Nonetheless, Election Day involves playing lots of bluegrass. Including the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Cynthia wants to hear Wu-Tang "Bring da Rawkus." No British invasion today, even though I am digging this Kinks CD I just got ("The Singles Collection," all their old Pye stuff from the 60s.) Etta James. Who can feel bad while Etta James is singing?
When I went running this morning I ran past my polling place and the line wrapped around the block. Since I don't have to work today, I will wait until mid-day to vote. Let the people who have to be somewhere do their voting first.
Election Day usually involves making pancakes, but Cynthia has a glucose test and is fasting. So I won't torture her with pancakes she can't have. Today I have the day off and she does not. So while she's in the office I will finish painting the baby's room and then make a duck confit with fig and port wine reduction for dinner.
Tonight we are going to go out to watch the returns -- hoping to celebrate, unless the Republicans steal three in a row, in which case it will be planning to emigrate. Once the US ceases to be a democracy, there's really no reason to live here.
On the downticket races, my general philosophy is "all things being equal, vote against the incumbent." If you have no reason to vote FOR someone, time for new blood. Ordinarily I would vote against my incumbent (Democratic) Congressman but whoever is running against him has never once asked for my vote -- not with a sign, an appearance, an email, a commercial. I don't even know his or her name. In that situation, I can't in good conscience vote for whoever the Republican is.
There are no city offices in play today. Like most big cities on the East Coast, Baltimore has had virtual one-party rule for a long time. It has worked out about as well as one-party-rule usually works out: very effective at first, then corrupt, and then simply inept. I would like to see a second party seriously vie with the Democrats in Baltimore; it would ensure that everyone did a better job of governing. However, the Republican Party platform is that if you are black, or educated, or live in a city, you aren't a real American, and don't count. Therefore, is it any wonder that the Republican Party isn't viable in this city?
I will vote against the slots amendment.
(A) It's bad policy; money spent on slots is money not spent in locally owned businesses. Slots money is divided into three piles: a tiny pile to the winners, a slightly larger pile to the State, and a giant pile to some Nevada-based gaming corporation. This is a stupid, self-defeating policy unless most of your gamblers come from another state, and since Maryland is surrounded by states with slot machines, most of the slots players will be in-state. (And the arms race continues; Delaware and PA will add video poker, then Maryland will have to, then they will add table games, then we will have to, then they will ad sports book, then we will have too... making the citizens poorer, the local businesses more strapped, and the giant Nevada gaming corporation richer).
(B) It's bad governance; the legislature could grow a pair and pass a slots bill itself, but it's too paralyzed and chickenshit to take a decisive action. Constitutions should not be amended except when absolutely necessary. It sets a bad precedent to amend the Constitution pointlessly.
I will vote, reluctantly, for all the bond issues. Candidly I think that at least one of the large public institutions seeking a bond issue is going to go under; I never seen anyone go in or out of Port Discovery. But maybe I'm wrong, and it is viable, and just needs a new roof.
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