We voted

 

We did our part to swing the state of Texas!

 

Our effort may not have been enough though.  We already know how Texas is going to be counted in the electoral college.  It’s not a contested state.  Knowing that, our vote counts as nothing but a protest vote.

 

If this were an election decided by a popular vote, our vote would have at least been included in the total.  In the olden days with limited communication and extended travel time, I can see how the electoral college made sense.  Today, it seems to be an unnecessary relic.  It’s still here though, so it must suit some interest.  Maybe it simplifies the process for the candidates and the political parties.  They only have to hammer a few swing-states instead of appealing to the country as a whole.

 

Nevertheless, the two parties and candidates spent a billion dollars this time around.  A billion dollars!  What did we get for that, besides annoyed?  What does it amount to?  A subsidy for the advertising and broadcast industries.  An undeclared subsidy.  They get an extra billion dollars.  Some people get employed for a time.  Then it all just goes away.  A private enterprise subsidy.  Maybe if it could have been a government subsidy we’d have at least gotten some roads and bridges out of it.