The sun will come up tomorrow.
That might be (1) the most common sentiment around America's breakfast tables this morning and (2) a sad commentary on the 2016 presidential election. The best that can be said of it is that the world won't end because of it. Which is what happens when one candidate has been working with a 57 percent disapproval rating from the beginning, and her opponent has a 67 percent disapproval rating of his own. My, my, how did we get here?
Books will be written to answer that question. But that's commentary for another day. Today, it's important that the American people vote. Because no matter who wins the presidency, a Congress will have to provide a check-and-balance to the Oval Office. (Another sad commentary: We the People will have to rely on Congress to provide reason and good judgment in the coming four years.)
There are two non-conservatives leading in the race for president and commander-in-chief. One of whom promises higher taxes and more regulation on business. The other doesn't understand military alliances and the dangers of trade wars. We must have responsibles, and honorables, in Congress.
There's not much the Arkansas voter can do about Illinois and Florida and New Hampshire and all the other states where control of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives might be won or lost--but Arkansas has its own congressional delegation, and each one in it should be re-elected.
First, there's John Boozman, the senior U.S. senator and father figure from Arkansas. He might not be the flashiest pol out there, but since when is that a negative?
John Boozman takes a hard line on ISIS and border security, and opposes any expansion of Obamacare, which Hillary Clinton promises her supporters she'll do. It's more than enough reason to re-elect John Boozman, who would remain another check and balance in Washington.
If you look at it from the Republican point of view, the House of Representatives is in better shape. But it's not out of reach for the Democrats. And gets closer and closer to their reach every day. Voters in this state can do their part to provide even more checks and balances by re-electing the four congressmen from Arkansas. And they'd all deserve it, even if John Kasich or Marco Rubio were leading in the battleground states.
French Hill has been an outstanding businessman and public servant for decades, and is just now winding up a first term in Congress. Which has featured his noisy and important criticism of the Veterans Administration. (When it comes to the VA, we note that important criticism has to be noisy, lest the bureaucrats ignore the rest of us.)
Rick Crawford, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack have drawn opposition from third parties, and they'd be wise not to ignore them. Gentle Voter would be wise to take the races seriously, too. As always, votes have consequences, and Arkansas voters have well-earned reps for being independent.
There are amendments, acts and issues on the ballot this time around, too. And they are important to the future of this state. So please, Informed Voter, do the right thing.
We'd recommend voting For Issues 1, 2 and 3.
And Against Issue 6.
Issue 1 would change the rules so that county officials around the state could run for office every four years instead of every two. It seems that county judges and sheriffs and tax collectors are doing nothing but campaigning. They're on the ballot every other year. If Issue No. 1 passes, those county officials--and voters--will be able to catch their breath.
The issue would also save the state money by taking off the ballot those races that are uncontested, and change the definition of an "infamous crime" for office holders. (The new law would define an infamous crime for really infamous stuff, such as felonies, abuse of office, tampering, fraud and the like.)
Issue No. 2 would allow the governor to remain governor even on fishing trips out of state. Which only makes sense in these days of cell phones and the Internet.
Issue No. 3 would allow the government to borrow more money to lure businesses to the state. Which is only reasonable when Arkansas has to compete against 49 other states for business.
Issue No. 6 is the medical marijuana project still on the ballot. If dope is a gateway drug, this would be a gateway law to full legalization. Let's not do this. To ourselves or to our kids.
There are many other people and matters on the ballot today. We the People will speak. And the sun will come up tomorrow.
Editorial on 11/08/2016