42 year old press secretary, Jen Psaki, tested positive for Covid. She is fully vaccinated. She had mild symptoms, and for possible transmission concerns, had to quarantine from family and friends. 37 year old NFL quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, tested positive for Covid. He is not vaccinated. He had mild symptoms, and for possible transmission concerns, had to quarantine from family and friends.
Psaki was given well wishes from supporters. Rodgers was ripped apart by media and fans. He, and the Packers, were fined. “Experts” weighed in on the potential consequences of the negative message Rodgers sent by not getting vaccinated.
Again, both Psaki and Rodgers recently tested positive for Covid. Both relatively young, and both had to quarantine away from family and friends. There was no difference in symptoms. There was no difference in ability to transmit between the one who was vaccinated, and the one who was not. Why was one treated with compassion and the other vilified? Why is there is an acceptable, and unacceptable, way to get Covid?
You hear from someone that a mutual friend was in a car accident. You ask, “Are they ok? What happened? Who was in the car? Where were they?” You finish with, “I hope they were wearing a seatbelt.” You find out that they just left a downtown bar and that everyone is ok, however, your statement about the seatbelt is met with, “They were not wearing a seatbelt. They were lucky”, to which your reply is, “Lucky is right. Thank God they’re ok.”
Now…
You hear from someone that a mutual friend has tested positive for Covid. You ask, “Are they vaccinated?” You are told they are not. You reply, “What the hell is wrong with them? Don’t they know it’s not about them? Why are they so selfish? I keep saying to get vaccinated and wear the mask! You know what? You reap what you sow.”
Of these two scenarios, only one person was selfish. Only one person deserves your anger and disgust. Only one person was careless with their life, and the lives of others. . . Are you mad at the wrong person?
Now that we are a year removed from last year’s Presidential election I thought it would be a good time to focus in on this question. Not because this is something that I worry or obsess over but, in large part, because I can not escape the coverage that CNN and others routinely give to this issue. I read a lot. Mostly, articles from the left. And I am amazed how often I come across statements like the following:
About two-thirds of Americans say they are confident that next year’s congressional elections will be conducted fairly (65%), but that only includes 31% who are very confident. The effects of repeated lies about the 2020 election’s validity are clear: Republicans express significantly less confidence than Democrats in the fairness of the coming contests. Overall, just 40% of Republicans say they are confident the elections will be carried out fairly, compared with 84% of Democrats. Among independents, 66% are confident that the elections will be fair
CNN Poll: Majority of Americans say Biden isn’t paying attention to nation’s most important issues
Did you catch it? I know, it’s easy to miss. But almost every time I read an article and think to myself “wow, finally no spin”, I am soon reminded that I am not allowed to think for myself because the author throws in something seemingly gratuitous like “The effects of the repeated lies…”; a completely unnecessary, yet very powerful line. I believe most readers don’t recognize these unsolicited assertions as a form of mental control, wielded by the writer, to direct the way we think. Regardless of your opinion on the election issue, how many times would you have to read or hear a phrase like that before it starts to impact your thoughts; even every so slightly?
You see, I don’t know if the election was stolen but I do know there are a lot of people trying real hard to tell me that it wasn’t. And they do it from a condescending posture; a “I know better, just take my word for it” place. I find this type of rhetoric the worst form of disrespect and it almost always causes out of me a visceral response to distrust the conveyor and what is being conveyed. It’s like I am forced to put on a conspiracy hat even though I am naturally incline to want to believe the results as is.
So I read the Arizona, Maricopa County Election Audit (only 5 pages, the link is below), and what I found was that there are plenty of reasons for Arizonians to question their voting systems. In fact, the type of errors that were found by the auditors should concern all Americans: Right & Left. And this is just one audit out of dozens that should have been performed to ensure future election integrity. But instead of wanting what’s best for our Republic, half of the country and most of our power structure are quickly proclaiming “there is nothing wrong”, no “there, there”, “the election was fair and all who say otherwise are Right-winged, conspiracy, nut-jobs”. These types of responses do not settle the argument for me. They do not instill confidence that my (or America’s) best interests are in play.
And why are we so quick to marginalize and decapitate anyone who suggests a different narrative? I hope the election was fair, and I hope we can trust our voting systems, but my hope is being dashed by the ones who try to silence the decenters, and quit frankly, by the American people for not demanding more! We should fight for and expect, an unambivalent and unassailable, clear and comprehensive audit of every State, County, City, Municipality, or Precinct where there was even a hint of impropriety. Not because we expect to find anything wrong but because we want to make sure that the country is united around the ideal of America: free and fair, A city on a hill, exceptional, honest elections, able to admit and grow from our mistakes. Is that too much to ask?
So, were the elections rigged? I don’t know. And that’s the problem!
