Not Now, Nor Ever Been

Years ago, the term “liberal” suddenly became a pejorative term; people began to use it to insult others. The complete breakdown in civil discourse that followed Trump‘s ascension, of course, led to the incitement of the word “libtard” and the development of further insults. Many of us rebranded ourselves as “progressive.” That seemed to dodgeContinue reading “Not Now, Nor Ever Been”

The Polls Take a Toll

This primary election day found us once again volunteering to work at the polls. I was a bit horrified at the location: the boro building of Youngstown, PA. It’s a garage used by the city maintenance people. It’s as dirty as you might expect such a building to be, with dust and rust to beContinue reading “The Polls Take a Toll”

Your Cat’s a What?

On the way home from poll worker training, with a 42-page printout of the Powerpoint presentation that made the whole session echo the sentiment of my mug, “I survived another meeting that should have been an email,” I passed the car of a cultist. He had the cult leader’s head in the rear window likeContinue reading “Your Cat’s a What?”

Teapot in a Tempest

How have your political views changed over time? 2024 has all the promise of being a politically tumultuous year. And I can’t say I’m looking forward to that. Just a few years ago, I’d cast my vote and feel pride in having performed my civic duty and participating in the democratic process. Now I feelContinue reading “Teapot in a Tempest”

I Vote Yes! Or, I Vote, Yes!

Do you vote in political elections? I was an apathetic young person who didn’t think my vote mattered. So I never voted in any elections—until 1980 , when my college roommate, Peter Velz of Poughkeepsie, NY, turned me on to John Anderson. I became very excited by this independent’s candidacy. As I would later discover,Continue reading “I Vote Yes! Or, I Vote, Yes!”