FELON ELECTED AS COUNTY AUDITOR

Honestly, I’m not making this up. It is not fake news. It happened here, in a bellwether county, which lost that status last week after going for Trump in a big way. A convicted felon was elected as county auditor.

The incumbent auditor, “Jim”, had served for over 20 years as the county treasurer. He has a degree in accounting, is a certified public accountant, and has nearly 40 years of experience in governmental accounting Four years ago, he was elected county auditor. Obviously, he’s a competent and experienced person.

“Rebecca”, his Republican opponent, has no apparent experience in accounting. She said she had some experiences as a business owner. (not sure what that business was.) She’s also a notary. She won the election by about 2500 votes.

How did a convicted felon get elected as county auditor? — Felon elected as County Auditor. Before she changed her name, she had a public record.

Trouble is, Rebecca used to have another last name. Somewhere along the way, she reinvented herself. Apparently, no one in the Republican party thought to check Indiana’s public records website . By keying in her original name, you see that 20 years ago she did jail time for committing a robbery. She had been arrested for another robbery two years before that.

When she filed for candidacy in the primary, it included a paragraph with the sentence, “I am not ineligible to be a candidate due to a criminal conviction that would prohibit me from serving in this office.” I guess Rebecca forgot she was convicted of robbery resulting in bodily injury back in 1996. Or maybe she thought it didn’t matter.

It boggles the mind. How in the world did Rebecca worm her way into the upper echelons of the Republican party? Since I’m not a political activist, I’m not privy to the facts. Undoubtedly, there’s a story to be told.

Fortunately, her past has finally caught up with her. She’ll have to go before a judge, who will hopefully decide that a felon convicted of robbery cannot hold the office of county auditor. Consequently, the person who came in second will retain his old job, after all.

I think I know what happened here. This is Trump country. He carried our county with 57% of the vote. And 41 % of voters in this county vote straight ticket. Which means they don’t care in the least about the qualifications of the person they’re voting for. Why would anyone vote straight ticket? There’s no excuse for that in a small city where we are familiar with the candidates.

Here’s the moral of this story: . Don’t vote straight ticket. Vote for the individual, not the party. Otherwise, a convicted felon could become your county auditor.

November 11, 2020November 11, 2020

MAXING OUT AT THE DOLLAR STORE

Dollar Stores are everywhere—out in the country, and all over town. During this pandemic they’ve become a good place to shop for basics while getting in and out quickly. Some are classier than others, although none of them really fit that description. I’m most apt to stop at the one near the public library on my way home. Compared to other Dollar Stores, It’s pretty much down to the nitty gritty. Because of shoplifting, many products are either locked up or in short supply. They have a steady stream of customers in this low income neighborhood. Yesterday, I noticed more people maxing out at the Dollar Store.

It didn’t seem very crowded at first. But after I’d picked up my vitamins, I noticed the checkout line was backed up, and moving slower than usual. The bottle neck was a woman who couldn’t seem to get her credit card to work. She made several attempts to key in various numbers, with no luck. The clerk was kindly, trying to help. I contemplated offering to pay her bill, until I noticed her cart was filled with soda pop and salty snacks. The dietitian in me just couldn’t deal with that. If you’re almost broke, shouldn’t you buy something healthy? Not for me to judge. She finally found a card that worked, so that ended my moral dilemma.

It’s not unusual to see someone on the edge at that Dollar Store. But it didn’t used to happen very often. However, the next person in line had a similar problem. Since her credit card seemed to be maxed out, her companion pulled some coins and a few wrinkled bills from his pocket, and they made it through. I looked at the customers lined up behind me. They seemed tired and worried. One woman took some items from her cart and put them back on the shelf. The parking lot was full of dented cars and rusty trucks.

Maxing Out at the Dollar Store is a sign of the times. — More folks are maxing out at the Dollar Store, which is a bad sign for the economy.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I felt something coming on; restless as a hurricane. Is this a portent of things to come? I would guess that many of the customers in that store are unskilled folks who work in restaurants or other places where more educated people don’t want to work.. Because of the covid’19 pandemic, their low paying jobs have dried up. They went through their unemployment pay and stimulus money in July. What will happen next? Are we headed for a deeper recession?

When people are maxing out at the dollar store, you have to worry.

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020

DID YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST?

Remember the 2016 Presidential Election? No one could understand why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump. Especially since she won the popular vote. Most political pundits conduct a post mortem after all is said and done. And, the consensus was that a lot of people didn’t like Hillary. They didn’t vote for Trump so much as they voted against Hillary. So what happened in the 2020 Election? I suspect it wasn’t that voters liked Biden so much as they disliked Trump. Did you vote for or against?

What wasn’t to like about Hillary? She was smart, personable, and extremely experienced. Having been married to a two term President, and served as Secretary of State, her credentials far out-classed Trump in every way imaginable. And yet, many people remembered how she defended Clinton in his numerous peccadilloes and affairs. She dismissed all his ex’s and accusers as liars and trashy women. A lot of women, especially, found that annoying. And then, she called the half of Americans who supported Trump, a basket of deplorables. At times, she could sound strident and shrill.

Did you vote for Biden or against Trump. Many Americans probably voted against. — Did Americans vote *for* Biden or against Trump in the 2020 election? In 2016, they voted against Hillary as opposed to Trump.

I saw Hillary Clinton when she came to our city to campaign. In person, she was charismatic and radiant. That didn’t’ come across on the big screen. And so, she lost by a very thin margin.

About Trump: He started off on the wrong foot the day of the inauguration by complaining about his news coverage. Who cared about how many lined the streets or if a small crowd attended. Why did he have to make an issue of it? Trump had his moments, and he did a lot for the economy and working class people. But in the end, many voters got tired of his name calling, tweeting, and firing his advisors. His unpredictable behavior and handling of the coronavirus was the last straw.

Now, if the Democrats had considered Joe Biden a strong candidate in 2016, why didn’t they nominate him to run? Biden was seen by many as simply a party hack, with nothing very outstanding to appeal to the voters. That’s why a lot of people didn’t think he could win this time around. When all’s said and done, I suspect people didn’t vote for Biden as much as they voted against Trump. There were some amazingly smart, talented presidential candidates vying for the nomination during the DNC convention. Even though Biden turned out to be their safe bet, I believe any one of those candidates could have beat Trump. He had made so many enemies, it’s a wonder the election was even close.

Did Americans vote for Biden or against Trump.?

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020

THESE PLACES MAY GIVE YOU FEVER

What do bars and churches have in common? In our city this week, they’ve been hotbeds for spread of the coronavirus. I think I reported a similar situation some time back, when the Department of Health issued an alert about those who went to a particular gentlemen’s club on the same weekend others went to a certain church. Saints and sinners alert! These places may give you fever.

Why do people go to church? Most importantly, because they feel closer to God. But that’s not the only reason. They love the sense of community, singing, finding comfort in troubled times, and relieving stress.

Few people who go to bars are alcoholics. They’re going to meet, see people, relax, wind down, and break the monotony of life. Due to the relaxed atmosphere, they’re more apt to share ideas and talk about their problems.

These places may give you fiver — Whether you’re singing in a bar or a church, these places can give you fever.

In both venues, they’re doing what humans like to do. Getting close to people, finding comfort, sharing ideas, talking, singing, maybe even dancing.

Now, look at how long we’ve been in lockdown due to the pandemic. Almost nine months. It’s no wonder people decide to attend church and go to bars. Covid-19 cases are spiking because of coronavirus fatigue. You get to the point where you just can’t take it anymore.

As seniors, we’re feeling that same fatigue. We’re lucky enough to have sons nearby, but they’re afraid to stay very long for fear of infecting us. We really can’t afford to take any greater risks than going to the grocery store.. At least there, we have a little interaction with another human being at the check out counter.

We’ve even started missing the pizza delivery man.. They now have a no-contact policy. You order online, pay with a credit card, and include a tip. They guy runs on your porch, and leaves a pizza on the swing. It would be nice to at least exchange a few pleasantries, and hand him a cash tip.

I don’t know how long this can go on. Eventually, people will go to places that may give them fever.

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020

7 THINGS WON’T CHANGE NOV. 4th

There’s going to be a whole lot of unhappy people on Wednesday. It may not be clear who won the election. Remember the hanging chads during the 2000 presidential election? It took 2 months for the Supreme Court to determine that Bush had beat Gore. And a lot of people were mad. If you’re feeling gloomy because your candidate isn’t winning, cheer up! 7 things won’t change Nov. 4th.

1. Sunrises and sunsets. Remember the musical based on the “Little Orphan Annie.” comic strip? The top song was, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.”

7 things won't change Nov. 4tth. Sunrises, oceans, loved ones, talents, abilities, libraries and churches will still be there. — SEVEN THINGS WON’T CHANGE NOV 4TH. As Little Orphan Annie said, The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow.

The sun will come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There’ll be sun…

2. Rivers, oceans, lakes, creeks, and streams .Living near the ocean can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how many hurricanes sweep in. But even with all the devastation , there’s always that big blue ocean, and the timeless waves undulating in and out with the predictable tides. In flyover country, wide rivers bend and curves across the continent, giving us that same sense of peace and continuity..

3. Family, friends, and other loved ones. Children and young adults have the comfort of knowing their parents, grandparents, cousins and siblings will still be there for them, no matter who is elected . For seniors, the faces of our grandchildren and all the fine young people provide reassurance that this nation will survive and prosper.

4. Your mind. Rudyard Kipling said, ” They can copy my ideas, but they can’t copy my mind.” You will always have your innate intelligence and creativity.

5. Skills, abilities. And talents. This is a big one. I’ve always envied people who can paint pictures, write songs, score touchdowns, and discover new vaccines. In times of war and peace, or eras of droughts and disasters, those talents will survive to enrich our lives.

6. Libraries haven’t been here for ever, but I think they’re here to stay. Books take us places we’ve never been, and teach us things we need too know.

7. Worship services provide a beacon of light. Even if you don’t attend church, the seven virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity. Fortitude, Justice, Prudence and Temperance will not change.

We seniors will probably go on with our lives. Younger people may see changes in laws and policies that affect them and their children. But after all is said and done, you will still be the same old you. And there are seven things that won’t change Nov. 4th.