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!
These are some really good points. And your closing statement speaks volumes to the issue. We really don’t know what happened good of bad and its shocking how people don’t realize the cover-up job the media is trying to get away with.
Thanks for your comments. “Cover up” may be a bit strong, but I get the point.
Ok, I must start by saying that although you have made a valiant and, I believe, sincere attempt to cast your question in the light of neutrality it is clear from the referencing only of left spinning media’s continued coverage of the lack of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election results and none of the ongoing, ad nauseam, coverage of the issues uncovered at various canvasing boards and methods of casting votes, by right spinning Fox News, OAN and other conservative news and opinion journals. This use of only one sides fixation has expose your personal proclivities to be spinning in the right direction. (Right meaning conservative rather than correct.) I personally would have liked the question to have been couched with a nod to both sides of the equation’s manic behavior. It would have by no means lessened your point and would have, in my opinion, in fact broadened the interest and reach of audience in the question you ultimately asked and improved the strength of the feeling that you were left unknowing as to the possibility of the Presidential election having been “rigged”.
Having said that, I wonder if you truly mean “Rigged”? Meaning that you are unsure as to whether an organized movement fraudulently put in place a system of actions to bring about a particular result. In this case, to change, remove or alter cast ballets in order to put Joe Biden into office. If this is truly your concern and the Maricopa County Election Audit is your bases for this concern. then rest at ease, there was no inconsistencies or problems, accidental or orchestrated, that would have moved enough votes to change the ultimate result of the election or for that matter, to change the result of Maricopa County and this according to the audit itself and the State Senate that ordered the audit.
On the other hand, if your question is, can we “The People” be confident that our election processes are without problems that can be exploited by unscrupulous political actors? This my friend is a very good question and the Maricopa audit, as well as audits of several canvasing boards has demonstrated that we do have weaknesses that need to be addressed. But again, as far as 2020 was concerned, no audit demonstrated that any inconsistencies, problems or weaknesses would have changed the results.
It seems to me the problem with the majority of us is that we seek out answers with a confirmation bias that keeps us from objectively looking at any issue or the audits of any results we dont like in an emotionless, unbiased way. Which in this day and age is not a hard thing to do by any means. all the media venues mentioned by you and me here and the countless other opinion writers, bloggers and YouTubers that can be found on line, all report facts from one perspective and one perspective alone. Even those that attempt natural optics never can get entirely away from their core bias. As we all should know by now, Facts do not make truth! Therefore, it is incumbent on us to do a little work and seek out the truth of anything that “rubs” us the wrong way. Sometimes we will find that our view of things is skewed a bit and sometimes we will find compelling arguments and facts missing from our point of view that show our view of things is just plan incorrect.
In conclusion, if you believe that the 2020 election was “rigged”, you are ignoring a large set of facts that prove the contrary beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wow, I think you should be writing articles on ND (I really mean it). I appreciate the observation about my apparent bias, and to be fair, I started writing the piece immediately after reading the cited article, so I shot from the hip, without much research.
I also think your question about “rigged” is fascinating because I don’t think I ever considered the full scope of the word and what I was really feeling. To be sure, there are a lot who see the election as “stolen” and so would side with your first definition. But I don’t know if I would go that far. I do know that in multiple states (Philadelphia, Michigan, just to cite two) changes were made, and went into effect, regarding voting procedures that could only have been legally approved by the state legislature. And since these changes didn’t go through “normal order”, meaning no one from the legislature voted for, or approved, these changes, I believe they may have influenced the election results.
Now I know I have no way of quantifying that opinion and honestly, even if I could, I don’t know if it would have changed the zeitgeist of the voting populous. What I do know is that the ones who made the changes (outside of “normal order”) felt it would have some material benefit for their party and that is where I have a problem.
And that is where “rigged” comes into play in the theater of my mind. When New England, deflated their balls or video taped the opposing team’s sidelines, we have no idea if it really lead to wins. But can we agree, we no longer feel good about the process? And that’s where I’m at on this election.
We bend, prod, and break political rules in such a way, that the end results no longer feel good; they no longer feel pure or right.
And when that happens, we all lose.