"Are You Better Off.....?"

At the state and local levels (from US Rep & US Senate down to Mayor and City Council) this nation politically functions as a majority rule democracy where electons are by popular vote.

When electing a President the process is that of a constitutionally limited republic. In this process caucuses and primaries in each individual state range from open to closed and proportional delegates to winner take all. In these caucuses and primaries votes cast for a candidate select delegates committed to that candidate. Later on, after the caucuses and primaries, at a national convention the offical delegate votes for each candidate are cast. This selects the major political party presidential candidates. In the following November's election, each state allocates delegates to the Electoral College. The winner of a simple majority of electoral votes wins.

Modern progressive liberals tell us that the popular vote is the best way to select a president. Constitutional conservaties promote the electoral college in electing a president.

Navigating the ballot, modern liberals will support moderal liberals while constitutional conservatives support constitutional conservatives. In the middle are the independents, moderates and non commiteds.

During past elections, especially for the president, one of the key issues for conservatives was "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" (As asked by then presidential candidate Ronald Reagan during the 1980 campaign).

For liberals back in 1992 (as used by then presidential candidate Bill Clinton) "It's the economy...stupid."

Since then, conservatives have shifted from the incumbent's previous four years and come to focus on the economy and the underlying financial issues.

Underlyng being "better off" we find cuttng taxes, reducing spending, paying down the debt, cutting the deficit, reducing the size, cost of the federal government.

On their side, liberals have come to focus on emotions and emotional issues. Gone is any mention of the economy. Taking its place is the emotional displays for abortion, health care and immigration.

Any mention of abortion, health care and immigration results in liberal rage, anger, unhappiness. Their claim is that abortion, health care and immigration should be universal no matter the regulations, taxes or spending involved.

Like every election, this time around our nation's future is at risk.

This election cycle is not about the candidates on the ballot. Its not about how or why past elections were won or lost. November's election, like every election before and after, is about the future.

To borrow a quote from 1992 "Its the economy....stupid."

And, more to the point, from 1980, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Well, are you?