Mariner is aware that any given person may have personal reasons for casting votes for a given Congressional candidate. He does not expect that his observations will be universal. Still, he must acknowledge the will of Amos to express an opinion. Mariner and Amos have focused only on both houses of the U.S. Congress. Specific candidate names will not be offered.
The most important recommendation is to consider age as a number one issue. The U.S. Congress is the oldest in History. Technology and economic abuse are unfettered; the Congress requires younger representatives that are experienced enough in contemporary life to at least identify the issues. While it is true that campaign circumstances may force a voter to look at other priorities, always keep age as an important consideration. He suggests a cap at age 55.
Virtually every large issue affects women more than it does men. There are fringe women just as there are fringe men but a women with a balanced view of life will pay more attention to the human side of legislation. If the reader’s choice is between a man and a woman, give a nod toward the woman – up to age 55.
Given the above priorities, there are some troublesome issues that require new leadership. For example, the U.S. has to curtail its financial support for every war on the planet. Global warming, balancing the health industry and a growing retirement class each will require large sums of Federal support.
The issue of immigration at the southern border requires candidates with new theories and ideas about new investment in Latin countries to stem what will otherwise be a growing concern because of global warming. The government must stop treating immigrants as if they are in line to see a movie. This is a specific political issue as well since Latinos are the fastest growing race in the nation. It wouldn’t hurt if a candidate were bilingual – in any language but especially in Spanish.
The nation’s economy is holding on and has survived the flush of money that helped citizens during the pandemic. Still, the wealthy, he means WEALTHY 10 percent of U.S. citizens sit on untold wealth that is neither taxed nor actively engaged in promoting the Gross Domestic Product. The resolution of this situation clearly is different between the national parties but whatever party with which the voter identifies, judge the candidate by their plans for the economy – especially discretionary spending; there are some candidates wanting to dismantle tax breaks for retirees, cut Social Security benefits, health services, and focused targets like SNAP, minimum wage and housing.
If, in the voter’s own precinct, there are local candidates running for Congress, think about electing someone you may identify with better than your feelings about a nationally-backed candidate already in office. There must be someway to vote for local representatives not pushed on local folks by the national Political Action Committees. When Senator Al Franken resigned from Congress, he confessed that his mornings were spent on the phone looking for financial contributors. Somehow, voters have to break up the growing plutocracy. Vote for local people who can represent the voter’s world in Congress.
Donald Trump is an airborne grenade. Run away!
Ancient Mariner