The election was no red tidal wave. More like a tidal pool. Pundits will be dissecting the “why” for weeks, maybe months, to come. In reality, they will be discussing the strategy of this party or that candidate, but the real cause for whoever gets into office or stays in office comes down to one common denominator—the American voter. Exit polls on Tuesday’s election indicated that almost three-quarters of voters were dissatisfied, even angry, about the direction of the country. Well over half were also concerned about the Supreme Court abortion decision. Like two trains coming at one another on the same track from opposite directions, these “feelings” collided on election day. And things didn’t change much.
This has been one of the worst Administrations in history. There were Democratic governors that no one thought would be re-elected. There were states that re-elected congressmen and senators that appeared not to have a chance. When I was in politics, we learned that voters may be very angry, but they are angry at the other congressmen or politicians because they believe their representative is doing well. Even though we know that a definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. Certainly, with the news media and corporate involvement in the elections—just the headlines alone—undiscerning voters’ perception of reality can be altered to the point that they cannot make a decision to even save themselves. It’s called ideological subversion and its alive and well in American society.
Many will point to voter fraud, voter security, voting machines. They will be labeled the election deniers. Personally, after some 16 years full time in politics and many more as a part-timer (because you really never get out of this business once you are in it), I never have been a fan of voting machines or computerized voting. Call me old fashioned, but paper ballot with proper identification is the most secure way to vote and to have votes counted. But even so, there were many elections that were altered due to other ways to cheat the system. Election security and integrity is key and when that breaks down it causes people to question their faith and confidence in elections. It is a huge problem.
Logic and discernment has been replaced with feelings and fear. Certainly, the candidates’ campaigns, with the supporting cast of the news media, calling people a danger to democracy or too extreme to serve or whatever also contribute to this societal condition. Overall, however, American voters reflect the country. It’s deeply divided, lacks a moral compass, and is confused about its identity. And that’s why we get what we get with unethical, unreasonable, even stupid leadership. Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Deception, mocking God, reaping what is sown. And that’s why elections turn the way they do. American voters want to blame it on many things, but at the end of the day, it’s their own…say it with me…stupidocrisy.
