This year the election has been stressful. As this
blog is intended as a relief from the stresses of life The Panda Bear will
attempt to be nonpartisan. However, the Panda Bear is saddened by
the deteriorating nature of the American political system. In fact
the Panda Bear thinks the American political system is increasingly sounding
like pre-Enlightenment European politics. In
these ways the Panda Bear thinks American politics looks more and more like pre-modern politics.
1) The election is more about the candidates
rather than political issues.
2) This
election resembles a war. In the Middle Ages governing was about brute force, power and
alliances. In this election one feels the winning party is the one
that can impose his/her will on the rest of us by a display of massive
strength. Rule of law does not seem to matter. The candidates try to win alliances with
certain groups.
3) It is
election it one is seen as a traitor if one supports the opposing candidate.
The idea seems to be gone that one can be
patriotic and loyal to this country but have differing world views. The demonization n of the opposition is used to justify this
warlike nature of the elections.
4)
Religion has become a key issue for both of the two dominate parties.
The Panda Bear grew up in the seventies
where she was taught that in the United States after John Kennedy people did
not vote for candidates based on their religion. She also was
taught Christians were trying to resolve their differences and become more
united. In this election, the Panda Bear has heard both Trump and
Clinton state proudly that they were mainstream Protestants. The Panda
Bear thinks this is a step backwards for both political parties in terms of
religious toleration and commitment to secular government. The Panda Bear
thinks the religious tome of this election resembles something of out 1600 not
2000.
Meanwhile in her
personal life, the Panda Bear will be starting a new job next week. It
is twenty hours per week. The Panda Bear does not need the money from
full-time employment. To her the greatest luxury is an afternoon off.
More importantly, the Panda Bear does not need health insurance from
work. For the past twenty years the Panda Bear has gotten health
insurance through Mr. Panda.
Some people think
it was an accident in US history that health insurance is employment based.
The Panda Bear knows of many people who work mainly for the health
insurance. As the Panda Bear hears of more people embracing the
idea of Medicare for all, the Panda Bear realizes that this idea would be a
revolution not just in the world of health care but in the world of employment.
It would be a drastic change in the nature of employment if people
did not have to get their health insurance through work. Probably
this change would benefit small business. However, the Panda Bear
thinks this effect of Medicare for All on the workplace needs to be examined.
