On Election Day: 7 Issues On Which Americans Can Agree

/ Ally Bean

Perhaps you’ve noticed lately that the news media in all its permutations is obsessing on the idea that we Americans are divided… on all issues… with no unity on anything to be found?

WELL, I CALL HOGWASH.

Thus I, a free spirit and seemingly only sane person left in the middle of this country, give you the following list wherein I’ve taken it upon myself to point out issues on which Americans agree.

YES, I USED THE A-WORD.

So what do you think, my gentle readers, are you comfortable focusing on unity instead of divisiveness?  And of equal importance, what have I forgotten to add to this list? 🤔

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7 ISSUES ON WHICH AMERICANS CAN AGREE

  1. Commercial airplane travel is a tedious experience, even if they don’t lose your luggage.
  2. Daylight Savings Time is a bad idea in and of itself may or may not be a bad idea, but changing your clock in response to it, or any time change, is difficult. [Thanks to commenters, revised upon reconsideration.]
  3. Paying attention to any Kardashian is a waste of your time.
  4. Sports announcers, hired because they claim to be experts, are as clueless as the rest of us about who’ll win the game.
  5. Christmas merchandise for sale in retail stores in August is ridiculous.
  6. The price of a movie ticket is too high.
  7. Meteorologists who report the weather on TV news are bluffing about what’s going to happen.

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82 thoughts on “On Election Day: 7 Issues On Which Americans Can Agree”

  4. Yep! Although the Cleveland sports teams are currently so terrible, it’s not hard to predict their outcomes. Sigh.

    Daylight saving time is a particular GRRR of mine. Why oh WHY are we still doing this? It’s akin to making offerings to the gods for good crops, or tying on a bustle, or…you know?

    Liked by 3 people

    • nance, I like your assessment of Daylight Savings Time. When you put on your bustle as you’re making your offering to the gods for good crops I hope that you’ll be able to have one of those newfangled daguerreotypes made. They are all the rage now, you know? 🙃

      Like

  5. I take offense to #2 as I love that extra hour of sunlight in the summer. I’ll replace it with constant ads for drugs which we can’t afford for ailments we don’t have until they start mentioning the symptoms! 9 out of 10 isn’t bad though!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Your take is refreshing! A Google search says that all races are 99.9 percent the same, DNA-wise, though there are huge differences in genomes. I wish those with opposing views would think of negotiation and compromise — with civility instead of mud-slinging.

    The election has probably already been decided due to early voting. We just don’t know the results yet. And, yes, I voted weeks ago by mail. Great post, Ally!

    Liked by 1 person

    • marian, I didn’t know that about the 99.9% DNA sameness, but it confirms my commitment to the idea that people be people, so play nice. Hate, no. Civility, yes.

      I voted early, too. It was a first for me. I mailed in my ballot about a month ago, so all this mud-slinging and ‘news’ crap hasn’t influenced me in the least about who to vote for. I’m ready for all them to zip it.

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  8. Great post, Ally. Thank you for the entertaining diversion. I’ve too long been someone who divides the world: motorboaters vs sailboaters, tp rolls over vs under, etc. We need now, more than ever to focus on what unites us.

    I have one correction. You wrote, “Christmas merchandise for sale in retail stores in August is ridiculous.” I’d change this to October. Even November. I want to enjoy Thanksgiving without the trappings of what’s become a far-too commercial enterprise. Ah, but that’s another post.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, it’s not that I’m a Pollyanna, by any stretch of the imagination– but I’m sick to death of all the focus on differences. What say we put a little energy into what unites, eh?

      If you can figure out a way to convince retailers to keep the Christmas merchandise out of the stores until December, you have a superpower that’d entitle you to rule the planet. Go for it! 😄

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  9. 2. I would vote for any candidate, no matter how reprehensible, if they would promise and be able to deliver on that promise of abolishing DST.

    5. I am proud to say my store haven’t been guilty of this in well over a decade. Of course, that doesn’t stop some smart alecks like the young bozo last night who tapped our overly gaudy Christmas toy signage and said in my general direction “Christmas? It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet!” To which I was able to completely and utterly ignore his asinine observation…

    7. Many TV weathermen have more experience as broadcasters than as actual meteorologists. The station I interned with 22 years ago brought in a weatherman with so litter actual weather experience that he couldn’t even use that fancy AMS seal they like to show off. Naturally, he went on to fortune and fame at The Weather Channel because…. well, he looked good on TV despite not having a clue.

    Liked by 2 people

    • evilsquirrel13, as someone who’s not a fan of DST, I’ll vote for your candidate, too.

      By ignoring bothersome dude with a penchant for stating the obvious you’ve risen about the situation. I can deal with Christmas merchandise in November because I’m a planner and getting stuff ahead of time seems smart. But not in August…

      You’ve confirmed what I’ve long suspected about TV weather reporters, which is that they’re on my screen because they look good, not because they know anything. Same as it ever was, eh?

      Like

  12. There will always be some things that everyone can agree on. I love your list even if I’m ok with DLS. I look forward to the leap ahead every spring. In fact, why not just leave it at DLS?

    I didn’t know – until last night – that there is a large contingent of American expats in Toronto who are eligible to vote – almost 600 eligible to vote in Florida alone. There are ‘viewing parties’ planned in the city for these voters to watch the election results.

    If you’re interested in the 3 minute news clip for a taste of Canadian news about American politics … https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1532582

    Liked by 2 people

    • Joanne, thanks for the link. It was interesting to hear what Americans in Canada have to say + what they’re doing about this election. I didn’t know about any of that.

      I’d be okay with adopting Daylight Savings Time all year as long as it meant that we never changed our clocks again. Just pick a time and stick with it, you know?

      Liked by 1 person

  13. The bigger you are, the less comfortable air travel is.

    Speaking of air travel, the whole reason for standardizing time in this country was for the railroads, and ultimately the airlines. Of course, it makes no difference if the schedule says a flight takes off at 7 AM and it doesn’t get off the ground until 8. Anyway, if we were never to “spring forward and fall back” again, I and probably most of the nation would be very happy.

    Weather changes from minute to minute and the forecast gets adjusted almost as frequently. The most a weather person on TV can do is give you the forecast as of when they go on the air. Two hours later, it might be completely different. Nature doesn’t always listen to Harry Volkman, as we used to say in Chicago.

    It’s the nature of sports that, on any given day, any team can beat any other team. Luck is a bigger factor in sports than anyone realizes, something that sportscasters, whether or not they ever played the game, are aware of. Except for Joe Buck, of course; he’s a moron.

    Liked by 1 person

    • John, air travel is something I tolerate, but do not enjoy anymore. It’s just hassle.

      Daylight Savings Time was a good idea for the farmers, but now as a more industrialized society it makes less sense. I like the concept of standardized times, and would be open to using DST as it, but none of this moving time around twice a year.

      I think TV weather forecasters need to have a large disclaimer printed on the screen below them that says: I’m probably wrong, but I’m saying this anyhow because I’ve found a job that allows me to weasel out of accountability. Truth in advertising, so to speak.

      And as for sports announcers, I could do without any of them. It’s all babble, babble, babble– endlessly boring, mostly conjecture. Fortunately we know about the mute button so for us they’re literally just talking heads on the screen.

      Like

  14. LOL in California DST is on our ballot. It will remain to be seen how much “everyone” is against it. I love fall back but hate spring forward. Also, with regard to #1, I personally love air travel but perhaps I’ve not had the horrible experiences some have had. I may not be traveling enough as it is still a novelty to me. The rest, yes.yes.yes! Oh, #4: Joe Buck sucks! Great post for voting day, Ally. Mailed my ballot in yesterday 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, is that right?! DST is on the ballot? It’s been pointed out to me by other commenters that the real issue with DST is that it makes us move our time around and that it’s the change that bugs everyone. Myself included.

      Yes, I, too, voted by absentee ballot and am glad that I did. Much easier.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Yeah, you know us Californians…we have issues with rules and such. Time control??? They are bringing examples of how it affects old(er) people. Makes them disoriented. We just want to go with the flow of the sun, the moon and the stars – LOL Really, since I work from home going in to vote has never been an issue since I can go during everyone else’s working hours. I just figured I’d give the whole mail-in thing a try. Keeps the postman in a job.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Janet, I’m a go with the flow person, too. For me whether we use DST or not has no immediate impact on my life. I just want us to pick a time, stick with it, and make all this “spring forward, fall back” nonsense become a quaint little saying found in history books.

          I like your idea about keeping the postman in a job. Aren’t we just the best people for doing so? 😀

          Liked by 1 person

  15. I voted too! There are people who would disagree with you on a couple of those. Some I know love Christmas all year long, and don’t understand why I roll my eyes. I think I would prefer to stay on DST and not go to standard. Living very far north, it gets dark so early in the winter here.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margaret, I have nothing against Christmas in your own home all year round, or whenever you want to put it up– but no sales of that stuff in August.

      I’ve come to realize, thanks to many commenters, that it’s the adjustment to the time change that is why we all say we hate Daylight Savings Time. It’s not necessarily the actual time itself.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, this article is the best I’ve read on this topic. Who knew the impact of DST on health and, of all things, fuel + energy consumption. In my personal life whether we use DST or not makes little difference to me. My complaint is: just pick a time and then stick with it…

      Liked by 3 people

  17. Yes, I voted. It felt a bit like self-defense. DST or no DST – I really don’t care which way we go, but I’d like us to find one and stick with it. Dogs do not have clocks that can be adjusted, so I am now pawed awake an hour earlier. And Christmas – should wait till after Thanksgiving.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carol, I hadn’t thought of voting as being like self-defense, but you’ve got a point. Weird that it’s come to this.

      I agree. Use one time system all year round, no changing clocks every six months. I’d like to see Christmas after Thanksgiving, but I’m not going to hold my breath about it. At this point seeing it after Labor Day would be an improvement. 🙄

      Liked by 1 person

  19. You want to run for President?
    The whole country needs a reality check…and some manners.
    There was a poll here and the main conclusion is everyone agreed that we can’t wait for this election to be over. UGH.
    (And we are disconnecting satellite tv as why pay to only watch stuff that irritates or annoys. Frees up a lot of time we’ve found out this week)

    Liked by 1 person

    • philmouse, I think I’ll pass on running for President. I can’t even imagine. I agree with you about the reality check and manners. Also while we’re at it, let’s throw in a little maturity and the ability to think logically.

      We have cable TV here, but don’t watch it too often. Rarely for news, mostly for entertainment. I can’t imagine how warped watching TV news all day could make a person. What little bit I see makes me feel edgy and unbalanced. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    • Sue, it seems obvious to me to start with what we have in common, then move on to conversations about differences. Clearly I have no future in TV news with that point of view, do I? 😉

      Like

  26. I voted about ten days ago. (We vote by mail in Washington–It’s so easy.)

    Thanks for your list. There are lots of things we can all agree on. It’s good to remember them. And even when we don’t agree, we can do so without fighting.

    Like you, I do find air travel tedious, and I travel quite a bit to visit my daughters. But when I think about it, I do sort of enjoy the whole process–quiet time with a book, conversations with strangers, the view out the window, walking around inside the airport.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Behind the Story, I voted by mail this year, too. We have the choice of going to a poll or absentee. I used to enjoy air travel, but it seems stressful to me now. Although I’ll admit that I, also, like the quiet time in the air when all that is expected of me is to be still and read. That plays to my strengths. 🤓

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Judy, thanks for your vote of encouragement. I have to believe that shifting focus away from division and onto agreement is a good thing. Nance knows how to get to the heart of things, doesn’t she?

      Liked by 1 person

  29. I agree with you on all 7 issues. However, I think you might be a tad presumptuous in saying that all Americans think following any Kardashian is a waste of time…who is running the cameras and buying all their swag? The Russians? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kate, me presumptuous vis-à-vis the Kardashians? IT COULD BE. The whole phenomenon around them baffles me. Who cares? They’re just spoiled rich kids with a stage mother who pushes them to be shallow. But you make a good point, someone is buying into their shtick and paying good rubles– er, I mean, dollars– in the process.

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  32. I like the sun staying up later in summer, and coming up earlier in winter, but I’m still with you, I HATE the changing back and forth. I would like to just pick one and stick with it all year. I voted that way, actually. Don’t know if anything will come of it, as the ballot measure merely gave the CA legislature the right to do something about it, but a person can hope.

    Liked by 1 person

    • J, when I first wrote my list I hadn’t thought it through as thoroughly as I should have. Many commenters pointed out that it’s the changing of the clocks that was bugging me, not the actual time. i had to agree. I wonder what the CA legislature will do with this issue. This could be interesting…

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    • Laura, thank you. Now that you mention it I need a t-shirt with something about me being sane on it. That’d be cool beans. And maybe I could get one about how wonderful it is to focus on agreement! That’d tick people off, wouldn’t it?

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  34. The Christmas stuff, though…why on earth do they put it out before Halloween?!

    As divided as Americans are on some issues, I think we have more in common than we don’t. Putting my tinfoil hat on, I think focusing on what separates us pits us against each other, which is what I think the powers that be want, since that means things will just stay the same (or close to it).

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