I have thought for a long time about changes we could make to our political system and what they would mean in reality. I have a new one. I wonder what the effect would be if each state were required to elect one democrat and one republican as their senators? From a very short-sighted point of view it would make very little difference from our current senate split of 50-49-1. Any ideas about what it would really mean?
Month: October 2004
I have figured out the best reason to re-elect George Bush this year. I am under no pretense that everybody agrees with this idea, but I think few people have considered the unique opportunity that re-electing our current president provides for the American political system.
If George Bush is re-elected he will not leave any heir-apparent in the Republican party which would give moderate republicans four years to get to work in the effort of taking back their party from the extreme rightists that currently control it by the time that they have to hold a primary election to select their next presidential candidate – someone who is moderate rather than someone who is willing to talk moderate.
Before every presidential election the party that is not in control of the White House holds a presidential primary to choose their guy, but the party in powe rarely does that. If President Bush is re-elected both parties will be holding serious prmary elections – there will be no real incumbant in either party and moderates in both parties can make their voices heard so that we do not end up like this year without a good candidate on the ballot – that includes all the third party candidates.
One of the resons that I find it rather easy to write this before the election is because my vote is already cast based on geography. Because I live in Utah my vote will be counted for President Bush no matter who it is I would like to support. Perhaps I am trying to find a reason to support the vote that will inevitably be recorded for me in the electoral college.
Update on Busy-ness
I said that I could not plan a busier two weeks. Little did I know that there was more to come . . .
I now have a job interview in the middle of AECT.
Life Moves Along
I just got a response from the University of Missouri regarding my PhD application – they want to schedule a telephone interview. This is the final step in the application process and indicates that they think I am qualified based on my application so far. I am thrilled and excited.
This completes my next two weeks. Laura has a month worth of activities scheduled for tomorrow – Super Saturday, Family History Fair and two baptisms (I think I’m still missing one thing in there), I will be traveling to Virginia for work during the first part of next week and when I get back I have a presentation in class, The interview with Missouri will be on Monday the 18th and then I will be going to the AECT convention in Chicago on the 19th.
Like I said – life moves along. I could not plan a busier two weeks.
New Apostles
I think it is exciting and appropriate that we have a new apostle who is not from the United States. It reflects the growing maturity of the worldwide church.
I wholeheartedly support Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Bednar.
I just had an interesting thought. I have been looking at our presidential candidates and what they have been saying and I just recognized a difference in the campaigns.
President Bush is running for the office of president of the United States. (Anyone reading that is going to say “Duh, what did you think he was running for?”) The interesting things is that I just realized that Senator Kerry is not running for the office of president of the United States (Now those same people are saying “I thought he was running for president of the United States, what do you think he is running for?”) he is running for the office of “Leader of the Free World.”
Is there a difference? Yes.
Which one should they be running for? That is for the voters to decide.