American electoral politics can be dangerous to your health

Why do humans have to invent problems, or even dredge up problems from decades ago, in order to say how they will solve them “if elected” tomorrow. Since 1992 it even seems like a crescendo of bad economic news arises every federal election as in today is the worst of economic times. But like the “boy who cried wolf too often”, when he finally saw a real threatening wolf, no one paid him any attention.

We usually go to doctors about our health concerns. But how about if the doctor doesn’t ask the most obvious questions or address our most obvious symptoms. If certain questions are not to be asked, especially questions where even the most elementary details are required in response, then most Americans will find another medical practice and personal doctor. Our standards are higher than one of just how much money is spent since quality of life and the future counts for so much.

And so this citizen of America would to hear candidates for doctors of democracy address our national interests that are key to our future health as a nation. Here’s a start list: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, “smarting up” K-12 education, public health (like vaccinations, food safety, toy safety), public infrastructure (like bridges not falling down), border security, and even basic police security (like neighborhood safety). One can roll it up as issues that are more local and state than federal. And one can roll it up as “we can’t afford it all” if one senses the “benefits” programs have cut into all the “basic” programs to the point of bridges falling down. Tough discussion and follow-on decisions are due, but one hears little of this discussed.

Doctors of health care for humans and their practices will fail if they continue this kind of behavior. Doctors of democracy will also fail similarly. The only way for we to survive is not to accept this, and find new practices, usually called a political party. Fellow Americans who think another way can do so using their vote, but cannot also bring the rest of us down if we don’t agree with them. All Americans can vote with their political vote, and their pocket books, if we want American electoral politics to be healthy for us today, and our futures.

For those who think this present good national health is normal, as if in “I am an American, I have rights”, it is not, though most wish it were so, and some think it is so. Similarly clean running tap water, and forced air heat, and even 24/7 electricity is a privilege, not a right. Things we assume may be more fragile than we may imagine, or want to admit.

Another question some want to hear discussed in the next 11 months is: Why not focus on improving all the good things achieved since the end of World War Two, and “ditch” all the good tries that failed. After all we cannot afford it all, and dumping failures frees up money for successes, unless we want more bridges falling down. One can roll this one up as “reinforce success, not failure”. Many good initiatives often need time to be developed or enhanced. What we don’t need now are new initiatives for invented or over amplified “new problems”. A doctor (and political leader) might suggest trying to solve today’s health problems before we invent or try to find new health problems that at best compound our present efforts, most human politically intended it is shameful to admit.