Republicans changed the rules about “straight party” voting by excluding it. Their hope is that most of the residents won’t take the time to complete their ballots.

All across the nation–wherever Republicans are in charge of the state government–they are enacting “cheating rules” to control how people vote. This is a gross violation of every citizen’s constitutional rights. The word, “abridged” means no state or the nation has the right to curtail, get in the way of anyone of legal age to vote.

So, America–we don’t have to let Republicans get in our way, but we do need to understand that the only way Republicans win–in any election–is by cheating and we have a record of that–in recent elections starting with George W. Bush with the “hanging chads” in Florida where his brother was governor. Fearmongering is another favorite tactic used by Republicans as Laura Ingraham so aptly demonstrates on Fox News by warning their viewers they must vote for Republicans or the Democrats will “replace them with immigrants.” That is fraudulently false that she should be sued for it, but apparently, all’s fair in war and politics–use of the first amendment that is.

Well, I’m exercising my 1st amendment rights in every blog I write and today, this is dedicated to every person eligible to vote, but is hesitating because of lies promoted by Republicans through a number of means–including videos produced by right-wing entities like Prague U and Carol Swain (The Inconvenient Truth About The Democratic Party). What Swain does is to take the viewer of the video to a specific point in history–prior to the Republicans and Democrats–switching their philosophies and platforms–and leaving it there. That was the late 19th Century and Early 20th Century history of the political parties. This is the 21st Century and I guarantee everyone reading this–The Democratic Party is the only political party that cares about “all the people” and not just some as we see in the Republican party (tax cuts for the rich, loss of services for everyone else who now pay higher prices for everything).

Okay, so I know this is a lot to read, but check out my YouTube Channel–Everyday Americans 2020–and listen to the videos I’ve produced to encourage all to vote.

And for the Black Community–don’t be mislead and tricked into voting for people who really don’t care about you and their very recent legislated policies–prove it. Republicans don’t want people to have access to affordable healthcare, education, veteran’s benefits, clean air, water and non-toxic soil from which all of our food production is dependent. Listen, remember, research and then march to the polls on 11/6/18 and vote like your life and our democracy depend on it because they do.

If you still don’t see the need to vote and to vote for every Democrat on your ballot–I’ll have to assume you’ve partaken of the orange shake and incapable of rational thinking–especially if you’re paying attention to the daily news–which demonstrates how our democracy is at risk. The Republicans won’t exercise their constitutional right to “check” all the nonsense trump does and some have even considered, rewriting the Constitution to eliminate terms for a president–that is a dictatorship–when one party rules and keeps others from exercising any choice. Don’t believe me–research it for yourself!

Until then, remember–we only have a little over two weeks before 11/6/18 and the outcome will be a reflection of who we are as Americans–whether we are True Patriots–ready to live out the inscription on the Statue of Liberty–

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

or whether we are just inclined to go along with a party–no matter how much it could endanger us. Elections have consequences and see that every day since the 2016 election. Let’s not be foolish and repeat the mistakes of the past election. We deserve better and it’s up to us–to make sure we have what we deserve–freedom to choose and the right to exercise our choices in government with our vote.

I’m Mary M. Hall-Rayford and I approve the message of the content of this blog.

Advertisement

The Prize!

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

For those who understand the nature of competition, the goal is to obtain a prize.  However, in Christ, we are not competing for a prize as mere mortals understand it. We are running a race to obtain the end promise-eternity in Heaven with Jesus. If we are competing for any other prize that will rust, fade, or tarnish, we may miss the opportunity for the true prize.

Professional athletes compete to win world recognition and rings and trophies for the team. In order to do that–they prepare by participating in grueling workouts, team practices and disciplining themselves to stay focused on the goal. And when they win national competitions, many on the winning team tell reporters–the next stop in their journey is Disneyland.

Musicians in high schools compete for medals and trophies. In order to win, they prepare by studying the music, practicing their instrument and disciplining themselves to focus on the end goal.

Writers compete for prizes in various genres and sometimes just for the sake of energizing creativity and stamina in staying focused in completing a project under deadline. In particular–the National November Writing Month is not about competing with others necessarily, and there is usually a great deal of support from other participants to encourage one to keep going to write that 50 thousand words in 30 days. I’ve entered the competition for three years and always finished under 15 days. The win–though rewarding–did not garner me anything other than bragging rights and a certificate. And so this year, I’m not writing because I have already won–the knowledge that I could do it.

Unfortunately, in the same competition–some people start out with projects they have started years before and in essence–they’re cheating themselves because their participation and possible completion has been rigged with the early start. So even if they complete the goal–it’s not really a win.

That’s how I view our recent election–a rigged election for a win is not really a victory–and the evidence of such is so apparent that even a blind person could see it. But until we change how we do business, we are stuck with the possibility of more rigging–through deliberate lying and undermining–trying to win by any means. But winning an election is not the prize–it is a responsibility and a commitment to govern all people–with equity and justice for all. If this role is not taken seriously, then democracy begins to unravel and we become vulnerable to all the predators who seek to destroy. For their goal–is to control.

Though there are some who say we simply have to accept the status quo, I believe that change begins with action and until there is action, there is no change. So, I’m going to use the same discipline exercised in competing for a prize, to energize others to see change that benefits all–starting now, so that we have a leader who knows and understands the need for preparation in order to govern and lead.