No, Papa is not headed in the direction you might think from this title. Still on politics. Current Affairs in the context of history has always held my interest. Television reporting of election results in the 1950’s was more or less straightforward. Votes counted, votes received, precincts outstanding, winners, losers, leaders and laggers; newscasters gave viewers statistics. Through the years election coverage has expanded beyond mere numbers to include in-depth analysis and predictions, not to mention post mortems. Papa still enjoys it but his grain of salt listening to various “talking heads” has expanded into a huge lump. However, I will be watching next Tuesday.

A main interest will be how the democrat party’s “cutesy” game turns out. Especially in the state of New Hampshire. Talking heads tell us that control of the US Senate hangs in the balance on November 8th. Drama! In an effort to ensure democracy flourishes, democrat funds were pumped to assist a supposedly “extremist” republican candidate in the New Hampshire’s primary. They wanted an easier opponent for the incumbent. Find an outsider who liked Trump and had questions about the 2020 election outcome and that candidtate could become easy pickings next Tuesday. ( Is an extremist only in the eye of the beholder?) 3.2 million dollars well spent? OOPS! That contest is now neck and neck. The seat could still be lost to a Republican. (Darn! It worked for Claire McCaskill.)

The New Hampshire race is not the only 2022 primary election is which cross-over money from the democrat party was spent to prop up what the party viewed as a questionable candidate/opponent. It’ll take some research to identify other races of less import that might be mentioned during a Tuesday newscast. (Papa’s best research tools so far: Wahington Post, NPR and Bloomberg.) One election that will not need watching or research is for govenor of Illinois. 30+ million dollars spent to maniulate a patsy must make that seat rather valuable. Papa is not sure why any republican needed help to become a defeated one in The Land Of Lincoln by a democrat. Not being a conspiracy nut myself, there is that rumor out there that many new born babies in Illinois have a chip embedded in an index finger by the MWFF* that automatically flicks any switch that has a “d” near to it.

Best to reject unfounded rumors. What is important is to vote to save democracy. At least that is a top issue according to some political pros for the 2022 mid-term elections. Papa needs to do some thinking. It is critical to oppose extremists. However, occasionally it’s okay to give them a small boost in a primary so they can have a bigger platform in the main election to broadcast their views? Perhaps fostering free speech for nut jobs is the ultimate goal of cross over money? I thought that the internet already supplied that outlet.

Crossover money registers a faint memory of a party’s objections to Wisconsin’s open primary system. (Papa likes that system created around 1905.) The Badger State registers voters without party designation. Back home misguided policies somehow developed that convention delegates follow the state’s primary results. That viewpoint bumped into a sentiment against “cross over voters” participating in democracy. So much so that a US Supreme Court case rose up from the democrats 1980 refusal to seat Wisconsin’s delegation. Apples and oranges to some extent of course. Yet, why hold a primary if it is doesn’t have meaning? And, who pays the cost of such unecessary elections? If Wisconsin was trying to undo “smoke filled back room party politics,” are primaries simply window dressing? So much to think about on a rainy day.

*Maternity Ward Freedom Fighters

So said the banner headline of the November 3rd, 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune. Papa was around on that date but I didn’t become aware of the headline’s significance until the 1950’s when my interest in current affairs and journalism began. You see President Truman pulled an election upset of the New York Governor on November 2nd. Due to time contraints in setting type and printing their first edition, the newspaper relied on polling and its own political expert to assume a Dewey win. Truman obtained a copy of the newspaper with the incorrect headline and his photo with it became very famous. He had a broad smile on his face. I’d say he was beaming.

Such mistakes/assumptions are rather rare but nonetheless embarrassing. I do recall my journalism teacher stressing the importance of checking the facts before publishing in the school newspaper. Professional newspapers failed in 1916 when it was reported that President Wilson did not win. Or, in 1960 when JFK was declared the winner in California. Ditto Al Gore in Florida in 2000 which I believe was television rather than newspaper. Back to print media, Hillary Clinton’s photo was featured as President on the cover of some Newsweek issues in 2016. It’s election season so we might watch for mis-calls of winners and losers next week.

BTW: I met Governor Dewey twice. He was a very nice man. He was gracious to me when I visited his law office in New York City. He was a friend of Nana’s family. He had a huge office with massive windows looking out over the city. I was a young lawyer but the discussion that stuck with me was his comment that he was keeping an eye on the construction of two side by side towers. He pointed out the site and described the work progress to date. He had a better view than any sidewalk superintendent but his interest/pride in the project was genuine. I also saw him at our wedding. When 9/11 happened, my vision of him pointing and gesturing out his window towards the towers increased the poignancy of the day for me.

Hurricane Fiona that stayed active all the way to our cabins was the most personal. Hurricane Ian, was stronger, did more damage and received significant media attention in the US. In regard to each, it is wise to re-emphasize that history does not begin with one’s birth/memory. Nor, that every recent weather event deserves to be a basis of political points. Standing in or walking over the rumble of other peoples lives always seems a good time to advocate legislation, agendas or theories if one is a souless politician. Real heros of course come to the aid of the afflicted.

My first memory of a hurricane was in 1954. Hurricane Hazel. Perhaps it stuck in my mind because a few years later a Milwaukee Braves player who was on a hot hitting streak became known as Hurricane (Bob) Hazle. Plus, there was TV coverage in 1954. Plus, there was plenty of weather talk before that year in my opinion. At times it seemed that the weather was the only topic of conversation for adults. Rain or no rain? Snow and how deep? The Blizzard of 1948 stories. Rivers flooding across the plains. So much weather talk. How boring. And, of course, there was someone’s old aunt who could forecast wind speed or dew point or some such from her knee pain. Yikes! Yet, none bragged that they had the power to change the weather. That’s a new phenomenon. In olden days most still reserved that feat for God or Mother Nature.

Bad storms have arisen for a long time. Don’t trust Papa. Look it up. Deadliest huriccane: 1900. Strongest in 1935. While at it, look up record high temperatures for major US cities. I’d bet there were a few scorchers in the 1930’s (Think Dust Bowl) as well as before your birth. Bad things can happen in monster storms. As they did in the past. Now of course, Florida for example, has a big population in the millions. Lots of buildings built near the coast. In a state that was once derided by sioldiers as a big swamp in the 1800’s. Florida’s population may not have been one million souls in 1900. After draining and building the people came in droves. However, population explosion doesn’t change the weather. Just gave it a bigger target to damage.

Two big items to consider today. Not enough rain locally has everyone talking about that aspect of the weather. It’s not just a huge topic; its a big worry for the locals. They cannot stand an extended summer of sun. The buzz is that we could become like California. Secondly, elections are almost here. Papa must start reading the position statements of the candidates. I have to figure out who can step forward and make the skies rain. But, it has to be clean rain.

When Papa started to drive the price of gasoline was 30 cents per gallon. In a sixteen year’s old mind that meant that for $1 I could drive around town as long as I didn’t travel much more than 36 miles. Of course it was better that my dad’s car was fueled and ready to go at my whim. However, once in awhile a few gallons of gas was needed. I have faint memories before age 16 of gas wars in town and prices dipping below 25 cents per gallon. Stable price levels for gas was the norm for many years.

Then came an oil embargo in 1973 because the US supported Isreal. Prices shot up almost overnight. I think I was at Fort Ord when I suffered shock at the sight of 49.9! Soon long gas lines formed at service stations across America. The significance of dependence on forgein oil hit the US consumer like a two by four to the forehead. Most political leaders pledged policies to pursue gas and oil independence for America. I believe the Alaskan pipeline was constructed in that era. Throughout the 70’s costs skyrocketed and inflation brought gloom to the nation. A President at the time pretty much suggested the US throw in the towel; the good times were going bye-bye. Turn down the heat and put on a sweater. A “suck it up” attitude did not play well in the election of 1980.

Non-fossil fuels were also looked at to help America become energy independent. In 1970 renewables were estimated at 5.9% of America’s energy use. Nuclear was just under 1%. Slow forward fifty-two years and renewables now stand at about 12.7% and nuclear is at 9.6%. That’s an increase of 16% since 1970; the largest portion being from nuclear. Estimates are that wind and solar generation will rise to 6% by 2030. In the meantime, natural gas has rmained about the same (32.% – 31.8%) as has coal (18.1% – 17.8%). Oil is down about 15.5% which according to my old style math means that’s the wash between petro and renewable.

Last week it took over $60 to fill up the old Honda with gasoline. ($5.00 per gallon at Costco) Statewide, the cost is well over $5. The 70’s were not a favorite decade for Papa for various reasons but being less energy indpendent and reliant on foreign oil is a way back journey best to avoid. Inflation is starting to run wild in all areas beyond gasoline. Production and transportation of most of our goods rely heavily on gasoline/diesel. Remember, except perhaps in a few large urban centers, Americans are still in love with their automobiles. (See The USA!) Simple math shuld even lead simple thinkers that US production of fuel should not have been severly curtailed. Green ideals may help people feel good but folks still need to eat, commute and work. Fanciful dreaming can do much damage unless some realistic thought is given by serious leaders on how to cleanly generate electricity in a heck of of a less time than 52 years.

Meantime, supplies down…Honda gasoline costs up. Tonight I will say a prayer of thanks that I don’t spend over $100 for a tank of gas. Such a cost hurts so many of our fellow Americans. For obvious reasons I hate to cite anything from the U of Michigan BUT its consumer sentiment index is currently at an all time low. (Since 1952) Poeple are hurting. I remember the pain of 1970’s pinch on the family budget from inflation. It hurt. I am lucky that I can weather the storm better now. What is most irritating is that I hear an echo: “Suck it up”….”Nothing much we can do about it”….”Need to endure a tough transition.” Problems from the Middle East was one thing 1973 but today’s wounds are mostly self-inflicted. (BTW: When you get the chance…take an economics course or two.)

Again, hope will more likely come from innovation. i.e. Safer nuclear was previously mentioned in this blog. Recently, I read about research to take evil CO2 OUT of the atmosphere. It’s usually best to avoid “someone should do something” aimed at government. Put your hope on bright young minds. Maybe yours.