Re-election vs Real Action

The elections just happened to us, resulting in a US President and other, lesser beings. The outcome has made some people happy and others upset. My hope is to temper your emotions, whichever bucket you find yourself knee-deep in.

You can take heart because, despite the endless talking points and sensational claims leading up to the fateful decision, the recipients of the national blessing really don't have as much power over our lives as they'd like you to think.

We know they can't do anything single-handedly, but it's worse than that. The people in "power" are hell-bent on avoiding even reading the bills they pass (and I must say I share their distaste for their output). There are so many cooks in the kitchen that the body odor has GOT to distract and also affect the taste of the food. Meaning: there are thousands of aides and lobbyists and family members who actually DO have influence. If you are one of them, my condolences. Otherwise, their input into the sausage grinder that is government really does not amount to much. Heck, their work is magnificently dwarfed by their bureaucrats who produce 20x more rules than the laws that trigger them. (Yes, that is a real number.)

"Yes, but the president will influence national direction for the next 4 years!"

Sure... but I'm saying that, even if you helped picked that influencer and your side of the kitchen won this round's cooking battle, they will stumble into just as problems that hurt your causes as they will stumble upon policies that help you.

So what can be done?

What, indeed.

Thankfully we all have lives that we lead, where we don't have to promise to fix macroeconomic problems. We actually work to fix real problems in front of us. We try to maintain our integrity and principles while we deal with difficulties in our lives and the lives of those around us.

That is the work that builds good society.

Politicians need their work to be known, so they need to announce their work and make news. The invention of the national political arena not only employs politicians but now employs numerous newscasters, uncomfortably many of them full-time. But as much as the sensational issues grab attention, they are not real life. Politicians have jobs because we support them, not the other way around. Our work is by far more permanent and truly impactful because we work within the bounds of reality; we don't create ideal worlds where millions of pegs fit perfectly in millions of holes.

So I hope you accept this encouragement: no matter what they announce or threaten or slyly hint (or even pass as legislation), your time and effort invested in your life and those around you will have much more long-lasting and deep impact than their superficial nudges. They will push broad swaths of people in small ways (or sometimes overbearing ways), but their force doesn't hold a candle to the reasoned and inspired actions we take of our own free will – especially if you have faithful allies by your side.

Finally, take heart: as bad as any of these politicians might be, there have been worse.

The Sedition Act made it a federal crime to publish anything about Congress or the president that would bring them into “contempt or disrepute.” In other words, the Sedition Act made it a federal crime to publish anything about Congress or the president. - P.J. O'Rourke

National poobahs have made criminals out of people who hold gold and sell alcohol. So the politicians you fear today have stiff competition with those in the past when it comes to stupidity and totalitarianism.

Despite their most enthralled imaginings, we'll just keep working on the right way to manage our families, work, and communities.

Time Safari is one tool to support that real work.

Further Activities

• In Time Safari:
  • New users now get introductory messages to explain the intent of the app and the purpose of first few pages.
  • When offers are made, the recipients or the owners of the projects will now see a large green notice on the first page to let them know. You can also see all the activity on the new link "View All New Activity For You" at the top of the feed.
• Enjoy some effortless political humor.
  • H L Mencken & Mark Twain
  • Funny Times cartoons
  • Political topics from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce:
    • LAWFUL, adj. Compatible with the will of a judge having jurisdiction.
    • LAWYER, n. One skilled in circumvention of the law.
    • POLITICIAN, n. An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.
    • POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
    • PRESIDENT, n. The leading figure in a small group of men of whom — and of whom only — it is positively known that immense numbers of their countrymen did not want any of them for President.
    • VOTE, n. The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
    • SATAN, n.

One of the Creator's lamentable mistakes, repented in sashcloth and axes. Being instated as an archangel, Satan made himself multifariously objectionable and was finally expelled from Heaven. Half-way in his descent he paused, bent his head in thought a moment and at last went back. "There is one favor that I should like to ask," said he.

"Name it."

"Man, I understand, is about to be created. He will need laws."

"What, wretch! You, his appointed adversary, charged from the dawn of eternity with hatred of his soul —- you ask for the right to make his laws?"

"Pardon; what I have to ask is that he be permitted to make them himself."

It was so ordered.