We are off and running in the first week of 2016 and the future is upon us and in our face in this Presidential election year. So far the GOP front runner, the confident Donald Trump, has proclaimed the $2 million per week he is going to be spending on advertising as “probably a waste.” It remains to be seen which of his GOP challengers will be able to sustain matching that amount on a weekly basis. The two main candidates vying for the Democratic nomination have set fundraising records as 2015 came to a close. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders have both raised enough money to run competitive campaigns by any reasonable standard. These years long campaign cycles, which have always been present but are now so much more a part of daily living due to all the money in politics thanks to the Citizens United decision, have become our new normal.
Locally, along the Mother Road’s most conservative stretch, we Oklahoma Democrats have high hopes of recouping some legislative seats lost in the era of insanity that was the earmark of the 2010 Tea Party tidal wave. We have all borne bewildered witness to what conservative governance has gotten us in Oklahoma with earthquakes increasing in number and intensity and a state budget eight figures in the hole and a litany of other undesirable results of misguided legislation and management. Going forward we are going to make John & Jane Q. Voter aware that results matter. Be it known that if anyone thinks running a state government the way Governor Fallin and the GOP majority have resembles competent leadership then reelect their GOP incumbent. They will deliver us all more of the same. So many things that involve the management of the state bureaucracy cannot be couched in terms of “liberal” or “conservative” or “Republican” or “Democrat.” Much of it has to be judged in terms of what is “reasonable” or what is “unreasonable.” Partisan mandates notwithstanding, there eventually comes a time when elected officials must step off the campaign treadmill and actually do what they were elected by the voters to do, that is govern. There are going to have to be some difficult decisions made at the higher levels of leadership and if those responsible fail to make them then it will be widely known as it will be widely apparent.
On a personal note, the only thing I have changed in my day to day negotiation of life is the termination of my abstinence from alcohol. Since the first month of the Reagan Administration thirty-five years ago, when I got on the wagon to prepare myself for pursuit of higher education and for then religious reasons, I have consumed infinitesimal amounts of alcohol. I certainly consumed none during a 12 year relationship and marriage to an alcoholic struggling with her disease. At this point in my life, almost five years removed from my divorce from the alcoholic and nearly thirty-five years from quitting daily alcohol consumption cold turkey, I have established a track record of discipline and responsible conduct. At one minute after midnight on New Year’s Morning I celebrated the arrival of the future with a Samuel Adams Winter Lager. The exquisite flavor of such a finely brewed beer affirmed my knowledge of what life is really about; meaningful relationships with curious and caring people, tasting good food, touching and being touched sensually by loved ones, doing the best we can in the fairest way possible in whatever situation we may find ourselves, and enjoying the taste and occasional buzz from finely brewed beer, bottled wine and distilled spirits.
In terms of projects going forward in this New Year, I am working on a novel based on my high school senior year journal. It details a very poignant coming of age story of three people, myself and two very good friends with whom it has been my privilege to recently reconnect. I have test marketed the first two chapters to a select audience and thus far it has gotten rave reviews. I am hoping to have it complete later this year. Given this is an election year and I will be busy with several local campaigns the completion of it may be delayed, but it is going to eventually be presentable for publishing.
The future is here, 2016 is upon us, may we rise to all challenges, negotiate all crises, and thrive in all joys life presents us.
Duly noted! 😉
With emphasis on “occasional” buzzes… 😉