Vote the Environment

If you weren't awake or otherwise didn't get a glimpse of this morning's dawn, you missed a spectacular sight. About 6:30 there was the slightest hint of light at the horizon. By 6:40 the sky was full of bands and stripes of purple and grape and fuscia and lavender and pink and watermelon and... Then, by 7:00 clouds and washed out peach and coral had taken over. November is usually one of the cloudiest months in Minnesota, cloudy about two-thirds of the time. Get out your seasonal affective disorder lamps or spend more time watching for dawns like today's.

the beauty of a November dawn

Photo by J. Harrington

From the weather forecast, we're do for a little rain today but tomorrow's supposed to be sunny and slightly mild. No excuse to not go vote. Remember, if you don't vote tomorrow you can't complain about politics for the next two years. NSA and DHS will come and getcha'. I definitely plan on voting because I can't begin to picture how miserable I'd be if I couldn't complain about politics or politicians for two years. Sometimes I think I'm only happy when I'm not, but the way the political parties and many of their candidates have clustered together, there's little chance for me to be happy about the Eighth Congressional District choices. I get to go pick the least worst alternative and feel as if I don't get a choice but an echo. Both major party candidates support the PolyMet proposal and, from what I read, give, at best, lip service to the necessary environmental protection and financial assurance provisions. Based on the limited research I've done so far, I don't see how anyone can claim the PolyMet proposal will set a standard for excellence without a documented requirement to exceed current regulatory practices and become a sustainable project. As best I can, I'm planning tomorrow to Vote the Environment. Without a sustainable environment, what have we got?

some of the beauty of northern Minnesota

Photo by J. Harrington

Vachel Lindsay seems to have the perspective we need for tomorrow and thereafter.

Why I Voted the Socialist Ticket

By Vachel Lindsay 

I am unjust, but I can strive for justice.

My life’s unkind, but I can vote for kindness.

I, the unloving, say life should be lovely.

I, that am blind, cry out against my blindness.

Man is a curious brute—he pets his fancies—

Fighting mankind, to win sweet luxury.

So he will be, though law be clear as crystal,

Tho’ all men plan to live in harmony.

Come, let us vote against our human nature,

Crying to God in all the polling places

To heal our everlasting sinfulness

And make us sages with transfigured faces. 

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.