04 November 2020

The Long Hello

 So now we wait until the 10th for the State of Alaska to begin counting the so-called "early" and absentee ballots.

With most of the Election Day votes already counted, everything about which we had any concern has been (at least, so far) settled. Just like in so many other states, the massive influx of Outside dollars made little difference. The Democrats-running-as-Independents didn't fool enough voters to even come close.

The Senate and House incumbents defeated their opponents by a 3 to 2 and 2 to 1 margin, respectively. 

Apparently defeated handily: Ballot measure 1 would have once again revised the oil tax structure, raising them significantly on the producers. That's rarely a good idea, especially during a recessionary period.

Apparently defeated Ballot measure 2 would have combined our split primary ballots (Repubs on one, everyone else on the other, which might not be such a bad thing), eliminated "dark money" by exposing one class of donor while hiding others, and moved Alaska to a ranked voting system. If you need to look that up, I'll wait.

It's a horrible idea, IMHO. And the sponsors were PACs from blue states, which seemed highly suspect to me. I'm not sure what they thought it would accomplish for us, here, but it would set a precedent for other states to emulate, once in practice here. 

Except that other states which tried it had such abysmal and chaotic results that they had to write new legislation to undo the damage.

And that, by itself, is what convinced me that it is a Progressive scheme: if it doesn't work in the first six places you try it, do it again. Harder.

6 comments:

Old NFO said...

Probably correct...on all counts! sigh

Rev. Paul said...

I find that less than reassuring. :)

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Reverend, I would say on the whole from observation Progressives have the unique ability to constantly propose and execute bad policies and learn nothing from the experience.

Rev. Paul said...

TB - and yet they're so GOOD at it!

Rev. Paul said...

Indeed, Ed. It’s very near, I’m afraid.

drjim said...

Truckloads of dark money came into Colorado from out of state this year.

Probably paid for some of the bricks and iron "park benches" that mysteriously appeared in Denver the night of the 3rd....

And thank you for the message. Yes, He is in charge, and I don't feel in the least forsaken. A bit shaken by the obvious, blatant, breathtaking fraud on display, though. He puts challenges in our paths sometimes, and even if we triumph, the cold reality of the lesson shouldn't be lost on us.

Evil is out there. Be wary and pray for strength....