Ya pays ya money and takes ya chance

There’s an old joke about the gambler who showed up every Friday night for the poker game, even though he knew it was a crooked game. Why? It was the only game in town. Democracy, as currently practiced by US, would, I believe, be better off if more civics lessons explained that’s how our two-party system works. There was an article in The Guardian the other day about how the administration’s position on Gaza might cost President Biden the support of our younger generation. As an old-timer in this game, that leaves me wondering about options for that generation to help secure their future:

ready to vote?

Photo by J. Harrington

1. Vote for Trump? He’s clearly not going to do more for Palestinians than Biden. He’s only in it for himself and those like him.


2. Stay home and don’t vote? That’s abdication of responsibility, casting your fate to the winds, and, as far as I can see, doesn’t really get anyone anything except the opportunity to wear a bumber sticker that says “Don’t blame me. I didn’t vote for him.”


3. Organize for a multi-party, parliamentary system? Look at how well a parliamentary system worked for Britain and Brexit.

Much as it irritates the hell out of me, devoting more time to politics, accountability, truth, and justice, i.e., what should be our common grounds in a democracy, seems to be our best available option. The next best would be to vote for Trump and watch him burn everything to the ground and then we can rebuild from the ashes. Which would you prefer?

1^st VOTE

By Kamilah Aisha Moon

It was hers.

She had this choice

behind curtained bliss,

Dad’s chest full on the other side

as her tapered hand

pulled the lever.

No matter how wide

the final margin,

a lone ballot

never counted so much.

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