I Have Not Yet Sealed the Ballot

[peristaltor]

I should, but something this year is... different.

Preamble: I have voted officially for president in every election since I was eligible in 1984. I'm not going to defend past presidential choices; no voter needs to defend past election choices.

This year, though, has been hard. This is the first year where I just don't give a shit which of

Comments

[nicoli_dominn]

I can't tell you what to do about the president one, but I think the choices on the other issues are a lot easier, like on ST3 funding, gun access for domestic abusers, voting rights, campaign funding, and the local elections. Your votes on those will have far more immediate impact than your vote for president.

Although...if you did vote for Trump (not for a third party or Hillary or a write-in), I'd have to wonder if you realize how dangerous he would be as president. Not necessarily because of his actions and proposed policies, but because his supporters have already felt encouraged to commit violence - including MURDER - upon various minorities. They have felt that encouragement because he validates their existing bigotry and their violent instincts. I believe that the violent trends will only continue - even increase - under his presidency, because even though he may not be able to legalize said violence with the Congress he has, plenty of people will still be able to get away with it and feel encouraged to do so. I truly worry

[peristaltor]

I can't say I voted straight ticket this time. For example, ST3? The proposed routing infuriated me! Really? You're going to run dedicated bus lines, but not light rail, to Renton? But Issaquah gets rail from Bellevue?! I'm sorry, but someone at ST has property along the proposed rail. Either that, or overt bigotry against the racial perception of Renton's population has overcome good planning sense.

And how many engineering firms have told ST that a rail across the existing I-90 bridges is a no-go (due to insufficient buoyancy)? Last I heard it was more than three. Yet they insist on routing across.

Not to and through Renton. Something stinks there

[nicoli_dominn]

As far as ST3, if I remember correctly from their later plans, there is a plan to have a light rail extend past SeaTac (more than one, even), but my memory is murky as to the specifics. If I'm wrong in thinking that includes plans to extend the light rail to Renton, then yes, that is messed up. Renton and Seattle need to be connected WAY more than Bellevue and Issaquah do, considering the sheer number of service workers in Seattle, who live in Renton and other nearby towns for reasons of housing affordability. Likewise, Lynnwood and Everett and towns north need to be better connected to Seattle for the same reasons. West Seattle also needs quicker transit connections to downtown. All of that should take priority over a Bellevue-Issaquah connection, or an ill-proposed SR520 track. I think the express buses going across SR520 do just fine right now.

As for Trump being a threat to the LGBTQ+ community, he has stated that he would not only propose revocation of same-gender marriage rights and employment non-discrimination clauses, but

[peristaltor]

I'm unaware of any Renton extension plans, sadly. The flyer sent out by ST is quite specific as to routing to be funded. So, yeah, messed up indeed. ST has enjoyed some pretty unprecedented successes; losing one election and listening to constructive criticism in the wake of such a loss would be good for them. (Hello! Forget I-90 as a rail link! Insufficient flotation! Trains are heavy! Physics will not be ignored!)

It's impossible for me to separate Trump's personal policy statements from those he pulls from the right-wing radio universe of hate and reuses for vote pandering. He seems, really, to have no concerns other than himself.

I'm personally more concerned about the backlash from fired-up Trumpies once they lose.

[wildilocks]

So, how do you feel, now that it's all over? Well, not entirely, there's still the possibility of faithless voters...

My take: the US system is especially broken (FPTP is just not a good system, forcing people to choose only between 2 candidates or waste their vote) but democracy is general is failing, as money seems to always win, people believe blatant lies, and the championing of competition over collaboration just seems an unevolved way to govern. The sortition of the Athenians rather appeals, but how to actually get to that kind of system in the modern day? Painful and bloody if ever possible at all. I feel very sorry for all USAians and the world as a whole in any case, the near future is scary, especially for you close up over there.

[peristaltor]

So, how do you feel, now that it's all over?

Surprised, like more than half the voters. Yet again, we have a majority that lost the race, thanks to the Electoral College.

I, however, am a bit less surprised. I kinda saw something like this as an inevitable outcome; I just didn't think it would be the Horror Clown, the Cheeto Mussolini. He was too ridiculous to be taken seriously (by me, at least).

...democracy is general is failing, as money seems to always win....

Exactly! Which is why I have my pet theory that actually came to be before I thought it would. (Said pet theory is rather complex, but it does focus on the money, as you note. Those that ignore the money, or propose raising more to compete, are either in collusion or gullible.)

For me, the current system would work if tweaked; but those tweaks would be drastic, and affect the money, meaning the only way they could be instituted is for people to realize the growing influence that gobbles their own influence and shoves it to one side.

By the by, here's a good