Register to vote/Check your voter status

It seems every four years the political talking heads come out and say that “This election is the most important election of the modern era.” And you know what, for 2020, they might actually be right.  Because whether you think everything is hunky-dory, or you think the best description of the country is a dumpster fire, there will be major repercussions whoever wins this November.

Now you could just sit back and say, “Why bother voting when the system is broken?” Well, one aspect of why the system is broken is because too many people don’t bother being a part of it.  The only way to have a government that reflects the country is if the majority of the people participated in choosing that government.  Our government is not perfect – it’s very, very far from perfect – but not voting is you saying you’ll just take whatever happens.  And if you don’t like what you’re given, well, you can’t complain because you had the chance to make your voice heard and chose not to.

The way to make your voice heard is to register to vote.  How to register should be laid out on your state’s website.  But even if you’ve already registered, you should take the time to check your registration status, which I think is an option on most state websites.  (You may also wish to double check on your polling place.)  An important reason to do this now, is that there are several reasons why your status could be wrong: you moved and forgot to update it, a clerical error, or maybe you were caught up in an overly enthusiastic purge.  Whatever the reason, if you check now and find a problem you can get it all worked out before Election Day.  Election Day is hectic enough without people waiting in line only to find out there’s an issue.

So register to vote, or check your status, so everything will be in order come November 3rd and you can make sure your voice will be heard, in this, the most important election of the modern era.

There’s no such thing as a bad cop

To some people, such a statement will seem like grounds for tar and feathering, but I hope they will actually read what I write before heating up the tar.

To me, a police officer is someone who maintains law and order, who protects and serves the public.  They are a necessary aspect of modern civilization and deserve respect, just like firefighters, doctors, teachers, etc. 

The problem is that there are also some people out there who either commit crimes or just look the other way while crimes are being committed who wear police uniforms.  Many will call such people bad cops, but to me, they are criminals – or at best impostors – in uniform.  It’s like, if I said that I hated Christmas many people would ask why I’m anti-Christian.  But I’d answer, “What does a three month orgy of consumerism have to do with Christianity?” We have these vastly different things – a religious holiday (which I am indifferent to) and a corporate orgy (which I’ve come to loath) – referred to with the same word.  To me, a cop is someone who protects and serves.  If you’re not doing that, then you’re not a cop.  We have a term for police officers, and a term for criminals, but we don’t have a term for where those overlap, although I’d say that criminal should be the term.

I will admit that there is a grey area between police officers and impostors in uniforms.  There are some slightly dirty cops, and they should be helped to clean up instead of letting fall further into crime.  Still, some actions are irredeemable and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

So how did so many non-cops end up in, or even running, police departments?  That is a serious issue that needs addressed.  But this is America.  The engine can be making odd noises for months, but it’s not until there’s flames coming up around the hood that we go, “Well, I guess I’ll have to see what’s wrong with it.”